DUE WEST, S.C. –  The Converse University women's basketball team needed overtime to secure a Valentine's-Day victory over the Erskine Flying Fleet by a final score of 84-81 Saturday afternoon at Belk Arena on the campus of Erskine College.

With the win, Converse improves to 4-20 overall and 3-13 in Conference Carolinas play. Erskine falls to 2-20 and 1-15 in conference play.

Senior Mazie Helpman led all players in scoring with 26 points, just one short of her career high. Freshman Madison Fileen (21) and junior Tatiana Brown (20) also scored in the double digits.

How It Happened
The Valkyries scored first as Helpman sank a layup just 10 seconds into the game. The lead changed hands with each of the next three baskets before Erskine settled into a first-quarter lead that held for the rest of the quarter. Erskine held their largest lead of the quarter with a layup made with 2:19 remaining but the Valkyries scored the final six points of the quarter and trailed 22-16 heading into the second quarter.

Erskine made the first two baskets of the quarter and got the lead back up to double digits where it stayed for most of the quarter, peaking at 14 points three times during the quarter. Fileen drilled the last basket of the first half, a three pointer, to cut the lead back to single digits, 39-31, heading into halftime.

The Valkyries cut the lead down to just three points in under two minutes of the second half and then to just two points less than three minutes later. The Flying Fleet led by as many as eight over the final five minutes of the third quarter but Converse cut the lead to four, 58-54, heading into the fourth quarter.

With a 6-2 run to open the fourth quarter, the game was tied for the first time since the first quarter. Erskine regained the lead just 20 seconds later and held onto it for the next four and a half minutes before Converse tied the game once again with just under two minutes remaining in the game as Brown sank two free throws. Those were the final points of regulation as the teams took a 72-72 tie into the Valkyries' first overtime game of the season.
Much like all the way back in the first quarter, the teams exchanged the lead with Converse claiming it first. After Erskine reclaimed it once again, a layup from Helpman gave Converse a two-point lead once again with 1:21 remaining. Erskine tied the game on their next possession but a jump shot from senior Alexis Becker, making her first appearance of the season due to an injury sustained in the team's last game of the 2025-26 season, gave Converse what turned out to be the game's final lead. Fileen sank two free throws following an Erskine turnover, putting the Valkyries firmly in the driver's seat. Becker sank a free throw on the Valkyries' final possession as Converse won 84-81.

Inside the Box Score

• Helpman led all scorers with 26 points on 10-24, 41.7 percent, shooting from the field and 5-6, 83.3 percent, shooting from the free throw line. She made one three pointer.
• Fileen and Brown also scored 20+ points with 21 and 20 respectively.
• The team's total of 84 points is a season high for the Valkyries.
• The Valkyries also recorded season highs in: field goals made (29), free throws (24), rebounds (55) and steals (15).
• Becker, in her first game back, tallied five points, six rebounds and an assist.
• Helpman led the Valkyries with nine rebounds.
• Fileen led Converse with four assists, half of the team's total.
• The Valkyries out rebounded Erskine 55-53.

Up Next
The Valkyries head on the road on Wednesday, Feb. 18 to take on the Shorter Hawks in Rome, Georgia. Tipoff is scheduled for 5 P.M. Converse returns home on Saturday, Feb. 21 to take on the Lees-McRae Bobcats for senior day. Tipoff is scheduled for 2 P.M.

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