TIGERVILLE, S.C. – Junior guard Dominique Hill (Elgin, S.C.) came up with a huge steal and fastbreak layup with less than 30 seconds to play, giving the Converse basketball team its first and only lead of the game, allowing the Valkyries to win their program-record fifth game in row after beating North Greenville 49-47 on Saturday evening. Hill finished with eight points and five steals to go along with four rebounds and two assists.
GAME INFORMATION
Score: North Greenville 47, Converse 49
Records: North Greenville (5-18, 4-12 CC), Converse (11-10, 5-10 CC)
Location: Hayes Gymnasium
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
- Sophomore Nigeria Davis (Newberry, S.C.) collected her 8th double-double of the season after scoring a team-high 17 points to go along with 11 rebounds.
- Abigail Lewis (Savannah, Ga.) and Jordan Brooks (San Angelo, Texas) chipped in seven points each.
- Converse held a 45-42 advantage on the boards.
- North Greenville shot a dismal 5.6% (1-18) from three.
HOW IT HAPPENED
FIRST QUARTER
North Greenville was firing on all cylinders to start the game, racing out to a massive 17-1 lead with two minutes remaining in the opening quarter. However, Converse did not let the contest get too far out of hand as Hill knocked down a three and Davis added an old-fashioned three-point play to pull the Purple and Gold to within 17-7 after one period of play.
SECOND QUARTER
Davis got the scoring started in the second frame, knocking down a jumper just outside the paint, followed by her first three of the year, bringing the Valkyries to within 19-12 at the 8:34 mark. However, back-to-back buckets by the Crusaders pushed the lead back to double-digits (23-12).
Converse went on a 9-0 run over the next five minutes of game action, capped off by an Alexis McMillian three-pointer and jumper, to inch closer at 23-21. Karen Donehew connected on a layup at the end of the half to send NGU into the locker room leading 25-21.
THIRD QUARTER
Four consecutive points to open the second half gave North Greenville a 31-23 advantage. That mark remained the majority of the frame, but Converse used an 11-3 run to end the period, heading into the fourth trailing 34-32.
FOURTH QUARTER
The start of the final period was a back-and-forth affair as the two teams continued to trade baskets, However, a Lewis hoop-and-harm narrowed the deficit to the closest it had been all game (40-39). North Greenville used a pivotal 7-0 run over three minutes to take a commanding 47-39 lead.
Little did they know, that would be the last time the Crusaders would score. Lewis started the final run with a jumper from the top of the key followed by two enormous baskets from Brooks. After Davis split a pair of free throws, bringing the game to 47-46 in favor of NGU, the stage was set for Hill's magic. North Greenville called a timeout to advance the ball, but Hill stepped in front of the inbounds pass and went coast-to-coast for what would prove to be the game-winning score.
UP NEXT
Converse is now finished with the road portion of its schedule and will now have the remaining games inside the friendly confines of the Weisiger Center, starting with Belmont Abbey on Wednesday, February 13. Tip-off for that contest is scheduled for 6 p.m.