Converse Drops Season Finale to Limestone on Senior Night

Converse Drops Season Finale to Limestone on Senior Night

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Converse (9-19, 5-14 CC) basketball team dropped its season finale to the visiting Limestone (23-4, 18-2 CC) Saints on Friday evening inside Hannah Gymnasium. After a competitive first half Limestone doubled up the Valkyries in the second half (36-18) to run away with the 65-41 win.

Paige Johnson led the Vals with a team-high 10 points while Shakori Jennings-Shuler chipped in nine off the bench. Lindsey Rogers and Dominique Hill each pulled down five boards. For the game Converse shot only 25.9% (14-54), including 4-of-23 from behind the arc.

A pair of free throws by Hill gave Converse the early 2-0 lead with 8:35 remaining in the opening quarter, but Limestone used a 13-2 run over the next 5+ minutes of game action to take a 13-4 advantage. However, the Vals did not let the game get out of hand, scoring eight in a row, capped off by Jennings-Shuler's layup to pull within 13-12. Taylour Hunter knocked down a basket at the buzzer to send the Saints to the second leading 15-12.

The Saints extended their lead to start the second with six straight before Jordan Brooks nailed one from downtown followed by a Johnson layup to trim the deficit to 22-18 with 7:29 left before halftime. A pair of threes and a single free throw from LC helped to push the lead to double-digits (29-18), but Converse scored the final four points of the first half to head to the locker room trailing 29-23.

After the two teams traded the initial 10 points of the third quarter Limestone went on a 17-4 run to end the third, racing out to its biggest lead (51-32) heading into the final quarter of play. That lead grew to 27 (61-34) following a three pointer by Jayla Morrow at the 6:00 minute mark of the fourth. Jennings-Shuler connected on a layup with 1:54 left to bring the lead down to 63-40, but that was as close as the Valkyries got as Limestone pulled out the 65-41 victory.

Smith led Limestone with 17 points and 14 rebounds while Jasmine Richardson added 16 points. Aal;iyah Davis pulled down 13 boards. The Saints shot 35.8% (24-67) from the floor and knocked down 13-of-33 from distance.

NOTABLES FROM THE SEASON

  • Most wins in school history (9)
  • Most conference wins in program history (5)
  • First time with a winning home record (8-7)
  • Dean Walsh became all-time winningest coach