Thursday, December 10
Winston-Salem, N.C.
6 p.m.
Wake Forest University
4-1,1-0ACC
57
vs
54
North Carolina
5-1,0-1ACC
1
2
3
4
F
North Carolina
14
11
13
16
54
Wake Forest
7
12
17
21
57
Deacs Continue Hot Streak in Victory over Tar Heels
12/10/2020 8:24:00 PM | Women's Basketball
The victory extends the series winning streak to three games, the longest since 1988-90 when the Deacs won six games in a row against the Tar Heels.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - The Wake Forest women's basketball team defeated North Carolina in its home opener Thursday evening, 57-54, for its fourth consecutive win.
The victory extends the series winning streak to three games, the longest since 1988-90 when the Deacs won six games in a row against the Tar Heels (5-1, 0-1 ACC).
The Demon Deacons (4-1, 1-0 ACC) improved to 11-3 against in-state opponents in the past two seasons including 4-1 against Big Four opponents.
While the offense got off to a slow start, the Deacs defense was able to hold UNC to their lowest scoring in a half on the season at just 25 heading into halftime. The Deacs took advantage of their time at the line, drawing eight fouls in the first half and going 7-8 from the charity stripe.
Wake Forest started the second half with some momentum, going on a 6-2 run to cut the deficit to just two points and stayed within three for the remainder of the third quarter. Conti Clutch sank two free throws with three minutes left in the third to take the lead for the first time since the five-minute mark of the first quarter.
The Deacs entered the final 10 minutes down just two, 38-36. Back-to-back buckets from Gina Conti gave Wake Forest a three-point lead and the momentum needed to bring home the win. Wake Forest outscored North Carolina 37-26 in the final two quarters and 19-13 in the fourth quarter to capture the win.
Ivana Raca led the Deacs on defense with a team-high 11 defensive boards, recording 12 for the game, along with 14 points for her ninth career double-double and first of the season. Nine of Raca's 14 points came in the fourth quarter.
Floor general Gina Conti led the Deacs offensively with a team-high 16 points, three assists and three steals. All of Conti's assists came in the second half. This is the first time this season that a single player has led the Deacs in points, assists and steals.
HOW IT HAPPENED
STANDOUT STAT
Gina Conti recorded three assists in the game to put her sixth on the all-time Wake Forest assists list. She is just 118 assists away from breaking the all-time career assists record.
Ivana Raca recorded her first double-double of the season with 14 points and 12 rebounds en route to the Deacs' win. It is her ninth double-double as a Demon Deacon.
With only 54 points, this is North Carolina's lowest scoring game by at least 25 points this season.
FROM HOOVER
"This was a win that shows we can win in a variety of ways. It shows our team that sometimes we will need to rely on our defense. To come in and hold a team that was averaging over 90 points to just 54 tonight, proves we can win on both ends of the floor. It feels great especially with it being our first game at home. It is always great to start ACC play 1-0."
NEXT UP
The Demon Deacons continue their homestand on Sunday, Dec. 13 against Norfolk State. Tipoff against the Spartans is scheduled for noon in Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum.
The victory extends the series winning streak to three games, the longest since 1988-90 when the Deacs won six games in a row against the Tar Heels (5-1, 0-1 ACC).
The Demon Deacons (4-1, 1-0 ACC) improved to 11-3 against in-state opponents in the past two seasons including 4-1 against Big Four opponents.
While the offense got off to a slow start, the Deacs defense was able to hold UNC to their lowest scoring in a half on the season at just 25 heading into halftime. The Deacs took advantage of their time at the line, drawing eight fouls in the first half and going 7-8 from the charity stripe.
Wake Forest started the second half with some momentum, going on a 6-2 run to cut the deficit to just two points and stayed within three for the remainder of the third quarter. Conti Clutch sank two free throws with three minutes left in the third to take the lead for the first time since the five-minute mark of the first quarter.
The Deacs entered the final 10 minutes down just two, 38-36. Back-to-back buckets from Gina Conti gave Wake Forest a three-point lead and the momentum needed to bring home the win. Wake Forest outscored North Carolina 37-26 in the final two quarters and 19-13 in the fourth quarter to capture the win.
Ivana Raca led the Deacs on defense with a team-high 11 defensive boards, recording 12 for the game, along with 14 points for her ninth career double-double and first of the season. Nine of Raca's 14 points came in the fourth quarter.
Floor general Gina Conti led the Deacs offensively with a team-high 16 points, three assists and three steals. All of Conti's assists came in the second half. This is the first time this season that a single player has led the Deacs in points, assists and steals.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- After a slow start, the Deacs trailed 5-8 at the under-five timeout in the first quarter.
- Out of the timeout, missed jumpers by Alexandria Scruggs and Ivana Raca, kept the score at 5-8 before North Carolina extended their lead to seven to end the first ten minutes of play, 7-14.
- Following several turnovers from both teams, Wake was able to narrow the deficit to five with 4:30 remaining in the first half of action.
- The Deacs' offensive woes continued to close out the first half despite baskets from Anaia Hoard and Christina Morra, as well as a successful trip to the free throw line by Morra, capping off the first half with a score of 19-25, Tar Heel advantage.
- Raca and Scruggs helped end the scoring struggles to open the second half. Wake quickly cut North Carolina's lead to 25-27 and the Tar Heels were forced to take a timeout just 2:40 into the third quarter.
- Following confirmation from a video review, the Deacs narrowed North Carolina's advantage to just one before taking the lead on the next possession, 34-33.
- North Carolina regained the lead with :44 left in the third quarter with a layup from Holesinska, jumping back out to a two-point lead, 36-38.
- With 7:00 remaining in the contest, Scruggs tied the game at 40-40 which sparked a 8-2 run with guard Gina Conti adding in a pair of baskets which forced a Tar Heel timeout.
- Raca, Conti, and Morra led the charge to close out the win for Wake Forest. The Deacs outscored UNC 38-29 in the second half to win the game 57-54. The trio combined to score 42 of Wake's 57 points.
STANDOUT STAT
Gina Conti recorded three assists in the game to put her sixth on the all-time Wake Forest assists list. She is just 118 assists away from breaking the all-time career assists record.
Ivana Raca recorded her first double-double of the season with 14 points and 12 rebounds en route to the Deacs' win. It is her ninth double-double as a Demon Deacon.
With only 54 points, this is North Carolina's lowest scoring game by at least 25 points this season.
FROM HOOVER
"This was a win that shows we can win in a variety of ways. It shows our team that sometimes we will need to rely on our defense. To come in and hold a team that was averaging over 90 points to just 54 tonight, proves we can win on both ends of the floor. It feels great especially with it being our first game at home. It is always great to start ACC play 1-0."
NEXT UP
The Demon Deacons continue their homestand on Sunday, Dec. 13 against Norfolk State. Tipoff against the Spartans is scheduled for noon in Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum.
Team Stats
UNC
Wake
FG%
.348
.350
3FG%
.111
.095
FT%
.667
.813
RB
41
38
TO
15
14
STL
8
9
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
16
FGM
5
3FGM
1
FTM
5
Pts
14
FGM
6
3FGM
1
FTM
1
Pts
12
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
4
Pts
9
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Players Mentioned
Guard
/ Women's Basketball
Guard
/ Women's Basketball
Forward
/ Women's Basketball
Forward
/ Women's Basketball
Guard
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