WILSON, N.C. – The Converse College basketball team put together a solid effort but came up on the short end of a 79-58 score against Barton on Monday evening. The Bulldogs used a strong first half (+16) to earn the Conference Carolinas victory.
GAME INFORMATION
Score: Barton 79, Converse 58
Records: Barton (10-2, 3-2 CC), Converse (5-4, 1-4 CC)
Location: Wilson Gymnasium
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
- For the second-consecutive game, freshman guard Ellen Nardella (Myrtle Beach, S.C.) led the Valkyries in scoring, pouring in nine points after knocking down four shots.
- Senior Abigail Lewis (Savannah, Ga.) and junior Dominique Hill (Elgin, S.C.) chipped in eight points each. Hill was also able to dish out a team-best six assists.
- Nigeria Davis (Newberry, S.C.) pulled down a team-high 10 rebounds to go along with six points.
- The Valkyries shot a season-best 86.4% from the charity stripe (19-22)
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Quarter
Lewis connected on a layup 35 seconds into the contest to give Converse the early lead, but a 13-2 run over the next six minutes of game action pushed Barton out to a 13-4 lead.
The Bulldogs maintained the momentum and was able to extend their lead to double-digits (22-12) at the end of the first 10 minutes of play.
Second Quarter
A jumper by Khayla Mitchell at the 5:25 mark of the second quarter gave Barton its biggest lead of the contest (34-14).
However, the Valkyries continued to fight, knocking down their final six free throws of the half to send the game into the intermission trailing 42-26.
Third Quarter
Jordan Brooks (San Angelo, Texas) got the scoring started for the Purple and Gold in the second half, while Hill splashed in a corner three to trim the deficit to 11 (42-31) just under two minutes into the third quarter.
From that point the two teams traded baskets and Barton was able to hold onto the 11-13 point advantage. Hill knocked down her second triple of the quarter at the 5:15 mark to pull Converse to within 10 (48-38), but a crucial 13-2 run to end the third gave Barton a 61-40 lead heading to the fourth.
Fourth Quarter
The fourth quarter was equally played with each team scoring 18 points each, but it was not enough for the Valkyries as they dropped the 79-58 contest.
TURNING POINT
After Converse cut the deficit to 10 with just over five minutes to play in the third, Barton ran off 13-of-15 points to take a 21-point advantage into the final period of play.
UP NEXT
The Valkyries will enjoy the holidays before returning to the friendly confines of Hannah Gymnasium on Wednesday, January 2, playing host to North Greenville in Conference Carolinas action. Tip-off for that contest is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.