SPARTANBURG, S.C.- The Valkyries led the final 25:19 of the contest and held off a North Greenville comeback in the fourth quarter to pick up the first Conference Carolinas victory of the season, 79-76.
Converse (2-4, 1-3) posted four players in double-figures and one notching a double-double. Yashee Johnson (West Columbia, S.C.) notched her second career double-double grabbing a career-high 15 rebounds and 13 points. Brianna James (Spartanburg, S.C.) scored a career-high 20 points. Logan Hollis (Spartanburg, S.C.) chipped in 18 points on 9-12 shooting, while Dah'Vielle Lucas (Mauldin, S.C.) added 13 points.
Kelcee Dozier (Blythewood, S.C.) nailed two freebies at the 5:19 mark of the second quarter to give the Valkyries the 27-25 lead to spark a 19-8 run to end the quarter and allowed the Valkyries to take a 44-33 lead into the break.
Dah'Vielle Lucas posted six points during the rally while Caroline Dennehy (Charlotte, N.C.) recorded her first points of her career knocking down a triple and addind a lay-up. The Valkyries shot 70.6% from the floor and posted a season-high 31 points during the second quarter.
With the Valkyries lead up to 15 (51-36) midway through the third quarter, North Greenville (2-7, 0-3) started to chip away at the deficit bringing it to single digits heading into the fourth quarter (57-48).
NGU would tie things up at 75-all with 42 seconds left in regulation after knocking down a three. Bri James would give Converse the lead back hitting two free throws after attacking the rim. Yashee Johnson would seal the victory for the Valkyries with a short jumper with 17 seconds left.
Converse dominated the paint and the boards against NGU posting 50 points in the paint and a +12 margin on the glass. The Valkyries had 20 assists on 32 made baskets. Paige Johnson (Greenville, S.C.) and Bri James tallied seven assists apiece. Y. Johnson grabbed 15 rebounds with nine of those on the offensive glass to go with her three rejections. Hollis and Dozier added six board each.
This was the first victory for the Valkyries against NGU since Feb. 8, 2007 and snapped an 11 game losing streak to the Crusaders.
Converse faces Augusta University on Tuesday, December 15 for the final home contest of 2015. Tip-off is slated for 5:30pm.