WILSON, N.C.- Horne's career-high night not enough for the Valkyries as Converse falls to Barton, 68-63, in a Conference Carolinas clash on Tuesday night on the road. Converse drops to 1-3 on the season and 0-2 in league play.
Erin Horne (Orlando, Fla.) led the Valkyries with a career-high 18 points and five rebounds. Dah'Vielle Lucas (Mauldin, S.C.) scored 13 points and chipped in a team-high six rebounds. Paige Johnson (Greenville, S.C.) added 13 points and Brianna James (Spartanburg, S.C.) scored eight points.
The game came down to the final minute and who would convert from the charity stripe. Barton (3-3, 1-1) knocked down two free throws with 59 seconds on the clock to take a 61-59 advantage late. Kelcee Dozier (Blythewood, S.C.) picked up her only points on the evening with two freebies to knot things at 61-all. A bulldog lay-up and going 5-6 from the line allowed Barton to push the advantage out of reach.
The duo of Paige Johnson and Erin Horne started off hot for the Valkyries scoring the first 11 points of the contest. Johnson scored the first four points followed by Horne with a lay-up. Johnson followed with a short jumper before Horne drained a three to give Converse an 11-6 lead early. Horne would knock down another trey to push the lead to 16-9.
Converse was tripped up in the second quarter scoring six points while allowing 13 points as Barton went on an 11-3 run the final 5:27 of the quarter to head into the break down 24-22.
Barton went on a 6-0 run knocking down back-to-back threes to open the third quarter to lead 30-22. Brianna James knocked down a three to end the run. Horne hit a mid-range jumper before the Bulldogs pushed their lead back to a six point game (33-27). Dah'Vielle Lucas knocked down a jumper and James hit another three to make it a 33-32 game.
Logan Hollis (Spartanburg, S.C.) hit a jumper followed by Lucas' back-to-back baskets gave the Valkyries the 38-35 advantage. Barton ended the quarter on a 10-2 run to take a 45-40 lead into the fourth quarter.
Barton pushed their lead to seven (49-42) with 8:22 left to play. Kassidy Moorhouse (Anderson, S.C.) drained a three along with a Lucas lay-up to cut into the deficit. The Bulldogs looked to push their lead out to five after hitting a trey but Erin Horne responded knocking down her third three of the game. Horne would tie things up at 52-all hitting both free throws with 5:15 to go in the contest.
Dah'Vielle Lucas would regain the lead with a triple followed by Horne's two free throws at 57-54 with 3:09 to go. The Valkyries and Bulldogs exchanged small leads over the next two minutes.
Converse continues their Conference Carolinas road trip with a trip to Mount Olive on Saturday, December 5. Tip-off is scheduled for 2pm.