SPARTANBURG, S.C. - Hot shooting from the floor helped propel Converse to a huge bounce back win against Conference Carolinas foe Belmont Abbey, 75-60, at home on Wednesday evening.

The Valkyries shot 43.9% from the floor and a school record 60% (9-15) from behind the arc for a double-digit victory.

Brianna James led the Purple and Gold attack with 20 points knocking down a perfect 4-4 from downtown. Paige Johnson chipped in with 11 points going 5-6 from the floor.

Hannah Anderson missed out on a double-double scoring nine points with 10 rebounds.

THE BASICS

FINAL | Converse 75, Belmont Abbey 60

RECORDS | Converse 3-8 (2-5), Belmont Abbey 7-6 (5-3)

HOW IT HAPPENED

1st Quarter

Brianna James started off the scoring in the contest with a short jumper. Tiffani Riggen knocked down a jumper before James scored four straight to knot things at 8-8 with 3:27 remaining in the quarter.

James dialed up a long distance trey for the Valkyries' first lead of the contest. Abigail Lewis scored four of the final five points as Converse and Belmont Abbey finished the first 10 minutes of action tied at 17-all.

2nd Quarter

Tiffani Riggen knocked down a trey just 1:45 into the quarter giving the Valkyries the 22-19 lead for good.

After a Crusader field goal, Converse went on a 9-0 run to extend the lead to 33-21.  Back-to-back elbow jumpers started the run.  Johnson hit a layup before Bri James knocked down another three to cap the run.

A mini 5-0 Belmont Abbey run was halted by a Paige Johnson jumper.  Converse went into the locker room leading 37-31.

3rd Quarter

Converse exploded coming out of the break shooting 60% from the floor including nine assists and no turnovers leading to 27 points.

Converse started pulling away with 6:18 remaining in the quarter after Hannah Anderson made a layup.  Keocia Walker knocked down a triple to give the Valkyries a double-figure lead.

Two triples by Bri James and three free throws by Hannah Anderson forced Belmont Abbey to call a timeout trailing 56-40 with 2:09 remaining in the quarter.

Briana Hill knocked down a three coming out of the timeout as Converse went on an 8-3 run to end the quarter.  Hannah Anderson hit a jumper and Paige Johnson knocked down a three to end the quarter.

4th Quarter

Converse scored the first four points of the quarter from the stripe getting a pair from Dominique Hill and Bri James.

The Valkyries' defense stiffled the Crusaders to open the quarter allowing only two points the first 5:20 of the quarter.  Converse went on a 7-2 run during that span.

Belmont Abbey would end the quarter on a 10-4 run.

UP NEXT

Converse hosts Lees-McRae on Saturday, January 14 at 2pm.  The contest is the Daddy/Daughter game.  Daughters get into the contest free with their father present.