SPARTANBURG, S.C. –  The Converse University women's basketball team kept things close but ultimately fell to the top-ranked team in Conference Carolinas, the Francis Marion Patriots, by a final score of 77-66 Thursday night at the Weisiger Center.

With the loss, Converse falls to 3-20 on the season and 2-13 in conference play. The Patriots improve to 16-7 overall and 13-2 in conference play.

Freshman Madison Fileen led the Valkyries in scoring with 17 points.

How It Happened
After trading threes to open the game, Francis Marion raced out to a four-point lead before a six-point swing for the Valkyries gave Converse their first lead of the game with 5:48 remaining in the first quarter. Converse grew that lead to four points, 11-7 and held onto it for over three minutes before the Patriots tied the game 11-11 with just under three minutes remaining in the quarter. A 10-2 run to end the quarter put Francis Marion up 21-13 heading into the second quarter.

Led by five points from Fileen, an 11-7 run over the first five minutes and 15 seconds of the second quarter cut the Francis Marion lead to just four points, 28-24. After a crucial stop on defense, freshman Skyler Ellison cut the lead to just one point on consecutive Valkyrie possessions. The Valkyries' regained the lead for the first time since the first quarter as Fileen hit a three pointer with just under three minutes to play in the second quarter. Francis Marion took the lead into halftime, however, as they scored the final four points of the first half and led by five, 37-32.

By outscoring the Patriots 11-9 over the first five minutes of the third quarter, the Valkyires cut the FMU lead down to just three points, 46-43. The Francis Marion lead grew by just two points over the final five minutes of the quarter, capped off by a steal from freshman London Vaughn and pull-up jump shot from Fileen which allowed Converse the last full possession of the quarter. Francis Marion led 55-50 heading into the final quarter.

The Valkyries netted two points as senior Emma Kanz sank both free throws on the opening possession of the quarter. The Valkyries cut the lead to just one point with a beautiful inbound play from Kanz to graduate student Janiyah Hagood. The Patriots scored 11 unanswered points over the next two minutes and forty-five seconds to go up double digits. Hagood stemmed the bleeding for Converse by making both free throws with 6:17 remaining in the game. An 11-10 run to end the game put Francis Marion on top 77-66 at the final whistle.
 
Inside the Box Score

• Fileen led the Valkyries with  points. She shot 7-12, 58.3 percent, from the field and 3-7, 42.9 percent, from beyond the arc.
• Junior Tatiana Brown (14), Hagood (12) and Ellison (11) also all posted double-digit scoring efforts.
• Hagood led Converse with seven rebounds.
• Fileen dished out five assists.
• Vaughn recorded a team-high three steals.

Up Next
The Valkyries are back in action for a Valentine's-Day battle against the Erskine Flying Fleet on Saturday, Feb. 14 in Due West. Tipoff is scheduled for 2 P.M.

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