WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – The Converse University women's basketball team dropped their nonconference matchup with the Winston-Salem State Rams by a final score of 101-67 on Wednesday evening.

With the loss, Converse falls to 0-3 on the season. Winston-Salem State improves to 1-1.
 
How It Happened
The Rams put up eight points before Converse netted their first basket, a three pointer from freshman Madison Fileen two and half minutes into the game. That lead continued to fluctuate throughout the opening quarter, expanding slightly to 12 points, 27-15, by the start of the second quarter.

The teams traded baskets over the first four possessions of the second quarter, with Converse scoring on two and slightly cutting into the lead. Then a nearly-two-minute scoring drought was snapped by a WSSU basket that kicked off a run which added six to their lead.

Senior Mazie Helpman broke that streak up on the next possession, scoring her eighth point of the game on a layup. After a WSSU missed three pointer, Helpman again scored on the next possession, cutting the lead to 13 with 5:23 to play in the opening half. Junior Tatiana Brown and senior Andrea Gutierrez Ciordia combined for all nine of the Valkyries points following Helpman's final basket of the half, cutting into the deficit. Winston-Salem State led 44-32 heading into halftime.

Winston-Salem State opened the second half with a 14-2 run over the six minutes, putting Converse down 24 with four minutes remaining in the third quarter. Freshman Jaclyn Wright-Thompson nailed a three pointer at the 3:26 mark to put Converse back on the board. WSSU followed with another six-point run over the next minute and a half before Brown finally stopped the run with a layup. The Valkyries then forced a turnover and Gutierrez Ciordia netted her own layup, giving her 10 points up to that point of the contest. The Rams made a last-second basket to put them up 68-41 heading into the final 10 minutes.

The Rams outpaced the Valkyries 33-26 in the final quarter, sealing their 101-67 victory over Converse.
 
Inside the Box Score

• Brown led the Valkyries in scoring with 17 points. She shot 8-10, 80.0 percent from the field and 1-2, 50.0 percent from the free throw line.
• Helpman and Gutierrez Ciordia each also scored double-digit points with 15 and 12 respectively. Gutierrez Ciordia has posted double-digits in every game this season.
• Brown also led Converse in rebounding with eight boards.
• Fileen dished out a team-high six assists. She netted seven points of her own.
• The Valkyries shot 24-58, 41.4 percent from the field. Winston-Salem State shot 44-85, 51.8 percent.
• Converse secured eight offensive rebounds and converted them into 11 second-chance points.

Up Next
The Valkyries head to Franklin Springs, Georgia to tip-off Conference Carolinas action against Emmanuel University on Saturday, Nov. 22. Tipoff is scheduled for 2 P.M.

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