SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Converse College (4-1, 0-1 CC) basketball team opened up Conference Carolinas play with a 91-66 loss to Limestone (2-4, 1-0 CC) on Wednesday evening inside Hannah Gymnasium. The Saints used several big runs to pull away and take home the conference-opening win.

 
GAME INFORMATION
Score: Limestone 91, Converse 66
Records: Limestone (2-4), Converse (4-1)
Location: Hannah Gymnasium
 
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
 

• Sophomore Ashley Sides (Gaffney, S.C.) tallied a team-high 17 points, including four makes from behind the arc.
• Senior Abigail Lewis (Savannah, Ga.) poured in 12 points on 4-of-8 from the floor to go along with five rebounds, four of the offensive variety.
• The Valkyries outrebounded Limestone by a total of 46-37, but turned the ball over 24 times.
• Converse pulled down a season-high 19 offensive rebounds and its bench outscored Limestone 41-32.

 
HOW IT HAPPENED
 
First Quarter
 
After falling behind 8-3 early in the opening period, Converse put together a stout 7-2 mini run, capped off by a Sides pull-up jumper.
 
However, the Saints ripped off a 15-2 run over the final 3:59 of the quarter to race out to a 25-12 lead after one. The Valkyries were outscored 12-2 in the paint during the first 10 minutes.
 
Second Quarter
 
Limestone collected the first four points of the second quarter to extend the advantage to 29-12, but Sides knocked down a deep triple to narrow the margin to 14 (29-15) two minutes into the frame.
 
Once again the Blue and Gold put together a solid spurt, this time 9-3, to claim a 20-point lead (38-18). Converse answered the Limestone run with seven in a row to climb back in the contest at 38-25, but an 11-1 scoring run by LC gave the Saints their biggest lead of the game (49-26) heading into the halftime intermission.  
 
Third Quarter
 
That lead quickly grew to 40 (74-34) as Limestone opened the second half on a 25-8 scoring advantage with 2:42 remaining in the third session.

Lewis connected on an old-fashioned three-point play, followed by a pair of free throws from sides and a Tee Ballard (Lancaster, S.C.) layup and free throw to close the difference to 76-42 leading into the fourth quarter.
 
Fourth Quarter
 
Converse finally started to put the offense together in the fourth period, trimming the Saints lead down to 27 (78-51) following a Bhrianna Jackson (Baltimore, Md.) layup with 7:06 left on the regulation clock.

 
After a Reagan McCray three, Converse, ignited by solid bench play from Shakori Jennings-Shuler (West Columbia, S.C.) and Avery Curry (Chicago, Ill.) finished the contest strong, tallying 11 of the game's final 15 points to bring the final margin to 91-66 in favor of the Saints.   
 
TURNING POINT
 
The Valkyries were in the contest early, but a 15-2 run to end the first quarter left Converse battling from behind a large deficit the remainder of the contest.   
 

 
UP NEXT
 
The Purple and Gold will open up will return to conference action on Saturday, December 1 as they host Erskine in what will be the only home contest for the month. Tip-off for that contest is scheduled for 2 p.m.