SPARTANBURG, S.C. - Head basketball coach Dean Walsh has announced a competitive schedule for the upcoming 2018-19 Converse Valkyries season. This year's slate will include three exhibitions versus Division I opponents, the annual Courtyard Classic, and a 20-game Conference Carolinas agenda.
"We are eagerly anticipating the season," said Walsh. "Preseason has gone well and there has been a lot of excitement surrounding this season."
The Valkyries will look to replace last year's leading scorer, as well as key departures from a team that just missed the conference tournament one season ago. "We will have more depth this year and have to have many step up their roles due to some key losses from last season," Walsh added.
Converse will begin the season on 11/6, traveling to Charleston for its first exhibition against Charleston Southern. Four days later the Vals will welcome Mars Hill to Hannah Gymnasium followed by another exhibition at USC Upstate. Converse will host the annual Courtyard Classic on Nov 16-17. Day one of the tournament will have the Purple and Gold squaring off with Regent University before concluding the two-day event with Piedmont International.
A trip to West Virginia on 11/24 has the Valkyries matched up with Bluefield State. Converse will end the month on 11/28 with a home contest against league favorite Limestone before playing its only home contest for December on 12/1 against Erskine.
Four consecutive road contests will finish out December as Converse faces Emmanuel (12/4), Limestone (12/8), Barton (12/17), finishing 2018 with its final exhibition at Gardner-Webb (12/30). The new year will begin on 1/2 as the Vals welcome North Greenville to the Weisger Center. Converse will hit the road once more to showcase its talents at King (1/5) and Mount Olive (1/8). Bluefield State will head to Spartanburg on 1/12 as CC steps out of conference.
January 16 and 19 will see the Valkyries away from home, playing Belmont Abbey and Erskine, respectively. A quick return to campus to face Barton on 1/21 sends the Valkyries on the highways for three games. The first stop will be in Mars Hill, N.C. on 1/28 to face the Lions before returning to conference play on 1/30 at Southern Wesleyan. The three-game road trip will conclude on 2/2 in Banner Elk, N.C. against Lees-McRae.
Southern Wesleyan comes to the friendly confines of Hannah Gymnasium on 2/6 followed by a trip to North Greenville on 2/9. The last part of the season contains a season-long five-game homestand, starting with Belmont Abbey on 2/13. Mount Olive (2/16), King (2/20), and Emmanuel (2/23) are in the itinerary before the Valkyries close out the regular season with Lees-McRae on 2/26.
Converse will rely on talent and speed in order to be a part of the 2018-19 Conference Carolinas Women's Basketball Championships, which will be held on March 4, 7-8. First round matches will be hosted by higher seeds, while both semifinals and finals matches will be hosted by highest remaining seed.
" There is a lot of talent and speed on this team, we now just have to work on the chemistry of one another. When that happens I believe we will surprise some people," Walsh concluded.