Deacs Look to Carry Momentum into ACC Play
12/10/2020 9:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
“People haven’t seen our full potential and we haven’t touched on what we’re capable of doing.” - Gina Conti
Gina Conti stepped to the foul stripe, took one breath, laid down a single dribble, paused and then went straight up with her shot.
Nothing but net.
Six times in the final 16 seconds the Wake Forest senior point guard followed that same routine and found the same results.
Every one of them was needed, as the Demon Deacons (3-1) clung to a 3-point lead in the waning moments of a 78-75 win last week at Charlotte.
Conti was a perfect 9-for-9 at the free throw line, scoring 23 points against the 49ers. She's not missed at the charity stripe this season, making all 21 attempts.
"Once you feel like you've been making them, you stick with that routine," Conti said. "I've practiced free throws a lot, so I was happy they all dropped. It's a free shot you get to take, so I practice it often. It's something I will keep practicing to develop muscle memory. I hope I can continue knocking them down."
The Deacs had built a double-digit cushion against Charlotte, only to see the 49ers come storming back in the fourth quarter.
"That game was constantly back and forth," Conti said. "We had our ups and downs. We grinded it out.
"Charlotte has a ton of competitors and they are a team that never goes away. They're going to come back. We had to be ready for them to fight back. They hit a couple shots and cut the lead. They are scrappy."
The yearly matchup against Charlotte is one that the Deacs look forward to, according to coach Jen Hoover.
"They're well coached, and will play hard and compete," she said. "They've lost to three-straight ACC teams and the three games are almost repeats of themselves. They were right there, and have a brutal schedule.
"We had hoped we would play better, and shoot better than we did. You have to find a way to win games when the outside shot isn't being reliable."
Sophomore guard Alexandria missed the game against Charlotte, but is back practicing with the team.
"I thought our kids kept grinding it out," Hoover said. "I thought Gina controlled the game and was able to attack to both get good looks and find her teammates. This team is finding ways. We have a lot of weapons and can score in a variety of ways."
"We have to establish our inside game and get Christina Morra and Olivia Summiel going on the block. We just have to continue to get better."
After four straight road games, including squaring off against a couple of ranked opponents in the Gulf Coast Showcase to start the season, the Demon Deacons finally get their first taste of Lawrence Joel Veteran's Memorial Coliseum as they host North Carolina at 6 p.m. Thursday (ACC Network).
"I'm super excited," Conti said about playing a home game. "I know we can't have many fans, but it's still exciting. There's nothing like playing in your home gym, especially for my senior year. That means it's the last first time for me. We're all ready to be home and play on our court, especially against UNC to start the ACC slate. We're all super excited about it."
Wake Forest defeated North Carolina twice a season ago, defeating the Heels 82-79 in overtime late in the regular season at Joel Coliseum, then coming out on top 83-73 in the first round of the ACC Tournament in Greensboro Coliseum.
"Anytime you're playing an in-state rival, there's added importance to it," Hoover said. "Then with us sweeping them last year, they will be looking to come in and get that taste out of their mouth.
"It's going to be great to play at home. We will get to have a few fans, but it won't be many. I'm not sure what that will look like, but we will get to play on our court, with the big "WF" at midcourt."
The Heels (5-0) are coming off a 81-75 home win over Charlotte, and are averaging 92 points a game.
"They have a lot of weapons and a ton of depth," Hoover said. "They bring people off the bench who can come in and make an impact for them. They are playing well with each other and have good inside-out combinations. They have solid inside threats, can shoot the ball well behind the arc, and are good off the bounce. We have to be able to rebound and keep them out of transition."
While excited to prepare for the start of conference play against an in-state rival, the Deacs also have been persevering through finals week.
"We'll have players taking finals all the way up until game time," Hoover said. "We've never played a game during finals week before. But kudos to the player for juggling all the additional requirements they've already had this season, but now also working through finals while preparing for their first ACC game of the year.
"We're just so grateful to be able to play a game. They haven't winced or whined once about having to play during finals. It is what it is. (Senior Associate Athletic Director for Student-Athlete Services) Jane Caldwell and her staff did a great job of getting all that organized."
The Deacs earned votes in the most recent AP Top 25, effectively ranked No. 32 in the country.
"We know that this is just the start," Conti said. "We have a lot to prove still. People haven't seen our full potential and we haven't touched on what we're capable of doing. We have a lot we want to achieve. There's a lot more to come."
Nothing but net.
Six times in the final 16 seconds the Wake Forest senior point guard followed that same routine and found the same results.
Every one of them was needed, as the Demon Deacons (3-1) clung to a 3-point lead in the waning moments of a 78-75 win last week at Charlotte.
Conti was a perfect 9-for-9 at the free throw line, scoring 23 points against the 49ers. She's not missed at the charity stripe this season, making all 21 attempts.
"Once you feel like you've been making them, you stick with that routine," Conti said. "I've practiced free throws a lot, so I was happy they all dropped. It's a free shot you get to take, so I practice it often. It's something I will keep practicing to develop muscle memory. I hope I can continue knocking them down."
The Deacs had built a double-digit cushion against Charlotte, only to see the 49ers come storming back in the fourth quarter.
"That game was constantly back and forth," Conti said. "We had our ups and downs. We grinded it out.
"Charlotte has a ton of competitors and they are a team that never goes away. They're going to come back. We had to be ready for them to fight back. They hit a couple shots and cut the lead. They are scrappy."
The yearly matchup against Charlotte is one that the Deacs look forward to, according to coach Jen Hoover.
"They're well coached, and will play hard and compete," she said. "They've lost to three-straight ACC teams and the three games are almost repeats of themselves. They were right there, and have a brutal schedule.
"We had hoped we would play better, and shoot better than we did. You have to find a way to win games when the outside shot isn't being reliable."
Sophomore guard Alexandria missed the game against Charlotte, but is back practicing with the team.
"I thought our kids kept grinding it out," Hoover said. "I thought Gina controlled the game and was able to attack to both get good looks and find her teammates. This team is finding ways. We have a lot of weapons and can score in a variety of ways."
"We have to establish our inside game and get Christina Morra and Olivia Summiel going on the block. We just have to continue to get better."
After four straight road games, including squaring off against a couple of ranked opponents in the Gulf Coast Showcase to start the season, the Demon Deacons finally get their first taste of Lawrence Joel Veteran's Memorial Coliseum as they host North Carolina at 6 p.m. Thursday (ACC Network).
"I'm super excited," Conti said about playing a home game. "I know we can't have many fans, but it's still exciting. There's nothing like playing in your home gym, especially for my senior year. That means it's the last first time for me. We're all ready to be home and play on our court, especially against UNC to start the ACC slate. We're all super excited about it."
Wake Forest defeated North Carolina twice a season ago, defeating the Heels 82-79 in overtime late in the regular season at Joel Coliseum, then coming out on top 83-73 in the first round of the ACC Tournament in Greensboro Coliseum.
"Anytime you're playing an in-state rival, there's added importance to it," Hoover said. "Then with us sweeping them last year, they will be looking to come in and get that taste out of their mouth.
"It's going to be great to play at home. We will get to have a few fans, but it won't be many. I'm not sure what that will look like, but we will get to play on our court, with the big "WF" at midcourt."
The Heels (5-0) are coming off a 81-75 home win over Charlotte, and are averaging 92 points a game.
"They have a lot of weapons and a ton of depth," Hoover said. "They bring people off the bench who can come in and make an impact for them. They are playing well with each other and have good inside-out combinations. They have solid inside threats, can shoot the ball well behind the arc, and are good off the bounce. We have to be able to rebound and keep them out of transition."
While excited to prepare for the start of conference play against an in-state rival, the Deacs also have been persevering through finals week.
"We'll have players taking finals all the way up until game time," Hoover said. "We've never played a game during finals week before. But kudos to the player for juggling all the additional requirements they've already had this season, but now also working through finals while preparing for their first ACC game of the year.
"We're just so grateful to be able to play a game. They haven't winced or whined once about having to play during finals. It is what it is. (Senior Associate Athletic Director for Student-Athlete Services) Jane Caldwell and her staff did a great job of getting all that organized."
The Deacs earned votes in the most recent AP Top 25, effectively ranked No. 32 in the country.
"We know that this is just the start," Conti said. "We have a lot to prove still. People haven't seen our full potential and we haven't touched on what we're capable of doing. We have a lot we want to achieve. There's a lot more to come."
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