BANNER ELK, N.C. – Sophomore forward Nigeria Davis (Newberry, S.C.) capped off a sensational week with her seventh double-double of the season, scoring 18 points and grabbing 18 boards, to help lead the Converse basketball team to its third consecutive win, taking care of Lees-McRae, 68-60, on Saturday afternoon.
GAME INFORMATION
Score: Lees-McRae 60, Converse 68
Records: Lees-McRae (10-11, 7-7 CC), Converse (9-10, 3-10 CC)
Location: Williams Gymnasium
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
- Sophomore guard Jordan Brooks (San Angelo, Texas) produced her best output of the season after scoring 11 points.
- Abigail Lewis (Savannah, Ga.) joined the double-digit club with 10
- Bhrianna Jackson (Baltimore, Md.) added nine points and five rebounds.
- Converse shot 43.8% (21-48) from the floor and 24-of-32 (75%) from the charity stripe.
- The Valkyries held a 47-34 advantage on the boards.
HOW IT HAPPENED
FIRST QUARTER
Davis started the scoring for the Valkyries with a layup and pair of free throws, staking Converse to an early 4-0 lead. From that point it was a back-and-forth affair as the two teams traded baskets over the next several possessions.
With the score knotted at 7-all, Brooks connected on a jump shot to ignite an 8-0 run, capped off by a hoop-and-harm by Lewis at the 4:03 mark of the opening period. However, Lees-McRae outscored CC 10-2 the final four minutes to send the game to the second tied 17-17.
SECOND QUARTER
Ava Bethea connected on a layup two minutes into the quarter to give the Bobcats their first lead of the game. That advantage grew to 28-21 halfway through the period.
Ivy Collins (Myrtle Beach, S.C.) hit a free throw to tie the game at 31, but LMC scored five straight to push the advantage back out, taking a 36-32 lead into the intermission.
THIRD QUARTER
Lees-McRae scored five of the first points to go ahead 41-34 following a Markia Stacey three-pointer. However, Converse used a crucial 15-1 run to regain the lead 49-42 with fthree and a half to go in the third.
The Bobcats closed the gap to 49-47 heading into the final period after scoring the last five points of the third quarter.
FOURTH QUARTER
Both teams hit an offensive stride during the fourth quarter, exchanging baskets over the course of four minutes of game action. Converse gained breathing room with a steady post attack and superior passing, pushing ahead 62-54 with 2:40 remaining in the game.
The Bobcats did not go quietly, scratching back to within four points (63-59), but that would be as close as the game would get as Converse made clutch free throws down the stretch and took home the Conference Carolinas win.
UP NEXT
Converse will be back in action on Wednesday, February 6 as it hosts Southern Wesleyan at Hannah Gymnasium. Tip-off is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.