Box Score Greensboro, NC – The Converse Women's Basketball team began 2021 with a visit to UNC-Greensboro.  This was the 3^rd Division 1 team the Valkyries have faced this season and the last exhibition game before beginning Conference Carolinas play at home on January 13^th.  This game also marked the return of Converse Graduate Assistant Coach, Alexus Willey, to Greensboro.  Coach Willey finished her career with the Lady Spartans 4^th in school history for games played and 6^th all-time for made 3-pointers.  Converse was hoping some of that success would rub off on the them as they faced UNC-Greensboro in Fleming Gymnasium.   

The 1^st quarter saw the Valkyries fall behind early 8-0.  They were getting the shots they wanted, but unfortunately were not able to convert them into points.  Going into the first media timeout, Converse found themselves 0-6 from the field.  After the timeout, both teams would struggle to score points until the Lady Spartans converted on a layup to extend the lead to 10-0.  The Valkyries' Sierra Davenport finally got Converse on the board, cutting the lead to 10-2.  Keyshuna Fair converted a 3-point play and as the quarter came to an end, the Valkyries found themselves down by 9 points, trailing 14-5. 

Sierra Davenport scored the first 2 points of the 2^nd quarter, but UNC-Greensboro would go on a 10-0 run, increasing their lead to 17, 24-7.  After another basket by the Lady Spartans, Jordan Brown converted on a jumper for Converse to stop the UNC-Greensboro run.  Unfortunately, the Lady Spartans would start another run and finish off the half scoring 6 straight points, to go into the locker room leading the Valkyries by a score of 32-9. 

The Lady Spartans picked up where they left off in the 1^st half by draining a 3-pointer to start the 3^rd quarter, going up 35-9.  Sierra Davenport would try to keep Converse in the game with 2 straight blocks on the defensive end of the court.  A foul by Lindsey Hardin gave UNC-Greensboro two more points from the free throw line, along with another jumper from the Lady Spartans, and the Valkyries found themselves in a tough position, down 39-9.  Sierra Davenport, once again, converted a layup to put Converse in double digits, but UNC-Greensboro would answer that and go up by a score of 45-11.  Coach Jim Brunelli called a timeout to try to slow things down, as his team found themselves trailing by 36 points, 47-11.  Sierra Davenport and Lindsey Hardin started the Valkyries on a 7-0 run to trim the Lady Spartans' lead to 49-21.  After another Lady Spartans basket, Ellen Nardella hit a 3-pointer cutting the lead to 51-24.  As the quarter ended, Converse would find themselves down by a score of 53-24.

As the 4^th quarter began, Sierra Davenport continued to lead the Valkyries in scoring.  After scoring her 10^th point of the game, she pulled the score to 56-26.  Unfortunately, UNC-Greensboro would answer Davenport's basket and increase their lead to 60-26.  Two free throws by Ayanna Parker gave Converse 28 points, but the Lady Spartans converted on layup to go back up 62-28.  After another basket by UNC-Greensboro, Ayanna Parker hit a 3-pointer to trim the lead to 64-31.  The remainder of the quarter would see both teams trading baskets, but it was not enough for the Valkyries to cut into the Lady Spartans' lead.  As the horn sounded, Converse would fall to UNC-Greensboro by a score of 69-37.

Ayanna Parker led the team with 11 points in just 10 minutes of play, while Sierra Davenport was a perfect 5-5 from the field, scoring 10 points and grabbing 10 rebounds on the day.  Jordan Brown added 7 rebounds contributing to the teams' 38 rebounds for the game.  Today's game completes the Valkyries exhibition schedule and they will now move into Conference Carolinas play.  Currently they are 1-0 on the season and will welcome in Erskine College to Hannah Gymnasium on January 13th to start a 4 game homestand.  Tip-off off for the game is scheduled for 7:00pm and can be seen live on the Conference Carolinas Digital Network.