SPARTANBURG, S.C.  – Despite a impressive showing in the first quarter against the fifth-ranked team in the southeast region, the Converse University women's basketball team (8-12, 4-7 Conference Carolinas) fell by a final score of 63-43 to the Belmont Abbey Crusaders (16-5, 10-1 Conference Carolinas) on Wednesday night at the Weisiger Center.

Junior guard Zariyah Washington led the team in scoring with 11 points. Redshirt senior center Sydney Wilson and graduate guard Jordan Brown were the team's top rebounders with eight each. Brown also led the team in assists, five, and steals, three, accounting for half of the team's total in each stat.

The Valkyries got off to a hot start, growing the lead to as many as seven points and holding Belmont Abbey without a basket for almost three-and-a-half minutes. The Crusaders shot just 25% in the quarter while the Valkyries shot 46.2% from the field. Converse entered the second quarter up six points 13-7.

The same could not be said for the second quarter as the Crusaders found a rhythm and managed to interrupt the Valkyrie's. Converse managed just four points in the quarter while Belmont Abbey totalled 18 in the second frame. Belmont Abbey took a 25-17 lead into the locker room at halftime.

While the Valkyries did fare better in the second half, the Crusaders continued to outpace the purple and gold and secured the 63-43 victory.

Converse returns to the court Saturday, Feb. 3 as they host the final of their three-game homestand. They host the Barton Bulldogs at 2 P.M. in the Weisiger Center.

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