SPARTANBURG, S.C. – After struggling to score for 11 quarters, the Chowan Women's Basketball team shot 73.3% in the fourth quarter to overcome a double-digit deficit to pick up a much needed Conference Carolinas win to finish off 2019 with a 64-56 victory over Converse on Thursday afternoon.

THE BASICS

FINAL | Chowan 64, Converse 56

RECORDS | Chowan 2-8 (2-4), Converse 1-13 (0-5)

LOCATION | Spartanburg, S.C. (Weisiger Center)

INSIDE THE BOXSCORE

Chowan scored 32 points in the fourth quarter after only scoring 32 points in the first three quarters.  The Hawks shot 73.3% (11-15) from the floor in the final stanza.  The defense would force 10 turnovers in the fourth quarter and 29 total.

Aniah Patterson led all scorers with a career-high 17 points.  Destiny Robinson scored all 12 of her points when the Hawks needed them in the fourth quarter.  Olivia Gaither chipped in with 12 points.

Mariah Coker scored eight points with eight rebounds and added three assists.  Coker is now one assist shy of tying the Chowan DII record as she sits with 371.

HOW IT HAPPENED

First Quarter:

After a short feeling out period, Converse would go on a 7-2 run to force a Chowan timeout.  Mariah Coker produced the lone basket during the offensive stall as the Hawks had three turnovers early.

Aniah Patterson knocked down a triple to end the drought to cut the deficit to 7-5.  Converse answered with a layup at the other end.

Converse added a point from the stripe as both teams were unable to find a basket until Aniah Patterson knocked down a three pointer with 28 second left in the quarter.  Converse added a bucket to lead 12-8.

Second Quarter:

Mariah Coker put the Hawks on the board in the quarter with a pair from the stripe.  Brianna Copeland converted from the floor to keep the Hawks within striking distance, 14-12.

Converse pushed their lead to double figures towards the end of the half.  Olivia Gaither knocked down a jumper and added a three point play.  Emaree Hinton went 1-2 from the stripe to trim the lead to 25-18.

Third Quarter:

Jahkeria Bagby opened the scoring in the half for either side with a jumper.  Converse answered with six straight points to push their lead back to double-figures and force a Chowan timeout, 31-20.

Converse continued their run to a tune of 10-2 before Monique Jones converted from the floor.  Olivia Gaither and Brianna Copeland added a jumper before a pair of triples by the Valkyries extended their lead to 44-26.

Kaylah Henderson knocked down a three pointer but the Valkyries answered with one of their own at the other end.  Aniah Patterson connected from deep before the buzzer to trail 47-32.

Fourth Quarter:

Chowan would ramp up the defense to force several turnovers to mount a run.  Destiny Robinson started the run with a bucket followed by a pair of buckets by Aniah Patterson to force a Converse timeout just a minute into the quarter.

After the timeout, Destiny Robinson continued the run with a layup to push the deficit back to single-digits.  Kaylah Henderson forced a turnover and found Aniah Patterson for the three pointer to cut the deficit to 49-44 and force another Converse timeout.

Destiny Robinson swiped the in-bounds and went 1-2 from the stripe to continue the run.  Converse ended the run midway through the quarter converting the three-point play.  Robinson connected from the floor to keep the comeback alive, 52-47.

Demetria Bland knocked down a triple to bring the Hawks to within two, 52-50.  Converse answered with points on back-to-back possessions.  Destiny Robinson added a pair of layups to close the gap once again to two, 56-54.

Olivia Gaither evened the score at 56-all with 1:56 remaining.  Destiny Robinson gave the Hawks their first lead of the contest with 1:02 remaining hitting 1-2 from the stripe.  Mariah Coker grabbed the offensive board to melt clock.  Coker assisted an Olivia Gaither triple to give the Hawks a 60-56 lead.

Out of the Converse timeout, Chowan would force another turnover.  Mariah Coker sealed the win with a pair of free throws with 16.9 seconds remaining.  The Hawks would force yet another turnover as Coker added another set of freebies for the win.

UP NEXT

The two teams will be back at it again to start the New Year as Chowan hosts Converse on January 2 in Murfreesboro for a Conference Carolinas contest.  Tip-off is scheduled for 5:30pm.