Deacs Come Up Short on Senior Night

Thursday, February 28

Winston-Salem, N.C.

7:00 PM

Wake Forest University

10-18

Pittsburgh

11-18

Pittsburgh

Wake Forest

Photo by: Brian Westerholt/Sports On Film

2/28/2019 9:28:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Ivana Raca and Alex Sharp record double-doubles in the loss

By: By Wake Forest Athletic Communications (@WakeWBB)

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - The Wake Forest women's basketball team dropped a 70-64 decision to Pittsburgh inside the LJVM Coliseum on Thursday night. Gina Conti and Ivana Raca each scored 20 points for the Deacs (10-18, 1-14 ACC) in its loss to the Panthers (10-18, 2-13 ACC). Conti set a career-high with her 20-point performance, and Raca's 11 rebounds marked her fourth double-double of the year.

Alex Sharp added 10 points and 11 rebounds for her fourth double-double of the year. It was the first time since December 19, 2018 that two Demon Deacons collected double-doubles in the same contest.

Prior to the game, the Deacs honored a pair of seniors, Elisa Penna and Ariel Stephenson, as part of Senior Night.

Maya Banks got things started for the Deacs with a layup after winning the opening tip. Raca converted a three-pointer to give the Deacons a 10-6 lead with 4:53 left in the opening quarter. Raca scored 10 points on 4-of-5 shooting from the field in the first segment, helping the Deacs take hold of a 20-12 lead.

Pitt answered Wake Forest with an 11-2 sequence in the first four minutes of the second frame to take a 23-22 advantage. Conti responded by picking the pocket of Pitt before driving the length of the court for an old fashioned three-point play. After trading baskets for the remainder of the half, the Deacons led the Panthers, 34-33, at the break.

Wake Forest converted 10 points off of free throws in the first half while holding Pittsburgh to only two free throw attempts.

Alex Sharp opened up the second half by hitting a mid-range jumper from the free throw line. Wake Forest's lead wouldn't last for long as Pitt ignited a 7-0 run to take a 40-36 advantage over the Deacs with 6:53 left in the third.

Four straight points from Raca would bring the Deacons within one point of the Panthers with 2:08 remaining in the third quarter. Conti brought the crowd to its feet by converting another And-1 to give the Deacs the lead, but Pitt jumped back in front with an 8-2 run to lead Wake Forest 51-47 at the end of the third quarter.

The Panthers would outpace the Demon Deacons during the first five minutes of the fourth quarter, but two three-pointers from Conti and a layup from Sharp would put the Deacs within eight points of their opponent with 5:14 left to play. After a Pitt layup, Conti would drain another three to reduce the gap to 67-60 with 2:44 remaining. Wake Forest fought hard at the end but fell to the Pittsburgh, 70-64.

Wake Forest finishes its regular season schedule by traveling to Virginia Tech on Sunday, March 3 at 2:00 p.m. The game will be broadcast on ACC Network Extra.