Wake Forest University
Pittsburgh
Wake Forest Prevails at Pittsburgh in ACC Road Opener
1/4/2018 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
By Wake Forest Athletic Communications (@WakeWBB)
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - The Wake Forest women's basketball team used a dominant fourth quarter performance to prevail against Pitt, 58-49, at the Petersen Events Center in Pittsburgh on Thursday night.
Trailing by four points heading into the final quarter, the Demon Deacons (9-6, 1-1 ACC) used an 8-0 run midway through the period to grab a seven-point lead they never relinquished. Elisa Penna hit back-to-back threes to give the Deacs the advantage and Ariel Stephenson iced the game at the free throw line late to even the team's conference record at 1-1.
The win marks Wake Forest's first in an ACC road opener since a 77-65 win on Jan. 12, 1991 at North Carolina.
Stephenson led the Deacs with 16 points including knocking down six out of seven free throws. Penna added 12 points and eight rebounds. The junior forward scored nine of her 12 points in the second half. Alex Sharp contributed 13 points to go along with five rebounds and three assists.
Although the score was within one possession for much of the first quarter, the Panthers (8-7, 0-2 ACC) used a late 8-3 run to take a seven-point lead after the first 10 minutes. Sharp led the Deacs with six points in the quarter.
Wake Forest played stifling defense in the second quarter, holding Pitt without a field goal until under 30 seconds to go in the period. However, the Panthers played strong defense of their own and the Deacs went into the locker room trailing by four.
While the Demon Deacons increased their offensive output in the third quarter, the Panthers matched them point for point and took a 39-35 lead into the game's final 10 minutes.
The Deacs finally retook the lead on Sharp's jumper early in the fourth quarter. After the teams traded baskets, Penna's three-point barrage gave Wake Forest a seven-point lead with under five minutes to play. Pitt answered with six consecutive points to cut Wake Forest's lead to 50-49, but the Deacs finished the game on an 8-0 run to clinch the road win.
Up next, the Deacs remain on the road and travel south to face Miami this Sunday, Jan. 7 at 12 p.m.
