Friday, November 9
Winston-Salem, N.C.
7:00 PM
Wake Forest University
69
vs
54
Mercer
1
2
3
4
F
Mercer
11
17
8
18
54
Wake Forest
22
17
18
12
69
Penna Shoots the Deacs Past Mercer
11/9/2018 9:28:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Elisa Penna scores 26 points as Wake Forest runs past the Bears, 69-54
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – The Wake Forest women's basketball team used a 15-0 second-half run to pull away and defeat Mercer, 69-54, Friday (Nov. 9) evening inside the LJVM Coliseum.
As a team, the Demon Deacons (2-0) shot 50 percent from the field while limiting Mercer (0-1), the preseason favorites in the Southern Conference, to just 35.9 percent shooting.
Elisa Penna rebounded from an off-night of shooting in the team's season-opener Tuesday with a 26-point, six rebound effort against the Bears. The senior was 8-of-15 from the field, including 5-of-9 from three-point range. It was the second-highest scoring performance for Penna in her career, falling shy of the 34 points she scored against NC State a season ago.
Ivana Raca followed up her career-day against Towson by falling a rebound shy of her second-straight double-double. The sophomore finished with 12 points and nine rebounds, all of which came on the defensive glass. Ona Udoh added 12 points of her own to go along with seven rebounds.
The Demon Deacons opened the game jumping out to an 11-2 advantage thanks to a perfect 3-for-3 start from beyond the arc. Penna opened the game's scoring with a deep triple, followed by a Gina Conti three-pointer the next possession down. Udoh picked up an offensive board and put-back to extend the lead to 8-0, and after the Bears found the bottom of the basket for the first time Friday, Penna connected on her second triple less than two minutes into the game.
After the Deacs took a 22-11 lead into the second quarter, the teams played an even second period to give Wake Forest 39-28 halftime lead. The Old Gold and Black shot 52.9 percent from the field, including 50 percent from beyond the arc, during the opening 20 minutes of play.
It was another Wake Forest run which started the third quarter that put the game out of reach. After Mercer scored the first two points of the second half, Wake Forest countered with 15 unanswered points to take a commanding 54-30 lead. Penna led the charge with eight while Udoh, Ivana Raca and Maya Banks added a combined seven points to fuel the Demon Deacon run.
The Deacs cruised over the final ten minutes of play, never letting the lead dip below 15 points, to close out the victory. Penna scored 20 of her 26 during the second half to lead the offensive attack.
Wake Forest caps its three-game homestand on Sunday afternoon against Richmond. Tipoff is set for 1 p.m. inside the LJVM Coliseum.
As a team, the Demon Deacons (2-0) shot 50 percent from the field while limiting Mercer (0-1), the preseason favorites in the Southern Conference, to just 35.9 percent shooting.
Elisa Penna rebounded from an off-night of shooting in the team's season-opener Tuesday with a 26-point, six rebound effort against the Bears. The senior was 8-of-15 from the field, including 5-of-9 from three-point range. It was the second-highest scoring performance for Penna in her career, falling shy of the 34 points she scored against NC State a season ago.
Ivana Raca followed up her career-day against Towson by falling a rebound shy of her second-straight double-double. The sophomore finished with 12 points and nine rebounds, all of which came on the defensive glass. Ona Udoh added 12 points of her own to go along with seven rebounds.
The Demon Deacons opened the game jumping out to an 11-2 advantage thanks to a perfect 3-for-3 start from beyond the arc. Penna opened the game's scoring with a deep triple, followed by a Gina Conti three-pointer the next possession down. Udoh picked up an offensive board and put-back to extend the lead to 8-0, and after the Bears found the bottom of the basket for the first time Friday, Penna connected on her second triple less than two minutes into the game.
After the Deacs took a 22-11 lead into the second quarter, the teams played an even second period to give Wake Forest 39-28 halftime lead. The Old Gold and Black shot 52.9 percent from the field, including 50 percent from beyond the arc, during the opening 20 minutes of play.
It was another Wake Forest run which started the third quarter that put the game out of reach. After Mercer scored the first two points of the second half, Wake Forest countered with 15 unanswered points to take a commanding 54-30 lead. Penna led the charge with eight while Udoh, Ivana Raca and Maya Banks added a combined seven points to fuel the Demon Deacon run.
The Deacs cruised over the final ten minutes of play, never letting the lead dip below 15 points, to close out the victory. Penna scored 20 of her 26 during the second half to lead the offensive attack.
Wake Forest caps its three-game homestand on Sunday afternoon against Richmond. Tipoff is set for 1 p.m. inside the LJVM Coliseum.
Team Stats
F-406
F-749
FG%
.359
.500
3FG%
.333
.467
FT%
.333
.909
RB
32
40
TO
13
20
STL
8
4
Game Leaders
Pts
26
FGM
8
3FGM
5
FTM
5
Pts
12
FGM
5
3FGM
1
FTM
1
Pts
6
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
Forward
/ Women's Basketball
Guard
/ Women's BasketballForward
/ Women's BasketballForward
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