SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Converse University's women's basketball team put on a showstopping performance in the South Atlantic Conference/Conference Carolinas Crossover Tournament tonight in the Weisiger Center. The home opener thriller went into overtime against Lincoln Memorial with the Railsplitters ultimately coming out on top. Converse falls to 0-1 on the season while Lincoln Memorial moves to 1-0.
Jordan Brown scored the first points of the season for the Valkyries with a layup two minutes into the game. Lincoln Memorial followed with their own layup before
Zahra Cross sank a three-pointer to bring Converse back on top. The Valkyries advantage would eventually get up to six points, however, five shots went in favor of the Railsplitters to give them a 12-10 lead at the end of the first quarter.
Amaia Parkins started the second quarter hot for the Valkyries with a shot from deep to push the Valkyries back in front. Points were exchanged between the two teams before Converse would run away with it. The Valkyries outshot the Railsplitters 17-10 in the second quarter, going into the halftime break up 27-20.
Lincoln Memorial came out of the locker room looking to get back on top, almost matching Converse in shots in the third quarter. Shots were 18-17 in Converse's favor.
Alisa Davenport's three-pointer was clutch for the Valkyries, pushing their lead to eight points with six minutes left in the third quarter. A Lincoln Memorial three-pointer by Chloe Savage would bring the Railsplitters within one (32-31) with just over four minutes to go. Five points from Brown and eight more combined points from Converse teammates would send the Valkyries into the fourth quarter with a 45-37 lead.
Cross started out the quarter with a deep three before an almost two-minute scoring drought occurred. Cross ended it with another three followed by
Colbie Perry who kicked it into gear with three three-pointers of her own to bring the Converse lead to positive 17. Lincoln Memorial went on a team run, scoring 14 unanswered points to bring the Valkyrie advantage down to four points. A last second layup by Alexa Smiddy would send the first game of the season into overtime.
Starting overtime, the score was 63-63 and the game was quickly put in Converse's hands as
Anna Cary's layup went in to give the Valkyries the lead. Wilson followed with her own layup before free throw points were exchanged between the two teams. Wilson's layup in the final minute of extra playing time would give the Valkyries a short-lived lead and their final point of the game. Eight points from the Railsplitters would give them the 77-71 victory.
Cross led Converse in points with 17 followed by Wilson and Perry who had 16 and 11 points, respectively. Wilson had 10 rebounds and one steal while Brown and Davenport each had two steals.
Next Up:
The Valkyries will play in their final game of the SAC/Conference Carolinas Women's Basketball Tournament tomorrow afternoon against Limestone. Tipoff is set for 4:00 p.m.
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