Wake Forest University
Hampton
Wake Forest Drops Surfing Santa Classic Opener to Hampton
12/28/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Final Stats | Final Stats (PDF) 
Wake Forest Athletic Communications (@WakeWBB)
MIAMI, Fla. - The Wake Forest women's basketball team fell to Hampton 47-42 to open the Surfing Santa Classic hosted by FIU in Miami, Fla. Ariel Stephenson led Wake Forest with 10 points and five rebounds.
The loss drops Wake Forest to 8-4 on the season with one non-conference game remaining on the schedule. Hampton improved to 2-9.
Ariel Stephenson led Wake Forest with 10 points and five rebounds. Ataijah Taylor added 11 points and Milan Quinn pulled down 11 rebounds.
Malia Tate-DeFreitas led Hampton with 17 points and 12 rebounds. Kaylah Lupoe finished with eight points and five rebounds.
Hampton led by 10 with 36 seconds remaining in the second quarter. Kandice Ball made one free throw and Taylor scored a layup to end the period and make it a 27-20 Hampton lead at halftime.
The Demon Deacons opened the third quarter with a 7-0 run to tie the game 27-27. It was the first of three ties in the period, but each time Hampton scored to regain the lead. The Pirates regained the lead, 33-31 with 5:16 on the clock after Quinn fouled Lupoe and the made both free throws. Hampton led 37-33 heading in to the fourth quarter.
Elisa Penna knocked down a jumper with 3:28 to play in the game that cut Hampton's lead to 43-42. The Demon Deacons had looks at the go ahead basket but they didn't fall and the Pirates sank free throws to close the game for the 47-42 win.
Penna finished the game with six points and seven rebounds in her Wake Forest debut.
Wake Forest will face FIU on Tuesday at 2 p.m. in the Surfing Santa Classic consolation game. FIU lost to Rhode Island, 68-50 in the opening game of the tournament.
