CENTRAL, S.C.  – Despite three Valkyries posting double-digit scoring efforts, the Converse University women's basketball team (10-15, 6-9 Conference Carolinas) fell to the Southern Wesleyan Warriors (10-15, 7-8 Conference Carolinas) by a final score of 68-56.

Graduate guard Jordan Brown led the team in scoring with 15 points, her second-highest scoring total of the season. Senior guard Alisa Davenport was the team's second-leading scorer with 12 points, her highest scoring total of the season. Redshirt senior Sydney Wilson led the team in rebounding with 10 and completed her double-double with 11 points.

The Valkyries and Warriors matched baskets in the first quarter with Converse actually sinking more. Southern Wesleyan's two first-quarter three pointers came on their first two baskets of the game, separated by a Converse layup, giving the Warriors an early four-point lead. That lead fluctuated until just under halfway through the opening quarter when Davenport gave the Valkyries their first lead of the game with a three pointer. Following that three-point shot, both teams sank a field goal but the Warriors regained the lead with a pair of free throws late in the quarter, taking their one-point advantage, 12-11, into the second quarter.

Southern Wesleyan took that lead and ran with it, sinking 50% of their field goals in the second quarter. The Valkyries only sank two fewer shots overall in the quarter. The lead once again jumped between three points and a single point until the Warriors three point shots began to outpace Converse's two-point focused attack. Down the stretch of the first half, Converse was again able to match baskets with the Warriors, but it wasn't until after Southern Wesleyan increased the lead to 10 points. That was the same margin they took into halftime, leading 32-22.

Not content with their performance in the second quarter, Converse outscored the Warriors in the third quarter including five of the first seven points of the second half. Down 10 with five-and-a-half minutes remaining in the third quarter, the Valkyries cut that lead to just three points a minute later and retied the game for the first time since the first quarter at 40 points with three minutes remaining in the third quarter. Southern Wesleyan scored the final four points of the quarter to give themselves a lead of the same size, 44-40.

Southern Wesleyan immediately grew the lead to 10 points in the final quarter. Once they did so, the Valkyries fought valiantly, but were unable to get the score closer than seven points and ultimately fell 68-56.

The Valkyries return home for their final two home games of the season beginning on Wednesday, Feb. 21 as they host Lees-McRae in the team's final northwest division contest. Tipoff is scheduled for 5 P.M.

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