SPARTANBURG, S.C.- Despite three Valkyries in double digits, the Tornado used a 13-2 run to open the second half and 61.5% shooting from the floor in the half to take a 77-61 victory on Tuesday evening. Converse falls to 1-3 on the young season and 0-2 in Conference Carolinas play, while King (Tenn.) improves to 4-2 on the season and 1-2 in league play.
Ashley Salgado (Ottumwa, Iowa) led the Valkyries with 14 points off the bench. Jenna White (Fort Mill, S.C.) chipped in 13 points, while Margo Dill (Hilton Head, S.C.) had 12.
Logan Hollis (Spartanburg, S.C.) scored the opening bucket of the second half before King went on a 13-0 run to extend its lead to 49-28. White snapped the run going on a 5-0 run herself hitting a baseline three and a short jumper.
Converse would go on an 8-0 run in the latter half of the second stanza to cut the Tornado lead down to 11 with four points apiece from Salgado and Christhea Mitchell (Jacksonboro, S.C.).
King would finish the game with scoring 10 of the final 17 points to take the victory. Salgado went 8-8 from the charity stripe hitting 6-6 down the stretch.
Converse held its own for most of the first half leading 10-7 going into the first media. King would rally back and take a 14 point lead before the Valkyries trimmed it to 10 (36-26) heading into the locker room. Dill had 10 points in the first half.
King shot 58% from the floor in the game, shooting 54.2% and 61.5% in the first and second half respectively. The Tornado three point shooters lit it up from behind the arc hitting 9-19 (47.4%) with five of those coming from Chelsea Bowling. Bowling finished the game with a game-high 17 points.
Converse created chances on the defensive end creating 25 turnovers and 16 steals. Mitchell led the Valkyries with five steals. The Valkyries had 17 assists to their 14 turnovers. Erin Horne (Orlando, Fla.) dished out eight assists.
The Valkyries scored 26 points off turnovers and found production off the bench with 39 points.
Converse will hit the floor again Saturday, December 6 at 2pm to take on Lees-McRae.