BANNER ELK, N.C. –  The Converse University women's basketball fell to the Lees-McRae Bobcats by a final score of 71-58 Wednesday night at the Williams Gymnasium on the campus of Lees-McRae College.

The Valkyries fall to 1-14 with the loss and 0-7 in Conference Carolinas action. The Bobcats improve to 8-4 and 5-2 in conference play.

Senior Mazie Helpman led Converse in scoring with 17 points.

How It Happened
The Bobcats struck first with a free throw just under one minute into the game and proceeded to build their lead up to nine points, with a would-be 12-0 run interrupted by a three pointer from Helpman. Converse immediately responded with a nine-point run of their own over the next three minutes, tying the game with 42 seconds left in the first quarter. Eleven seconds later, Lees-McRae sank the final basket of the quarter, going up 14-12 heading into the second quarter.

Lees-McRae added three more points on the opening possession of the second quarter, but the Valkyries followed with a six-point swing over the next three minutes to take their first lead of the game 19-18 with just under 5:30 to play in the first half. The Valkyries' lead reached a maximum of four points before Lees-McRae tied the game inside of four minutes remaining in the half but senior Emma Kanz reclaimed the lead 15 seconds later with a free throw. The Bobcats took the lead back for themselves on their next possession. The game was tied one more time as Helpman sank a jump shot, scoring the game's 50th point and tying the game at 25 points each. A 6-2 run for Lees-McRae put them up four heading into halftime.

Offensive woes plagued the beginning of the second half for Converse as Lees-McRae opened on a 12-4 run putting them up double digits through the first five minutes of the third quarter. The Bobcats led 49-39 heading into the fourth quarter.

The Bobcats built their lead up to 14 points, their largest of the game, with just over five minutes remaining in the game. They held on to win 71-58.
 
Inside the Box Score

• Helpman led Converse in scoring with 17 points. She shot 7-12, 58.3 percent, from the field and 2-5, 40.0 percent from beyond the arc.
• Freshman Madison Fileen and senior Tatiana Brown also tallied double-digit scoring efforts with 10 points each.
• Helpman also grabbed 10 rebounds, leading the team.
• Fileen dished out a team-high five assists.

Up Next
The Valkyries return to action on Friday, Jan. 9 as they host the Shorter Hawks at the Weisiger Center. Tipoff is scheduled for 5 P.M.

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