Converse Knocks Off West Virginia State
Spartanburg, SC — Four All-Stars scored double digits to lead Converse over visiting West Virginia State 73-62. Senior Lauren Mueller scored a game high 19 points as the All-Stars improve to 2-12 on the season. The Yellow Jackets fall to 1-7.
After giving up a 3-pointer to start the game, the All-Stars rattled the next 7 points to take a lead they would hold most of the first period. Shooting an impressive 50% from the floor in the first half, Converse would build a 7 point lead. However, West Virginia State would battle back. Shandi White, who scored 11 points on the afternoon, knocked down a jumper with 9:00 left in the half to give the Yellow Jackets a one point lead. The two teams would trade the lead eight times in the next three minutes. A pair of free throws by Converse’s Brandi Crisitiello would give the lead back to the All-Stars. Crisitiello made 9 of 10 from the charity stripe en route to a 13 points and 7 rebounds performance.
The All-Stars ultimately took a 40-34 lead into the locker room.
In the second half, the Yellow Jackets wasted no time erasing the deficit. West Virginia State opened the second stanza on an 11-2 run to take a three point lead at 45-42. The Yellow Jackets stretched the lead to four points, before Kathlyn McClain drained a pair of free throws followed by Crisitiello taking the ball coast to coast to tie the game for the fifth time. West Virginia State’s Yashica Page would answer with a three pointer to give the Yellow Jackets the lead again.
Following Page’s three-pointer, the All-Stars took over and never looked back. Converse proceed to go on a 12-0 and take a 59-50 lead with just over seven minutes to play. The deficit proved to be more than the Yellow Jackets could overcome. West Virginia State rattled off the next six points to get within three points capped off by a Danielle Davis lay-up. Davis scored a team high 12 points.
That would be as close as West Virginia State would get as the All-Stars went 13 for 15 from the free throw line in the second half to help seal the victory. Converse built a 14 point lead in the final minute of play before final claiming an 11 point victory by the score of 73-62.
Kortni Matteson had 10 points for the visitors. Ashlee Stevens led the Yellow Jackets with seven rebounds.
Kathlyn McClain scored 17 points and had a team high three steals. Ashley Arff knocked down 13 points including 3 three-pointers. Carla Kantara led the team with 9 rebounds while Mueller and Crisitiello each had 7 rebou