SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Behind a 19-point performance from redshirt senior center Sydney Wilson and double-digit scoring efforts from three of the team's other four starters, the Converse University women's basketball team (3-5, 1-1 Conference Carolinas) defeated the King University Tornado (1-8, 0-1 Conference Carolinas) by a final score of 74-59.

Wilson led all scorers with 19 points. Graduate guard Jordan Brown and junior guard Sierra Jones each tallied 14 points. Jones also posted four steals and four assists in her first-ever start as a Valkyrie. Fellow junior guard Zariyah Washington rounded out the team's double-digit scorers with 12 points.

After giving up the first shot of the game, the Valkyries immediately responded with a three-point basket forty seconds into the game from Jones. They would never relinquish the lead following that point. Converse went 6-15 from the field and held King to half the number of makes on the same number of attempts. The Valkyries added a pair of free throws to take a five-point lead into the second quarter.

The Valkyries broke the game wide open in the second quarter, out-scoring the Tornado 26-13 in the second frame. King did not score their first basket of the quarter until two-and-a-half minutes had elapsed. It took the King another three-and-a-half minutes to score again. Between those baskets, the Valkyries put up nine points on four field goals while attempting seven. Converse recorded one steal and forced two turnovers. 

Continuing their dominant ways, the Valkyries were perfect from the field to close the half following the Tornado's second basket, that included a steal and a layup by Brown with under five seconds to play, punctuating the Valkyries' dominant quarter. By doubling up King in the second quarter and entering the second frame with a five-point lead already, the Valkyries took a 41-23 point lead into halftime.

While King found a groove in the second half, they did little to outpace the Valkyries, instead going stride-for-stride and managing to cut the 18-point halftime lead to 17 points by the beginning of the fourth quarter.

The Valkyries and Tornado were evenly matched in the fourth quarter, with the Tornado again able to cut the lead ever so slightly to 15 points. But with no time left to play, Converse secured the 15-point, 74-59 victory.

Converse returns to the court on Wednesday, Dec. 13 as they take on the Belmont Abbey Crusaders in their first conference road game of the season.

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