Wake Forest University
Virginia
Waters Leads Deacs Past UVA 74-68 in ACC Tourney
3/3/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
March 3, 2011
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GREENSBORO, N.C. - Four Demon Deacons scored in double figures, led by senior Brittany Waters' double-double, as ninth-seeded Wake Forest shook off a sluggish start to knock off eight-seeded Virginia 74-68 in the opening round of the 2011 ACC Women's Basketball Tournament at Greensboro Coliseum.
The Deacons, who have now won their tournament opener in each of the past three seasons, improve to 15-16, while the Cavaliers fall to 16-15.
The game was a complete reversal of the two teams' only regular season meeting that Virginia won 73-46 in Charlottesville. Wake shot 50 percent in the game, its second best mark against an ACC opponent this season, including an overwhelming 60 percent in the second half.
The Deacons trailed by as many as 10 points in the opening period, but rallied just before halftime to go into the break trailing 32-27. The second half would be all Wake Forest. The Deacs started the second period on an 18-8 run to go ahead 45-40 and would expand their advantage to 10 points with just under four minutes to play before hanging on for the victory.
Faced with the prospect of potentially playing in her final collegiate game, Waters led all players with 21 points, including 14 in the second half, putting her over the 20-point mark for the third straight game. The Orlando, Fla. native also led all players with 11 rebounds to record her sixth double-double of the season and tied Chelsea Douglas for the Wake Forest lead with five assists.
Sandra Garcia added 16 points on 8-of-11 shooting, Lakevia Boykin notched 13 points and four steals, and Mykala Walker poured in a season-high 12 points for Wake.
Ataira Franklin led Virginia with 19 points, and Whitney Edwards added 16 points for the Cavaliers.
The Deacons used their size to their advantage, outscoring the Cavaliers 38-12 in the paint.
The Cavalier shot lights out to start the game, making 65 percent of their shots through the first 15 minutes before the Deacons' defense held them without a field goal for the final five minutes of the period.
The Demon Deacons had the better of the play in the opening minutes, jumping out to a 7-2 lead on buckets by Brittany Waters, Lakevia Boykin and Sandra Garcia.
After the Hoos came back to tie the game at 7-7, a Garcia layup again put the Deacs in front, but Virginia followed with a 9-3 run to hold a 16-12 advantage at the under-12 media timeout.
After Wake Forest got as close as one point, Virginia exploded for an 11-2 run to push the lead to 31-19. But the Demon Deacons scored six of the last seven points of the half to head to the locker room trailing by only five at 32-27.
The Deacs came out of the break inspired, putting together a 10-5 run helped by four points from Brittany Waters to tie the game at 37-37. Less than a minute later, Mykala Walker knocked down a pair of free throws to give Wake Forest its first lead since early in the game. After a Telia McCall three-pointer briefly put UVA back in front, Walker made a layup, Garcia hit a jumper and Waters converted on the fast break to give the Demon Deacons a 45-40 advantage.
Virginia's Whitney Edwards drained a three-pointer to tie the game at 51-51, but Chelsea Douglas answered on the following possession with a three-pointer of her own to restore the Deacon lead.
Douglas hit another triple at the 4:51 mark to give the Deacs their largest advantage yet at 61-53 and Garcia followed with a layup to make the lead 10 points.
Virginia threatened down the stretch but was unable to come closer than six points.
The Demon Deacons advance to face top-seeded Duke in the quarterfinals on Friday at 3 p.m. The game will be broadcast on RSN and can also be heard on the Wake Forest Sports Network by IMG College.
