Converse Falls to Queens; Mueller Sets Rebound Record
Spartanburg, SC — In a night when Lauren Mueller set the Converse College All-Time Rebounding record, the All-Stars came up short losing 72-61 to Queens University. With the win, Queens moves to 2-5 while Converse drops to 1-8.
Needing only 3 rebounds to break the career rebound record of 587, Muller grabbed 4 rebounds to get her current count to 589. The senior from Foley, AL recorded 1 offensive board and 3 defensive boards on the night.
To start the game, Converse scored the first basket to take the early lead. However, the Royals went on a 15-3 run to jump out to a 10 point lead. A three pointer by Converse’s Sydney Brown, would spark a 15-5 run by the All-Stars which would subsequently tie the game at 20. Converse would regain the lead with 3:38 to play in the half courtesy of a Mueller free throw. Phylicia Turner, who scored a team high 14 points for the Royals, drained a three point to give the lead back to the visitors with 1:49 in the half. The All-Stars cut the deficit to 1 point at 30-29 before the halftime horn sounded.
The second half was déjà vu of the first half as the Royals opened the period with a 16-5 run to take a 12 point lead less than 5 minutes into the half. Kathryn McClain, who scored a game high 16 points, hit a jumper with 15:15 on the clock to spark an impressive 19-0 run. The run gave the All-Stars a 53-46 lead with 8:37 left. Turner ended the Royals’ 7:25 scoring drought with a lay up at the 8:14 mark. The two teams would battle it out tying the game at 56-56 with just over 5 minutes to play. A Lauren Haloulus jumper gave the All-Stars a 2 point lead. Both squads would combine for 4 turnovers in the next 60 seconds before finding the basket again. That basket came courtesy of Ciera Brown to tie the game for sixth time. With that jumper, the Royals would go on to close the game out on a 14-3 run. Queens scored their last 8 points from the free throw line. A 3-pointer from Brown would come too little, too late for the All-Stars as they fell 72-61.
Four Royals reached double digits on the night. Turner had 4 rebounds and went 5 for 5 from the line to add to her team high 14 points. Ashley Watkins chipped in 11 points in the winning effort. Kayla Babson recorded a double-double scoring 10 points and grabbing 11 rebounds. Cecila Tchanoue also scored 10 points on the night. The Royals shot 40% from the floor and 49% from the charity stripe.
McClain had a game high 16 points and a game high 4 assists for Converse. Brown added 14 points on the night. Mueller’s record setting night was shorten by foul trouble as she recorded 9 points on the evening. The All-Stars, who got whistled for 32 fouls on the night, shot 38% from floor and 73% from the line.
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