BANNER ELK, N.C. – The Converse University women's basketball team fell short to Lees-McRae on Tuesday evening. The 60-56 loss drops the Valkyries to 4-20 overall and 4-13 in Conference Carolinas play as the Bobcats move to 2-18 overall and 1-14 in Conference Carolinas action.
Converse started off on the right foot as
Demya Chisholm scored the first basket of the game. With 4:38 left on the clock, Aurora Roberts extended the Bobcat lead to three points as they held the 6-3 lead.
Sydney Wilson and
Zahra Cross answered for the Valkyries, getting them the 7-6 advantage with just over one-minute remaining in the first quarter. There would then be two lead changes within 30 seconds of each other before
Daven West sank a pair of free throws to send Converse into the second quarter up 11-8.
Lees-McRae got within one point of the Converse lead to open up the quarter, but Cross would drive a layup in for the 13-10 Valkyrie advantage. Logan Dutka sank a three-pointer for the Bobcats to tie the game up at 13 all. After exchanging points back and forth, Sandra Mason had a three ball and a jumper go in for Lees-McRae as they went into the locker room up 23-20 on Converse.
With 6:41 left in the third quarter, Wilson brought the Valkyries within one point of the Bobcat lead but Mason had another three-pointer fall her way to make it a 28-24 game in Lees-McRae favor.
Jordan Brown was able to tie it all up at 28 points apiece with just under five minutes left in the quarter. Six straight points from the Bobcats hurt the Valkyries as they were now down 34-28. Converse fought their way back as
Alisa Davenport was able to tie the game up, once again, with each team having 34 points. The Valkyries would not be able to tie the game back up or regain a lead the rest of the quarter as they went into the final period of regulation down 44-38.
The Bobcats started off the final quarter of play by extending their lead to eight points before a jumper by Brown and a pair of free throws by
Colbie Perry went the Converse way to bring them within four points of the advantage. With 2:25 left, Wilson's layup made it 55-53 with the Bobcats still having the lead. A layup and a free throw would extend Lees-McRae lead back up to five, but it was quickly demolished as Perry sank a three-pointer with 1:08 left on the clock. The two-point lead was not enough for the Bobcats as they had two free-throws go their way giving them their first Conference Carolinas win of the season.
Wilson led Converse with a double-double, tallying 19 points, 12 rebounds, two assists and one steal. Cross followed with nine points, five rebounds, two assists and 5 steals while
Amaia Parkins recorded 11 rebounds.
Next Up:
Converse will host Southern Wesleyan on Saturday afternoon for senior day and the last home game of the season.
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