By Marny Hendrick

sports@salisburypost.com

SALISBURY — The North Rowan girls came within a whisker of securing their first win of the season but East Rowan wanted it just a little more.

The Mustangs trailed by eight points late in the third quarter but roared back to edge North, 52-50, in the 7th-place game of the Dales Sporting Goods/Sam Moir Christmas Classic Friday morning at Goodman Gym.

Brianna White dominated the game for North with 32 points but Adalie Harrison, Lauren Coughenour and Zynoria Winford had the clutch baskets and free throws for East down the stretch.

East (4-10) caught the Cavaliers at 44-44 with 3:04 left to play on a steal and layup by Coughenour. They took the lead, 48-46, on a follow-shot by Courtney Wagner with 1:14 left and then Harrison and Winford hit five key foul shots to hold off the Cavaliers (0-10).

“It was a tough game, but we played really great,” East coach Kevin Holland said. “I was proud of the way we came back.”

North cut the Mustang lead to one point twice in the final minute but could not convert at the line to get even. White dominated inside for North with 17 points in the first half and a career-high 32 for the game. Aundrea Godfrey had eight points and 10 rebounds.

For East, freshman point guard Harrison had her career high of 20, 16 in the second half.  Wagner had a strong inside game with five points and 11 rebounds. East nailed 13-of-20 free throws in the final period to help secure the win.

NORTH ROWAN (50) — White 32, Godfrey 8, Evans 4, Robinson 3, Sherrill 3, Joyner, Shoaf, Cain, Holland, Davis, Chambers.

EAST ROWAN (52) — A. Harrison 20, Shafer 6, Coughenour 6, Wagner 5, Houpe 5, Winfred 5, McCall 4, H. Harrison 1, Trexler, Honeycutt, Graham.

North Rowan    4   19   15    12 — 50

East Rowan      10   9    14   19 — 52