Lions Pull Away Late to Hand Valkyries the Loss

Lions Pull Away Late to Hand Valkyries the Loss

FRANKLIN SPRINGS, GA.- Turnovers late spell demise for the Valkyries against Emmanuel (Ga.) on Thursday evening falling to the Lady Lions 52-44.  Converse (1-2, 0-1 CC) and Emmanuel (3-0, 1-0 CC) played a very tough and evenly matched game for more than 35 minutes before a handful of the Valkyries 29 turnovers allowed the Lions to extend a five point lead into a 13 point advantage.

Emmanuel created back-to-back turnovers with 3:30 remaining in the game to take the lead by seven.  The Lady Lions poked the ball away and went coast-to-coast on the fast break and drawing the foul to put the distance between the two squads.  Another Valkyrie miscue turned into an easy fast break lay-up on the other end and gave Emmanuel the 46-37 lead with just over three minutes to play.

The Lady Lions extended the lead to 13 at 52-39 after EC's Elise Coberly hit a jumper at the elbow.  Jakyra Washington (Durham, N.C.) would score the final five points for Converse.

The two teams matched each other basket for basket in the early going with the largest lead never exceeding more than four points.  Logan Hollis (Spartanburg, S.C.) would give the Valkyries it's largest lead of the game early, 10-7, after hitting back-to-back jumpers.

In the low scoring first half, the score was tied eight times with the last of the first half being at 18-all.  The Lady Lions would finish the half on a 4-0 run.

Converse would tie things up at 25-all in to start the second half on a three-ball by Washington. The Valkyries would re-take the lead at the 15:49 mark after Ashley Salgado (Ottumwa, Iowa) nails two freebies.

Emmanuel's Coberly took the lead for the Lady Lions with a jumper in the paint, 28-27.  From that point on the Valkyries would cut it to a one possession game for most of the second half before late turnovers allowed Emmanuel to run the deficit to double-digits and finally take the game 52-44.

Margo Dill (Hilton Head, S.C.) and Washington led the way for the Valkyries picking up eight points apiece.  Erin Horne (Orlando, Fla.) and Hollis each chipped in seven.

Dill led the team with 11 boards (six offensive) with Salgado grabbing 10 caroms.  Yashee Johnson (West Columbia, S.C.) finished the night with six points and six boards.

Converse out-rebounded Emmanuel 53-49 on the glass but was not enough to make up for the 29 turnovers.  Emmanuel turned the ball over 22 times.  Missed free throws were to blame as well as the Valkyries shot 54.5% (12-22) from the charity stripe.

Converse takes a break from competition until after the holiday.  The Valkyries will host King (Tenn.), Dec. 2.  Tip-off is at 7pm.