SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Senior guard Tiffani Riggen saved her best game for last, scoring a career-high 26 points while setting a school record by hitting eight three-pointers, but it was not enough as the Converse basketball team dropped its season finale to Lees-McRae by the final of 75-70 on Tuesday evening. Riggen's career-high coming into the contest was nine points.
Markia Stacey got the scoring started with a three-pointer during the Bobcats first possession before Riggen started her career night with a deep three of her own at the 7:59 mark of the opening quarter. However, back-to-back shots from behind the arc followed by a layup staked LMC to an 11-3 lead. With the score at 17-11 in favor of the Bobcats, Converse used seven straight over the final two minutes of the first to lead 18-17.
Offense was hard to come by in the second quarter for both teams, but Lees-McRae found a way to score the basket, pushing out to a 30-24 lead heading into the locker room.
A jumper and layup by the Bobcats extended the lead to double-digits to start the third quarter (34-24), but Riggen knocked down a three to spark a 17-2 run to give Converse the lead at 41-36 with five and a half to play in the third. However, LMC stormed right back with a 10-2 run of its own to push ahead 46-43. From that point Converse outscored the Bobcats 7-5 to trail 51-50 leading into the final stanza.
Alexis McMillian connected on a free throw and Riggen continued her hot shooting, giving Converse the lead back at 54-53 less than a minute into the fourth period. However, in a game of runs, the Bobcats used a pivotal 19-7 spurt to sit comfortably ahead 72-61 with 2:05 on the clock. From that point it was all academic as Lees-McRae milked away the clock en route to the 75-70 win.
Abigail Lewis nearly missed a double-double, scoring 13 points to go along with nine rebounds in her final game with the Purple and Gold. McMillian and Dominique Hill chipped in seven points each, while Hill dished out a career-high 11 assists.