Banner Elk, NC – After falling to LMC at home on Tuesday night, the Converse Women's Basketball team didn't have to wait long for a rematch, as they traveled to Banner Elk, NC for a Conference Carolinas match-up.  The Valkyries had something to prove after falling by 10 points and they would look to get off to a quick start. 

Lindsey Hardin put Converse on the board first, draining a 3-pointer just 18 seconds into the game.  After a defensive stop, Hardin would once again connect, this time on a FG, to increase their early lead to 5-0.  The Bobcats began to find the basket and the action was back and forth until, Lindsey Hardin scored her 10^th point of the game, to give Converse the 12-7 advantage.  The Valkyries would go up by as many as 8 points, but with 1:34 left in the quarter, LMC pulled to within 1 point.  Both teams traded 3's, one by Converse's Keyshuna Fair, and that is how the quarter would end, with the Valkyries leading by a score of 21-18.

The second quarter saw the Bobcats strike first, but that was answered by a 3-pointer from Tierney Porter.  Ashley Sides entered the game and was fouled while shooting.  She made both free throws to give Converse a 6-point lead, 26-20.  LMC drew within 3, until Alliee Pattillo hit a 3 from the top of the key.  That was followed by a Jordan Brown defensive rebound that turned into a layup at the other end of the court and another 3-pointer from Tierney Porter, pushing the Valkyries lead to 7 points.  As the half came to an end, Converse led the Bobcats, 36-31.

Keyshuna Fair came out of the locker and quickly connected on a jumper to start the third quarter.  LMC would answer, but Fair took a pass from Eva Carballo and drained a jumper from inside the free throw line, to go up 40-35.  On the next possession, Fair grabbed a defensive rebound and at the other end of the court was fouled in the act of shooting.  She made both free throws to increase the Valkyries lead to 42-36.  After a timeout, Fair was fouled again and would convert both free throws to extend the lead to 8 points.  Fair continued her second half dominance, as she made another 3-pointer for her 16^th point of the game.  Converse would lead by as much as 10 and at the end of the quarter Keyshuna Fair drained a 3, at the buzzer, to give the Valkyries a 59-48 lead. 

Fair was at it again as the fourth quarter began, converting two free throws and then another 3-pointer to increase Converse's lead to 64-49.  The Bobcats trimmed the lead to 12 points on a 3-point play and then to 10 after a long jumper.  Eva Carballo answered with a baseline layup to push the lead back to 12, but LMC converted on another 3-point play, to cut the lead to single digits, 68-59.  However, Alliee Pattillo drained a 2-pointer, followed by a layup from Eva Carballo and suddenly the Valkyries were up by 13, 72-59.  The Bobcats trimmed the lead to 11, but after a steal, Lindsey Hardin was fouled and made both free throws.  Hardin was able to hit another FG, with 3 minutes remaining in the game to give Converse a 77-64 lead. With 1:33 remaining in the game, LMU cut the lead to 8 points.  However, the Valkyries would withstand the Bobcats' runs and as the horn sounded, they would come away with a big road win, 83-72.

Converse was led by Freshman Keyshuna Fair, who had another career high game, with 32 points.  She also grabbed 10 rebounds (9 Defensive, 1 Offensive).  She was followed by Lindsey Hardin who added 17 points and was 7-10 from the free throw line.  However, as Coach Brunelli said after the game, "This was a total team effort".  Eva Carballo, Alliee Pattillo and Jordan Brown all had solid performances.  In fact, Brown led the team in rebounds with a total of 12 (8 defensive and 4 offensive).  A big difference in the game was 3-point shooting.  The Valkyries shot 55%, while the Bobcats shot only 15%.  The Valkyries have had some schedule changes and will now have a quick turnaround as they will travel to Erskine College on Saturday February 13^th at 4:30pm.  The two teams last met on January 25^th with Converse prevailing 64-55, in Spartanburg.  They will look to take tonight's momentum into Saturday, as they seek another Conference Carolinas victory.