Wake Forest University
Jacksonville
Wake Forest Tops Jacksonville 64-47 in Season Opener
11/13/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Nov. 13, 2009
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - In her collegiate debut, Wake Forest freshman center Sandra Garcia posted a game-high 22 points and added 10 rebounds as the Demon Deacons defeated Jacksonville 64-47 at the Joel Coliseum on Friday night.
Wake Forest sophomore Secily Ray also registered a double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds. Jacksonville's Desarae Johnson led the Dolphins in scoring and rebounding with 12 points and 13 boards.
Garcia recorded five blocks, the best single-game block performance for Wake Forest since Mekia Valentine put up six against Radford on December 16, 2007.
Junior Brittany Waters got into foul trouble early in the first half but came back in the second half to score 12 points and post six rebounds.
"Brittany Waters took charges. Everyone stepped up and hustling, giving their body to everything. Every time Jacksonville made a run we stopped them," senior co-captain Courteney Morris said.
Wake Forest opened the game with a 9-2 lead. At the 17 minute mark Camille Collier had yet to score and hesitated to shoot behind the 3-point line. After some encouragement from the Wake Forest bench Collier stepped up and heated up quickly. She banked four-for-four from beyond the arc to help the Deacons rack up a 23-6 lead with 10:31 in the half.
Jacksonville whittled away at the Deacon advantage for the remainder of the half, helped by Wake's 0-5 shooting performance that started at the 10 minute mark. By intermission Jacksonville had cut the lead to 29-22.
After only playing three minutes in the first half, Brittany Waters started off the second half with back-to-back baskets for the Deacons. The Dolphins held the Deacs to a single-digit advantage through most of the opening of the second half and a 3-point basket from Ashanti Williams at the 9:07 mark cut the Wake Forest lead to 45-40.
Courteney Morris countered with a layup on the next Wake Forest possession to keep the Deacs in front, sparking a 14-2 run. The Deacons went 12-15 from the free throw line in the second half to help hold on to the advantage.
Next up for the Demon Deacons will be a home game with the University of South Florida on November 18 at 5 p.m.
- www.WakeForestSports.com -
