Wake Forest University
Hampton
Demon Deacons Pull out A Close One In season Opener
11/20/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Nov. 19, 2004
HAMPTON, Va. -- A second half comeback by the Hampton University Pirates drove the Wake Forest women's basketball team into overtime, but 12 points by junior Liz Strunk in the extra stanza pushed the Demon Deacons ahead, leading to the 81-75 season opening victory, Friday night at the Hampton University Convocation Center.
Senior Erin Ferrell posted her second career double-double, putting up 13 points and 13 boards, while Strunk opened her season with 25 points, five boards and two assists. Ferrell earned her first double-double on Dec. 29, 2002 against UNC-Wilmington with 12 points and 10 boards. She is the only player on the Deacs squad to have a pair of double-doubles.
For the Pirates, Kiesha Beard also put up a double-double with 14 points and 14 boards, while, three others, including Tiffani Williams, found double digits in points. A total of four Demon Deacons earned double-digit points in the season opener.
The Deacs had a strong first period with redshirt-sophomore Porsche' Jones shooting 4-5 from the field and 3-4 beyond the arc. Cotelia Bond-Young opened things up for Wake, putting in the first four points, but Hampton was able to come back and tie it as six. From that point the Pirates were unable to catch up and the Deacs continued to increase its lead for the remainder of the half. Two 3-pointers by Jones and another by Bond-Young at the buzzer gave the Deacons a 13 point lead at the end of the stanza.
In the second half Jones opened up the period with a three-pointer, but Rachel Butler answered with one of her own. Hampton pressured Wake from that point, taking them on a 11-2 run that ended at 40-49. The Pirates continued to close the gap, bringing it within two at 54-56 and eventually knotting it at 61 all. Trading field goals, the two teams kept the score tied with 1:29 left in regulation. With no time outs remaining, Wake Forest was able to hold Hampton off and press the game into an extra period.
As the overtime stanza began, Wake won the tip and Strunk brought the ball down and sunk a jumper immediately. Answering back with two of their own, Hampton knotted the score at 65 all. Another lay-up by Strunk and a free throw by Bond-Young gave the Deacs a small lead. At 68-72, Sharema Dean hit a three to bring the score within one, but Wake took the lead with a 6-0 run and Hampton was unable to recover and the Demon Deacons took the game, 82-75.
The two teams were very close statistically, with Wake Forest shooting 45.2 percent from the field and the Pirates shooting 45.6. The Demon Deacons pulled down 43 boards to the Pirates 41. In addition to Ferrell's double-double, three others found double-digits in points, including 17 by Jones. Bond-Young scored 12, including shooting 5-6 from the line.
The Demon Deacons will return to action on Friday, Nov. 26 against Princeton University. The game will be played in Reynolds Gymnasium on the campus of Wake Forest University. Game time is set for 7 p.m.
