BELMONT, N.C. – Sophomore guard Ellen Nardella posted a game-high 20 points, including six threes, but it was not enough as league-leading Belmont Abbey dropped the Converse College basketball team on Wednesday evening. 

GAME INFORMATION

Score: Converse 59, Belmont Abbey 81

Records: Converse (3-24, 2-16 CC), Belmont Abbey (22-2, 17-1 CC)

Location: Wheeler Center, Belmont, N.C. 

INSIDE THE BOXSCORE

• Lindsey Hardin was able to join Nardella in the double-digit scoring category, chipping in 10 points.
• Alexis McMillian and Sierra Davenport contributed nine and seven points, respectively. Davenport also grabbed a game-high nine boards.
• The Valkyries were able to knock down 10 shots from behind the arc, but visited the charity stripe only six times during the game.
• Belmont Abbey held a 43-30 advantage in rebounds.
• Converse's bench was able to put up 27 points on the evening.

HOW IT HAPPENED

First Quarter

Converse struggled to find the bottom of the basket early in the contest as the Crusaders raced out to a comfortable lead, taking the game's initial 15 points. A layup by Dominique Hill at the 5:22 mark put the Valkyries on the board, but Belmont Abbey continued to pour it on, outscoring the Purple and Gold 12-2 down the stretch to take a 27-4 lead into the second period. 

Second Quarter

The Valkyries started to find a bit of offensive rhythm in the second frame, using a stingy defense to chip into the deficit. A jumper by Hardin followed by back-to-back threes from Nardella and free throw by Davenport cut the Crusader advantage to 32-21 with two minutes to play in the opening half. 

However, Belmont Abbey scored the final five points of the quarter and took a 37-21 lead into the halftime intermission. 

Third Quarter

That lead continued to grow with BAC using a 12-3 run over three and a half minutes of game time, extending the lead to 49-24 with 6:43 on the clock. The game became a back-and-forth affair as the two teams traded baskets on the offensive end of the floor. Abbey's Kelli Thomas connected on a layup at the buzzer to give the Crusaders a 66-39 lead headed to the fourth period. 

Fourth Quarter

After Belmont Abbey ballooned the lead to 74-39, Converse used the three ball to reel off a 17-4 run, cutting the lead to 78-56 with less than three minutes to play. During the spurt, Nardella knocked down four shots from behind the arc. Unfortunately, it was too little, too late as the deficit proved to be too much to overcome. 

UP NEXT

Converse will return to action on Saturday, February 15, traveling to Due West, S.C. to face the Flying Fleet of Erskine College. That contest is set to get underway at 2 p.m.