Staff report

SALISBURY — Catawba’s women’s basketball team won again in Goodman Arena on Tuesday afternoon.

The fourth-ranked Indians survived UNC Pembroke 66-61 to close pre-Christmas activity. Catawba has won 26 straight at home and didn’t lose a home game in the calendar year of 2023.

Catawba shot 46 percent to UNC Pembroke’s 32 percent.

Catawba made eight 3-pointers, but UNCP negated Catawba’s advantage from the bonus line by making more trips to the free throw stripe and by pulling down 14 offensive rebounds..

Lyrik Thorne led the Indians with 22 points on 8-for-13 shooting. She made three 3-pointers and had four assists.

Janiya Downs (South Rowan) had 17 points and six rebounds.

Nala Baker scored 14. Sara McIntosh had 12 rebounds.

Catawba (8-1) led 12-4 early but settled for a 17-12 lead after a quarter.

Downs had a personal 7-0 run in the second quarter, and the Indians took a 36-24 lead to halftime.

 Zaria Clark scored 28 to keep UNCP’s Braves in the game, and they rallied to tie the game at 52-all with a little over five minutes left.

UNCP (8-3) went ahead by a point with 4:10 left, but Thorne and Baker made big 3-pointers, as the Indians reclaimed control.

 Catawba returns to South Atlantic Conference play at Coker on Wednesday, Jan. 3. at 5:30 p.m.

UNC Pembroke 12    12    16    21    — 61

Catawba             17     19      10   20   — 66

CATAWBA — Thorne 22, Downs 17, Baker 14, McIntosh 6, Fuertes 3, Helpman 2, Spry 2.