SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Converse College basketball team lost a heartbreaking 69-67 game versus Erskine College on Saturday afternoon inside the Weisiger Center. Converse, despite knocking down a season-high 11 three-pointers, lost its second game of the season on a final basket.
GAME INFORMATION
Score: Erskine 69, Converse 67
Records: Erskine (3-11, 2-6 CC) Converse (2-16, 1-8 CC)
Location: Hannah Gymnasium, Converse College, Spartanburg, S.C.
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
- Ashley Sides put together a magnificent game, scoring a team-high 15 points to go along with six rebounds and four assists.
- Alexis McMillian and Lindsey Hardin chipped in double-digits with 12 and 11 points, respectively.
- Sierra Davenport led the Valkyries with seven rebounds to go with seven points.
- Ellen Nardella added eight points off the bench for Converse.
- The Fleet held a 37-34 margin on the boards.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Quarter
Sides drained a three seconds into the contest, sparking a 7-0 run by Converse to begin the opening period. Emani Bell stopped that run with a three-pointer, trimming the Vals lead to 7-3 with 8:11 on the clock.
However, Converse continued to apply the pressure, pushing out to a comfortable 16-5 lead following a make from the charity stripe by Bhrianna Jackson. Erskine was able to put together a run of 10-4 to end the quarter, but Converse led 20-15 after one.
Second Quarter
Alliee Pattillo knocked down a triple, extending the advantage to 23-17, but seven in a row by Erskine allowed the Fleet to take its first lead of the contest (24-23) with 6:14 remaining in the first half. Back-to-back threes from Hardin and Sides pushed Converse back ahead, 29-27, but a 9-3 spurt by Erskine allowed the visitors to lead 36-32 at the break.
Third Quarter
Erskine scored the first four points of the second half, ballooning its lead to 40-32. However, Converse continued to hit shots from deep, connecting on three in a row followed by a layup from Davenport, cutting the deficit to 45-43.
From that point, the quarter became a back-and-forth affair, as Erskine was able to cling to a slim lead. With the score at 49-48 in favor of the Fleet, Erskine used a 9-4 mini run to take a 59-52 lead into the final period.
Fourth Quarter
Hardin started the fourth with a make from downtown followed by a tough layup from McMillian, pulling the Valkyries to within a single possession (59-57) early in the fourth. McMillian brought the Purple and Gold to a single point (62-61) of Erskine before an old-fashioned three-point play by Davenport gave Converse its first lead since the second quarter.
A layup from Zee Gay and a three-pointer from Cheyenne Matson pushed Erskine back out front, 67-64, with 19 seconds on the clock. However, the Valkyries would not go away as Sides came off a screen and knocked down her fifth from behind arc for the game, knotting the score at 67-all. Unfortunately, Erskine's Alexis Scott was able to sneak a layup over the rim with two seconds left, ultimately giving the Fleet a conference win.
UP NEXT
The Valkyries will return to action on Wednesday, January 15, traveling to Wilson, N.C. to face the Bulldogs of Barton College. That contest is scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m.