Wake Forest University
Illinois
Illini Second Half Rally Trips Deacons, 65-50
12/2/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Dec. 2, 2009
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - After leading 33-17 at the halftime break, Illinois staged a huge comeback during the second half and defeated the Wake Forest women's basketball team 65-50.
The loss was Wake Forest's first of the year and stalls its record at 6-1. Illinois improved to 7-1 with the win.
Illinois senior center Jenna Smith led both teams in scoring with 27, but Wake Forest junior forward Brittany Waters was just one point behind with 26. Smith and Waters each had the game-high nine rebounds.
Shooting proved to be the wrecking ball in the Wake Forest game plan. After putting up 52 percent in the first half the Demon Deacons were just 17 percent in the second. Illinois took advantage of every opportunity in the final 20 minutes, completing 13-for-19 (68 percent) of field goals.
"We dictated the first half completely and they dictated the second half completely," Wake Forest head coach Mike Petersen said.
The Demon Deacons out-rebounded the Illini 37-28 and only allowed one offensive Illinois rebound through the entire game.
Sophomore Secily Ray was a force in the Wake Forest defense, adding three steals and tying her career-high with three blocks. Senior Tiffany Roulhac led Wake Forest at the point for the most of the game, adding four assists and three steals through a season-high 29 minutes.
Wake Forest hit its first two-possession lead at 13:23, when Brittany Waters put up the second of back-to-back 3-point baskets to set the score at 12-7. Illinois head coach Jolette Law called a time out to stifle the Demon Deacon momentum.
After trading baskets, a layup by Lakevia Boykin at the 9:22 mark initiated a 25-2 Wake Forest run to finish out the half. Wake Forest helped maintain control by forcing Illinois eight turnovers in the last nine minutes before the break.
Brittany Waters opened Deacon scoring with a 3-pointer one minute into the second half to set the score at 36-21. Wake Forest then went 0-for-5, staying scoreless for three and a half minutes as the Illini raced to tighten the score. Lakevia Boykin broke the Deacon dry spell at the 13:56 mark with a layup, keeping Wake Forest in front 38-29.
Then it happened again. Wake Forest had eight field goal attempts with no basket and Illinois gained the lead. By the time the Deacons broke through the Illinois run the Illini held a 44-40 advantage with 8:40 to play. Wake Forest never regained an edge and dug a deeper hole with more missed shots as the clock ran out.
"They made a run and we didn't do a good job of staying focused," Petersen said.
Wake Forest will need to regain confidence quickly as it faces a tough road challenge this week when the team heads to Georgetown to play the Hoyas on Saturday at 2 p.m.
- www.WakeForestSports.com -
