BELMONT, N.C. –  The Converse University women's basketball team fell in their divisional matchup to the Belmont Abbey Crusaders by a final score of 79-64 Wednesday evening at the Wheeler Center on the campus of Belmont Abbey College.

With the loss, Converse falls to 2-18 on the season and 1-11 in Conference Carolinas play. Belmont Abbey improves to 16-4 and 11-2 in conference play.

Junior Tatiana Brown led Converse in scoring with 13 points.

How It Happened
The Valkyries opened with the first basket of the game, taking an early lead with a three pointer from senior Mazie Helpman. The Valkyries held onto that lead for nearly 90 seconds before Belmont Abbey took the lead for the final time in the contest. The Crusaders ended the quarter with a 14-6 run over the final five minutes, taking a 14-point, 23-9, lead into the second quarter.

It took over three and a half minutes for either team to score, a scoreless streak that was ended by graduate student Janiyah Hagood with a three pointer. Belmont Abbey responded with their own 10 second laters. The teams ended on an 11-11 run following the first two baskets of the quarter, led by senior Emma Kanz and Brown with four points each, and Belmont Abbey took another 14-point lead, 37-23, into halftime.

Converse nearly kept up with the Crusaders over the first 5:20 of the second half with Belmont Abbey holding a 10-8 advantage over that span. They ended with a 13-11 advantage over the rest of the quarter, adding four points to their lead during the quarter and taking a 60-42 lead into the fourth quarter.

The Valkyries fought to cut the lead slightly in the fourth quarter but ultimately fell 79-64.
 
Inside the Box Score

• Brown led the Valkyries with 13 points. She shot 9-12, 75.0 percent, from the free throw line.
• Brown completed her double-double with 11 rebounds, her second consecutive game with a double-double.
• Freshman Madison Fileen dished out four assists, a team high.

Up Next
The Valkyries return to action on Saturday, Feb. 7 as they head to Mount Olive to take on the Mount Olive Trojans. Tipoff is scheduled for 4 P.M.

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