SPARTANBURG, S.C. – For the first time in the school's NCAA era (since the 2002-03 season), the Converse University women's basketball team (11-15, 7-9 Conference Carolinas) have clinched a division title, posting a 5-1 division record. They did so with a 72-52 victory over the Lees-McRae Bobcats (2-19, 1-15 Conference Carolinas) Wednesday night at the Weisiger Center.
Eleven wins also ties the program NCAA record for wins in a season.
In just 23 minutes played, redshirt senior center Sydney Wilson led all players in scoring with 20 points. She also led all players in rebounding with 11. Graduate guard Jordan Brown netted 16 points for the Valkyries, her second-highest point total of the season. Rounding out the Valkyries' trio of double-digit scorers was junior guard Elisa Solé Sanchez, who posted 13 points.
Converse held all scorers from Lees-McRae under 10 points, with the highest total being a pair of Bobcats tied at eight.
Wilson sank the opening basket of the game for the Valkyries. Following a Lees-McRae basket, midway through the opening minute, Brown sank a layup of her own, giving Converse the lead with 39 minutes remaining in the game. The Valkyries never gave up that lead again.
The Valkyries went on to shoot 55% from the field in the opening quarter while holding the Bobcats to just 38.5%, a total of five made shots for Lees-McRae. The Converse lead grew to as many as 10 points, 22-12, in the opening quarter, exactly where it stood as the first 10 minutes elapsed.
The first five minutes of the second quarter saw the teams deadlocked, trading baskets with Lees-McRae holding a one point advantage in the quarter. Following those opening five minutes of the quarter, Converse scored nine of the next 12 points to close the quarter, putting them up 14 points, 38-24, at halftime.
In what may be the Valkyries' best quarter of the season, the Valkyries started the second half on a 17-0 run over the first seven minutes of the third quarter. The Bobcats did not score until 3:19 remained in the third frame on a pair of free throws. Lees-McRae sank just one field goal during the period. Wilson outscored the entire Bobcat team in the third quarter with nine points of her own. Solé Sanchez matched their total.
Heading into the final quarter, Converse led Lees-McRae by 25 points, 55-30.
The Bobcats managed 50% shooting and 22 points in the final quarter, but even with the Valkyries' bench getting significant minutes, they only managed to cut the lead by five points in the final 10 minutes. Converse secured the 20-point, 72-52, victory.
The Valkyries return home one final time for the 2023-24 season as they host the UNC Pembroke Braves for senior day. Converse will be honoring six seniors at the game. Tipoff is scheduled for 2 P.M.
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