SPARTANBURG, SC – Freshman forward Alex Atkinson recorded his first career double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds in a 92-69 road loss to Converse University on Tuesday (Dec. 17) afternoon.
 
The Patriots (3-8, 1-3) will host USC Aiken on Thursday (Dec. 19) evening at 6 p.m. in the Smith University Center for its final home game of the calendar year. Francis Marion will resume Conference Carolinas action after the New Year on Jan. 4 at Southern Wesleyan University.
 
Sophomore guard Horaces Jacques Jr. also tallied 14 points for the Patriots, while junior forward Jordyn Surratt chipped in an additional 12.
 
Kyle Monk paced Converse (3-5, 2-2) with a game-high 23 points on 9-of-13 shooting and connecting on 4-of-7 from beyond the three-point line.
 
After a 12-point run in the opening five minutes of the game, the Valkyries led Francis Marion 18-4. At the 11:48 minute mark, Converse opened the lead to 27-7.
 
A fade-away jumper and three-pointer from the corner by Jacques Jr. closed the gap to 30-18. The Valkyries led 49-30 at halftime.
 
With buckets from Atkinson and junior Jordan Simpson, the Patriots climbed back to within six points at 53-47 five minutes into the second half.  Converse responded with 10 straight points to push the margin back to double figures. 
 
Two free throws by Surratt later trimmed the margin to 66-58 with 7:37 on the clock.  However, the Valkyries scored the next five points and were not threatened again.