DUE WEST, S.C.  – Behind 26 points from redshirt senior center Sydney Wilson and a 10-point advantage in the second quarter, the Converse University women's basketball team (13-15, 9-9 Conference Carolinas) defeated the Erskine Flying Fleet (4-22, 1-17 Conference Carolinas) by a final score of 59-42.

Wilson's 26 points account for just over 44% of the team's total for the game and is one point short of her season high. Three other Valkyries all tied as the team's second-leading scoring with six points. The Henderson, Tennessee native also led all players with 14 rebounds, a season high for the redshirt senior.

The Fleet got off to an early 5-0 lead before Wilson sank the Valkyries' first basket of the game just over three minutes into the game. Following that basket, Converse put up the next nine points of the game, giving them 11 unanswered from the Flying Fleet. Erskine netted five points over the final two minutes while Wilson added all four of Converse's points during that same stretch, giving the Valkyries a 13-10 lead heading into the second quarter.

After an offensive rebound from Erskine turned into a game-tying three pointer, junior guard Reagan Cameron responded with 20 seconds later with a three pointer of her own and junior center Mary-Grace Durham further expanded with free throw and layup, scoring in her third consecutive game. Between the Flying Fleet's first basket of the second and their second, Converse put up 15 points and held Erskine scoreless for almost nine minutes. Six Valkyries scored during that Erskine drought. Following back-to-back layups from the Flying Fleet, junior guard Elisa Solé Sanchez turned a steal into a driving layup, the last basket of the first half, giving Converse a 30-17 edge heading into the locker room.

The Valkyries kept the good times rolling by scoring the first 11 points of the second half over the first two-and-a-half minutes of the third quarter. Senior guard Alisa Davenport, standout star from Saturday's victory over UNC Pembroke, netted all six of her points in the game during that span, both coming on three pointers. But in a game of streaks it was Erskine's turn to make a run, scoring 12 unanswered over four-and-a-half minutes. Wilson ended the drought with a layup with just under two to play in the quarter. Erskine netted the final two points of the quarter on separate trips to the free throw line, cutting the Valkyries' lead to 12 points, 43-31, heading into the final 10 minutes of play.

Converse once again set themselves apart from the Flying Fleet as they dominated the home team, only allowing them three points over the first six-and-a-half minutes while netting 12 of their own. Despite Erskine ending the game on an 8-4 run it was too little too late as Converse secured the 59-42 victory.

With the regular season complete, the Valkyries look ahead to the Conference Carolinas tournament in which they have earned the No. 7 seed. As the No. 7 seed, they will square off with No. 12 King at a neutral site contest hosted by No. 6 Young Harris on Sunday, March 3. The winner will take on the Mountain Lions on Monday, March 4.

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