Deacs Come Up Short at ECU

Saturday, November 24

Greenville, NC

2:00 PM

Wake Forest University

3-3

East Carolina

5-0

Wake Forest

ECU

11/24/2018 8:28:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

Alex Sharp scores a team-high 15 points in her season debut

By: By Wake Forest Athletic Communications (@WakeWBB)

GREENVILLE, N.C. – The Wake Forest women's basketball team suffered a 70-61 defeat to in-state foe East Carolina Saturday (Nov. 24) evening at Minges Coliseum.

Alex Sharp, making her season debut, scored a team-high 15 points for the Demon Deacons (3-3). After missing the first five games while rehabbing an offseason surgery, the Australia native nearly tallied a double-double with eight rebounds.

Elisa Penna, who was unavailable the last two games while competing with the Italian National team in qualifying play for FIBA EuroBasket 2019, added 13 points while matching a career-high with five steals. Ona Udoh nearly had her second consecutive double-double with nine points and 12 rebounds.

Wake Forest jumped out to an early lead over East Carolina (5-0), opening up a 17-2 lead over the first 6:59 of the game. Udoh was effective early, going 3-for-3 from the field, while great ball movement and execution helped the Deacs build the advantage.

After the Pirates closed the first on a 6-1 run, ECU scored the first four points of the second to prompt a Wake Forest timeout 56 seconds into the quarter. East Carolina would continue their push, eventually taking their first lead of the game at 29-27 with a minute left in the half. A three-pointer from Kaylen Dickson and a jumper from Gina Conti down the stretch would give the Deacs a 32-31 lead at the break.

ECU took control of the game early in the third, using a 7-0 run to take a 40-34 lead, a lead the hosts would not relinquish. Wake Forest would make a run in the fourth, as back-to-back long balls from Ivana Raca and Sharp cut the deficit to four at 55-51 with 7:10 remaining in the game. An aggressive trap defense would give the Deacs opportunities down the stretch, but ECU held off the attack to close out the victory.

Wake Forest returns to action on Wednesday, November 28, as the Demon Deacons play host to Indiana in the annual ACC/Big Ten Challenge. Tip is set for 7 p.m. inside the LJVM Coliseum.