Wake Forest University
Wofford
Deacons Squeeze Past Wofford, 74-72
11/22/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Nov. 22, 2006
Winston-Salem, N.C. - Christen Brown's two free throws with 11 seconds left gave Wake Forest a 74-72 victory against visiting Wofford on Thanksgiving Eve at Lawrence Joel Coliseum.
The Deacons (3-2) were led by Yolanda Lavender's 23 points, on 8-of-16 shooting, including five three-pointers. Alex Tchangoue added a career-high 14 points -- 12 in the first half -- and seven rebounds before fouling out. Corinne Groves contributed 12 points and nine rebounds.
In the first half, Wake Forest used a 25-7 run over a nine-minute span to build 19-point lead. The Deacons shot 58 percent from the floor in the opening 20 minutes and led at the intermission 45-27.
Wofford (4-2) chipped away in the second half, turning up the heat on the defensive end. The Terriers scored the first nine points of the second half while the Deacons turned it over on six of seven possessions. That trimmed the lead into single digits less than four minutes into the second half.
Lavender responded with a jumper and a three-pointer on back-to-back possessions to quell the momentum and extend the Deacon lead to 14 at 50-36.
But Wofford put together a huge run, out-scoring Wake Forest 26-6 over the next seven minutes, eventually claiming a 62-58 lead with 6:25 to play.
Lavender nailed another three to slice the lead to one. Moments later, Tchangoue's lay-up on a nice feed from Jesse Cain gave the Deacons the lead. Wake Forest would not trail again, but Wofford had one last gasp.
The Deacs had a five-point lead with 2:44 to go, but the Terriers tied it with 51 seconds left on a Liz Miller three-pointer. On the next possession, Wofford had a chance to win it, but K.C. Correll's jumper was off the mark. Brown pulled down the rebound and was fouled with 11 seconds left. Her free throws gave the Deacons a two-point edge. The Wake Forest defense did not allow Wofford a shot on the final possession.
The Deacons out-rebounded the Terriers 44-31. Groves led the way on the glass with nine. Cain's seven rebounds were a career-high.
The game marked the first-ever contests between the schools located just 150 miles apart.
The Wake Forest women's basketball holiday festival of hoops continues on Friday against Florida A&M. Tipoff against the Rattlers is set for 7:00 p.m. at Joel Coliseum.
