SPARTANBURG, S.C. - Freshmen Allie Downing and Maria Kuhlman each scored 15 points and the Crusaders earned a 71-58 victory at Converse College.  The win moves The Abbey to 11-5 overall, with an 8-1 Conference Carolinas record.  The Valkyries dipped to 6-11 on the season and 2-7 in conference play.

The game went back and forth early, with three lead changes in the first six minutes.  Near the end of the quarter, freshman Hannah Roney made a pair of free throws to tie the game at 14.  At the end of the quarter, however, the Valkyries held an 18-14 advantage.  In the middle of the second, a 10-2 Abbey run put the Crusaders in front 26-22 at the 4:41 mark.  Senior Alex Busch nailed a three-pointer with a minute left in the period, and Belmont Abbey had a 33-32 lead at halftime.

The Crusaders opened the third quarter with 14-3 run, taking a commanding 47-35 lead.  Defensively, The Abbey only gave up one Converse field goal in the first six minutes of the period.  Downing scored five points in the spurt.  Downing knocked down a three-pointer to close out the quarter.  This gave Belmont Abbey a 50-42 advantage heading into the final period.

Downing hit another 3 to open the scoring in the fourth for the Crusaders.  The defense also performed well this period, giving up just one Valkyrie field goal in the first 4:45 of the quarter.  A layup by Keyanna Spivey capped an 8-2 run that increased The Abbey lead to 58-46.  The Crusaders went on to sink their free throws at the end of the game, and finished with a 71-58 win.

On the day, Downing and Kuhlman each scored 15 points to lead the Crusaders' efforts.  Kuhlman added five points and five assists.  Emry Tsitouris contributed with eight points and 11 boards.  Briana Grier handed out four assists.  Belmont Abbey recorded 10 steals.

Belmont Abbey will next visit Southern Wesleyan University on Saturday, January 20.  That game will tip off at 2 p.m.