MURFREESBORO, N.C. – The Chowan Women's Basketball team picked up the season sweep over Converse behind a strong performance by Keibra Hopkins and Mariah Coker to start off 2020 on Thursday evening.

THE BASICS

FINAL | Chowan 73, Converse 61

RECORDS | Chowan 3-8 (3-4), Converse 1-14 (0-6)

LOCATION | Murfreesboro, N.C. (Helms Center)

INSIDE THE BOXSCORE

Early in the second quarter, Mariah Coker found Keibra Hopkins for her Chowan Division II record 373 assist.  Coker would go on to record seven assists and a career-high 11 rebounds.

Keibra Hopkins produced a career-high 23 points on 9-10 shooting from the floor.  Hopkins added seven rebounds on the night.  Aniah Patterson and Kaylah Henderson chipped in with double-digits off the bench.  Patterson had 15 points, while Henderson hit three triples for 10 points.

Chowan used a 16-0 run midway through the fourth quarter to take control of the contest.

HOW IT HAPPENED

First Quarter:

Destiny Robinson put the Hawks on the board going 1-2 from the line before Keibra Hopkins started her hot shooting with a three pointer.  Mariah Coker hit a layup to give the Hawks a 6-2 lead before the media timeout.

Aniah Patterson knocked down a triple as a quick run by Converse closed the gap to 9-8.  Chowan countered with a 6-0 run started by Kaylah Henderson picking up a point at the stripe.  Jahkeria Bagby scored on a layup and Demetria Bland knocked down a three to lead 15-8.

The scoring slowed the final 2:35 of the quarter as Converse picked up the remaining point from the stripe.

Second Quarter:

Chowan opened up the contest with a 13-4 run the first 2:44 seconds of the quarter.  Keibra Hopkins started the run with a jumper.  Kaylah Henderson knocked down a triple and Brianna Copeland hit a runner to force a timeout.

Converse would score a bucket to slow the run but Mariah Coker found Keibra Hopkins for three to etch her name at the top of the CU DII record books in assists.  Aniah Patterson ended the run with a three-point play to lead 28-13.

The Valkyries responded with a 12-3 run to cut the deficit to six, 31-25, as Kaylah Henderson knocked down a triple.  Keibra Hopkins ended the run with a layup in transition.

Kaylah Henderson knocked down another three-pointer to give the Hawks a 36-26 lead heading into the locker room.

Third Quarter:

The Valkyries started chipping away at the deficit with an 8-2 run.  Aniah Patterson sparked a 9-0 after the Converse run to push the lead back to double-figures, 47-34.  Patterson added a pair from the stripe and a jumper, while Teylahna Green connected from the corner and hit a mid-range jumper.

Converse responded with a 13-0 run to even the contest at 47-all.  Mariah Coker hit two freebies to send the Hawks into the final stanza with a 49-48 advantage.

Fourth Quarter:

After a Demetria Bland layup, Converse took the lead with a 7-0 run, 55-51, with 7:18 to play.  The Valkyries' lead would not be theirs for long as the Hawks countered with a 16-0 run, in which the Hawks went 6-6 from the floor. 

Keibra Hopkins started the rally with a jumper followed by three points by Aniah Patterson.  Hopkins added the next 11 points on three layups, a triple, and two freebies.

Converse cut the deficit to single-digits, 67-59, with 1:12 remaining and again at 0:25, but free throws by Demetria Bland and Aniah Patterson sealed the win.  Destiny Robinson added a bucket late to give the Hawks a double-digit victory.

UP NEXT

Chowan makes the long trip to Georgia to take on Emmanuel in Franklin Springs, Ga. on January 4.  Tip-off is slated for 2pm.