Wake Forest University
Appalachian State
Wake Forest Cruises Past Appalachian State, 68-35
11/21/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Nov. 21, 2008
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Behind a stifling defense that forced 38 turnovers, Wake Forest cruised past Appalachian State 68-35 on Friday evening at the Joel Coliseum Annex.
The Demon Deacons (3-0) were relentless on the defensive end for the second straight game this week. Wake forced 36 turnovers in its 62-27 defeat of UNC Greensboro on Monday. The Deacs topped that performance in impressive fashion on Friday, pressuring the visiting Mountaineers (0-3) into 38 miscues.
Wake converted those turnovers into 33 points and finished the night with 19 steals. The Deacs had a school-record 28 steals in Monday's win against UNCG.
Sophomore Brittany Waters and senior Alex Tchangoue led Wake Forest on Friday. Waters scored 15 points on 6-of-7 shooting and recorded six steals on the defensive end. Tchangoue finished with 14 points and a team-high seven rebounds.
Junior Tiffany Roulhac turned in a fine performance with five assists and four steals, while freshman Secily Ray scored nine points off the bench.
Appalachian State stuck around for the first seven minutes of the game, trailing just 12-9 at the 13:09 mark. However, Wake Forest followed with a 19-5 run over the next 6:23 to take a commanding 31-14 lead with just over six minutes to play in the first half.
The Deacons led by 15, 33-18, at halftime, and a quick layup by Waters to start the second period kept the momentum in the home squad's favor.
After the Deacs scored the first nine points of the second half to take a 44-18 advantage, the Mountaineers could not get closer than 23 (44-21) the rest of the way.
Sade Means led ASU with nine points and 10 rebounds, while Frances Hernandez chipped in eight points and a pair of steals.
The Mountaineers held the advantage on the boards, out-rebounding the Deacs 42-33.
Wake shot 39.1 percent (25-of-64) from the floor, including 8-for-28 (28.6 percent) from beyond the arc. The Deacs hit 10 of their 14 free throws for 71.4 percent.
Wake Forest is back in action on Monday with a city showdown against Winston-Salem State at the Joel Coliseum. The Deacons and Rams will tip-off at 5 p.m. in the first game of a doubleheader with each school's men's basketball squads.
