Jam the Gym

On Monday, February 2nd, Converse College held its first annual “Jam the Gym” and it was recorded as a success. The All-Stars played their best game of the year against Presbyterian College but fell in a heart breaker 70-63 in a packed Weisiger Center on Monday night.

PC opened the game on a 11-4 run. The All-Stars chipped away at the lead on a 9-0 run highlighted by five points from junior guard Melissa Ballard to take their first lead at 13-11 at the 12:41 mark. The Blue Hose responded with a 15-2 run over the next eight minutes to retake the lead at 26-15. PC hit a pair of three-pointers to go into the locker room at halftime 32-24 score.

In the second half, the All-Stars closed the deficit to only two points at 35-33 with 14:41 remaining on a pair of free throws by senior forward a href=”https://www.converse.edu/webStudentsAthletics/basketball/StudentFactPages/2003-2004/BunceMelissa.html”> Melissa Bunce. Converse would keep the game close over the next few minutes as they responded with big shots to keep the lead in single digits. After Converse cut the lead to 40-38 with 12:30 left in the game, PC responded with a 13-6 run to push the lead to 53-44 with 8:14 remaining. Converse would make one more run and cut the lead to 59-57 with 2:45 left in the game on a layup by freshman center Lauren Mueller. The Blue Hose fought back on a 8-0 run to push the lead back to double digits at 67-57 with :58 seconds remaining in the game. The Blue Hose were able to capitalize on forced turnovers by Converse and free throws to begin an 8-0 run which pushed the lead forward.

Converse was led by Bunce’s team-high 17 points on seven-of-seven shooting from the line while Ballard added 14 points and Mueller rounded out the double figure scorers with 12 points to go along with seven rebounds.

The All-Stars will travel to Wingate, North Carolina to take on Wingate University at 7:00PM. They will not return home until Friday, February 20 to take on Shaw University.