MOUNT OLIVE, N.C.- A slow start by the Valkyries and a hot shooting first quarter by the Trojans hands Converse the 68-47 defeat on the road in Conference Carolinas action on Saturday afternoon.
Converse (1-4, 0-3) was unable to slow down Mount Olive (4-3, 3-0) in the first quarter as the Trojans outscored the Valkyries 26-7 in the first 10 minutes of action. The Valkyries settled in the final 30 minutes of the contest making it a 42-40 game in favor of the Trojans.
The Valkyries were led offensively by Paige Johnson (Greenville, S.C.) and Dah'Vielle Lucas (Mauldin, S.C.) with nine points each. Brianna James (Spartanburg, S.C.), Erin Horne (Orlando, Fla.), Kassidy Moorhouse (Anderson, S.C.) and Logan Hollis (Spartanburg, S.C.) chipped in six points apiece. Yashee Johnson (West Columbia, S.C.) grabbed a season-high 10 boards.
Converse outscored Mount Olive in the second quarter 12-11 behind six points from Paige Johnson. After trading three pointers to start the scoring Johnson would score the next six points hitting a jumper, a three and going 1-2 from the line. Bri James finished the scoring for the Valkyries in the quarter with a long jumper.
The Valkyries struggled from the field to start the second half going scoreless the first 5:47 of the third quarter before Kassidy Moorhouse knocked down a three. Dah'Vielle Lucas hit a jumper and went 1-2 from the line for the Valkyries.
Erin Horne tried to get the Valkyries back in the contest to start the fourth quarter after knocking down back-to-back threes just a minute into the fourth quarter. Late in the quarter Converse found Logan Hollis down low on back-to-back possessions. Lucas continued the scoring with a lay-up followed by Hollis with her third basket of the contest.
Converse returns home for the final two contests of the 2015 year hosting Conference Carolinas foe North Greenville on Saturday, December 12 at 2pm as part of Faculty and Staff Appreciation Game and will host Augusta University, December 15 in a non-conference contest.