Tuesday, November 5
Winston-Salem, N.C.
7:00 P.M.
Wake Forest University
1-0,0-0ACC
65
vs
55
North Carolina Wilmington
0-1,0-0CAA
1
2
3
4
F
UNCW
23
9
6
17
55
Wake Forest
13
18
18
16
65
Team Stats
UNCW
Wake
FG%
.400
.407
3FG%
.308
.429
FT%
.600
.700
RB
24
41
TO
15
16
STL
5
6
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
16
FGM
5
3FGM
1
FTM
5
Pts
14
FGM
7
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Pts
7
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Pts
7
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Players Mentioned
Forward
/ Women's BasketballGuard
/ Women's Basketball
Guard
/ Women's Basketball
Guard
/ Women's BasketballForward
/ Women's BasketballGuard
/ Women's BasketballGuard
/ Women's Basketball
Forward
/ Women's Basketball
Anaia Hoard vs. UNC Wilmington
Wake Forest Starts Season With Win Over Seahawks
11/5/2019 9:47:00 PM | Women's Basketball
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Alex Sharp collected a double-double as Wake Forest opened the season with a 65-55 victory over UNC Wilmington Tuesday night at the LJVM Coliseum.
The Demon Deacons had a dominant third quarter effort and got inspired play from the freshman class in the season opening win.
Trailing at the half by a point, Wake outscored UNCW 18-6 in the third quarter, holding the Seahawks to 1-of-7 shooting while forcing six turnovers. A pair of quick Gina Conti buckets launched an 8-0 Wake Forest run to start the streak. A 3-pointer by freshman guard Alexandria Scruggs gave the Deacs an eight-point lead at 42-34.
"I thought Gina Conti was huge to start the third quarter," Wake Forest coach Jen Hoover said. "She got downhill, got to the rim and got a layup."
Scruggs led the Deacs with 16 points on 5-of-8 shooting from the field.
"She's going to be such an efficient player," Hoover said. "She's so physical and strong. She does not fade or shy away from contact."
Sharp, a senior guard, scored 10 of her 14 points in the second half, leading the Deacs with 10 rebounds. Wake outrebounded the Seahawks 40-24.
"She decided she was going to get back to what makes her Alex Sharp," Hoover said. "Rebounding, being a glue player and hitting shots."
The Seahawks connected on 7-of-11 first-quarter field-goals to take a 23-13 lead. UNC Wilmington redshirt senior guard GiGi Smith scored 11 of her game-high 26 points in the first period.
"She's a great player," Hoover said about Smith. "She's such an efficient player. She knows how she can score. She doesn't push anything, and they move her around. She can put the ball in the hole."
The Deacs forced a trio of Seahawk empty trips to begin the second quarter, and a Maya Banks bank-shot brought Wake Forest to within four points at 25-21 with 6:31 left in the half.
"I thought in the first quarter, they were just picking us apart," Hoover said. "We were hanging around, and clawed our way back into it."
Freshman Anaia Hoard had an active second quarter, splashing a 3-pointer from the wing, grabbing a steal, then hitting Ivana Raca with a perfect outlet pass in transition for a layup to draw the Deacs to within a single point at 32-31 at halftime. Sharp had six boards at the half as Wake held a 22-10 rebounding advantage.
Hoover went deep into the bench early, playing 10 players in the first 10 minutes of action.
"That's what I would like," Hoover said about playing a deep rotation.
Four Wake Forest freshmen combined for 27 points and 13 rebounds in more than 66 minutes of action. Guard Hoard scored five points and had five boards, and forward Olivia Summiel added a pair of rebounds. Point guard Kaia Harrison brought tremendous energy, contributing six points, four rebounds and one assist.
"You never know, because we don't play an exhibition game," Hoover said of her new freshmen. "It's the first time with the lights. Kudos to them. I don't think they blinked an eye or were scared.
"They're going to give us a lot of production."
The Demon Deacons had a dominant third quarter effort and got inspired play from the freshman class in the season opening win.
Trailing at the half by a point, Wake outscored UNCW 18-6 in the third quarter, holding the Seahawks to 1-of-7 shooting while forcing six turnovers. A pair of quick Gina Conti buckets launched an 8-0 Wake Forest run to start the streak. A 3-pointer by freshman guard Alexandria Scruggs gave the Deacs an eight-point lead at 42-34.
"I thought Gina Conti was huge to start the third quarter," Wake Forest coach Jen Hoover said. "She got downhill, got to the rim and got a layup."
Scruggs led the Deacs with 16 points on 5-of-8 shooting from the field.
"She's going to be such an efficient player," Hoover said. "She's so physical and strong. She does not fade or shy away from contact."
Sharp, a senior guard, scored 10 of her 14 points in the second half, leading the Deacs with 10 rebounds. Wake outrebounded the Seahawks 40-24.
"She decided she was going to get back to what makes her Alex Sharp," Hoover said. "Rebounding, being a glue player and hitting shots."
The Seahawks connected on 7-of-11 first-quarter field-goals to take a 23-13 lead. UNC Wilmington redshirt senior guard GiGi Smith scored 11 of her game-high 26 points in the first period.
"She's a great player," Hoover said about Smith. "She's such an efficient player. She knows how she can score. She doesn't push anything, and they move her around. She can put the ball in the hole."
The Deacs forced a trio of Seahawk empty trips to begin the second quarter, and a Maya Banks bank-shot brought Wake Forest to within four points at 25-21 with 6:31 left in the half.
"I thought in the first quarter, they were just picking us apart," Hoover said. "We were hanging around, and clawed our way back into it."
Freshman Anaia Hoard had an active second quarter, splashing a 3-pointer from the wing, grabbing a steal, then hitting Ivana Raca with a perfect outlet pass in transition for a layup to draw the Deacs to within a single point at 32-31 at halftime. Sharp had six boards at the half as Wake held a 22-10 rebounding advantage.
Hoover went deep into the bench early, playing 10 players in the first 10 minutes of action.
"That's what I would like," Hoover said about playing a deep rotation.
Four Wake Forest freshmen combined for 27 points and 13 rebounds in more than 66 minutes of action. Guard Hoard scored five points and had five boards, and forward Olivia Summiel added a pair of rebounds. Point guard Kaia Harrison brought tremendous energy, contributing six points, four rebounds and one assist.
"You never know, because we don't play an exhibition game," Hoover said of her new freshmen. "It's the first time with the lights. Kudos to them. I don't think they blinked an eye or were scared.
"They're going to give us a lot of production."
Football Media Availability (9/23/25)
Tuesday, September 23
Wake Forest Football Head Coach Jake Dickert Press Conference (Week 5)
Tuesday, September 23
Coach Jake Dickert Press Conference (Sept. 22, 2025)
Monday, September 22
Football Media Availability (9/18/25)
Thursday, September 18