SPARTANBURG, S.C.- The Valkyries were looking to win back-to-back games for the first time since the 2010 season, but Lenoir-Rhyne had other ideas as Converse falls to L-R 63-57 in a non-conference game on Saturday afternoon.

"I am not into moral victories," said Coach Dean Walsh.  "We didn't quit, but we can't miss the easy shots.  We made too many mental mistakes at crucial times. We have to be mentally tougher, when we clean those up we will be a good team."

Converse (1-1) kept the game close throughout the contest with Lenoir-Rhyne (1-1) with three of the four quarters decided by two or less points.

With the Valkyries down 33-28 heading into the final 20 minutes of action, play was ramped up for Converse coming out of the locker room.  Brianna James (Spartanburg, S.C.) went on a 6-0 run for the Valkyries to shift the lead in favor of Converse with 8:12 remaining in the third quarter.  James hit a three followed by an and-one to give the Valkyries the lead 33-32.

Converse and L-R battled back-and-forth in the quarter trading baskets before tying things up at 40-all with 3:44 left in the quarter.  L-R would push their lead to five (47-42) before settling at 49-45 at the end of the third.

The Valkyries would chip away at the lead in the final 10 minutes of the game after James hit a short jumper to pull it to a one possession game early in the fourth quarter.  A lay-up by Khrystal Ellis (Greenville, S.C.) and James allowed Converse to retake the lead with 3:58 remaning in the game.  

L-R used a 6-0 to grab the lead at 58-53 and never allowed Converse to get closer than three points the rest of the way.

Brianna James led the Valkyries with 17 points, 10 points in the second half.  Khrystal Ellis was the other Valkyrie in double-figures with 11 points.  Ellis hauled in five boards.  Erin Horne (Orlando, Fla.) chipped in eight points.  Yashee Johnson (West Columbia, S.C.) hauled in a team-high seven boards and three rejections.  Ashley Salgado (Ottumwa, Iowa) had a season-high seven assists in the game.

L-R won the battle on the boards outrebounding Converse 58-42.  Converse shot 36.8% on the afternoon and held the Bears to 30.6%.

Converse hosts Emmanuel on Tuesday, November 24 at 6pm in the Conference Carolinas season opener.