Wake Forest University
VCU (School Day)
Deacs Hold Off VCU, 60-54, on School Day
12/21/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
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By Wake Forest Athletic Communications (@WakeWBB)
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - In front of the second-largest home crowd in program history, the Demon Deacons held off a late VCU rally to defeat the Rams 60-54 on Wednesday in Wake Forest's annual School Day game.
Wake Forest (9-3) welcomed 5,557 students and fans from around the Winston-Salem area, the largest home crowd since School Day last season.
Elisa Penna tallied her second double-double in as many games as she scored a season-high 19 points and matched her career-high with 12 rebounds in the victory.
The Rams (6-7) took their first lead of the game with 2:25 remaining in the game after a pair of VCU free throws put the visitors in front, 52-50. Tied at 54-all, Amber Campbell hit a layup with 42.1 seconds left to give the Deacs the lead. Alex Sharp and Campbell went 4-for-4 from the free throw line in the final 22 seconds to secure the 60-54 victory.
Wake Forest started off hot on a 6-0 run to open the game. Six Demon Deacons recorded points in the opening frame as they continued to build their advantage. Sharp nailed a three and Tyra Whitehead netted a layup as Wake Forest went 7-of-14 from the field in the second quarter to enter halftime with a 37-21 lead. The 16-point advantage is the largest halftime lead for the Deacs this season.
The Demon Deacons got off to a slow start in the third quarter, allowing the Rams to chip away at the lead. VCU went 9-for-19 in the quarter and trimmed the deficit to four entering the final quarter. The two teams battled it out down the stretch, with Wake Forest closing out the game from the charity stripe.
Campbell recorded 18 points for the Demon Deacons while Milan Quinn recorded 11 rebounds before fouling out with 7:51 remaining in the game.
The Demon Deacons close out 2016 and the nonconference portion of their schedule Saturday, Dec. 31 at James Madison. Tip-off is set for 4:30 p.m. in Harrisonburg, Va.
