BRISTOL, TENN.- Converse could not overcome a double-digit halftime deficit as King handed the Valkyries an 82-56 loss on the road in Conference Carolinas basketball action on Friday evening.

Converse (3-13, 2-10) was led by Brianna James (Spartanburg, S.C.) on the offensive end netting 19 points.  James achieved the double-figure scoring mark for the 12th time this season and seventh straight contest.  Yashee Johnson (West Columbia, S.C.) led the Valkyries on the defensive end.  Y. Johnson hauled in a team-high 11 boards.  Paige Johnson (Greenville, S.C.) and Khrystal Ellis (Greenville, S.C.) chipped in with eight points each.

The Valkyries trailed King (11-7, 10-2) 49-24 at the break and were not able to overcome the deficit.  Converse played the Tornado closer in the second half trailing 33-32.

Converse started off the contest hot connecting on five of their first eight shots and jumped out to an 11-7 advantage.  King would roar back and take the lead before Ashley Salgado (Ottumwa, Iowa) hit a jumper to knot things at 13-all.  King would end the first quarter on a 7-1 run to take a 20-14 lead into the second stanza.

An 8-0 King run pushed their lead to double-digits.  The run would end on P. Johnson's old fashioned three-point play.  King would go on a 19-4 run to extend their lead out to 47-21.  Kassidy Moorhouse (Anderson, S.C.) would knock down a trey to end the run.  Moorhouse finished with six points.

The Valkyries gained the advantage on the boards outrebounding King (48-45) with 16 offensive boards.  Dah'Vielle Lucas (Mauldin, S.C.) grabbed seven boards, while Logan Hollis (Spartanburg, S.C.) grabbed six caroms.

Converse returns to the court on Saturday, January 30 against Lees-McRae in Banner Elk, N.C., with tip-off slated at 4pm.