SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Converse University women's basketball team fell 57-54 to Lees-McRae on Saturday afternoon inside the Weisiger Center.
Converse (3-6, 2-4 Conference Carolinas) won the opening tip-off and despite turning the ball over on their first possession,
Lindsey Hardin (Inman, S.C.) scored the first basket of the game. Lees-McRae (1-6, 1-4 Conference Carolinas) countered the Valkyries score with a 9-1 run over the next four minutes of game time.
The Converse defense stepped up the remaining five minutes of the first quarter and limited the Bobcat offense to just two points. Meanwhile, the Valkyries offense scored the final 12-points of the period to give Converse a 15-11 lead going into the second quarter.
At the 6:50 mark of the second period Alliee Patillo (Douglasville, Ga.) hit an open three-pointer and gave Converse a 22-16 advantage. Moments later starting center
Sydney Wilson (Henderson, Tenn.) went on a personal 10-0 run to give the Valkyries a 32-20 lead with 1:50 to play in the half.
In the third quarter the Bobcats hung around with Converse and went on a series of small runs to chip away at the Valkyries lead. At the end of the period the Valkyries clung to a 42-38 advantage.
With 5:44 to play in the game Destiny Johnson knocked down a jump shot to pull within a point of Converse. Following a Valkyries turnover, Makayla Smith hit a three-pointer and the Bobcats led 50-48. Wilson tied the game at 54 after a pair of made free-throws but the Valkyries were unable to capitalize in the final seconds of the game. The Bobcats converted on their free throw attempts as Hardin's last second three-pointer fell short.
Wilson finished with a team high 22-points and Hardin finished second on the team with 10-points.
Amaia Parkins led the team with eight rebounds against the Bobcats.
Next Up:
The Valkyries will be back in action this Tuesday night on the road against UNC Pembroke. Tip-off is slated for 5:00 p.m.
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