Deacs Drop Overtime Thriller to Tar Heels

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - The Wake Forest women's basketball team fell in overtime to North Carolina, 77-74, at Carmichael Arena on Sunday afternoon.

Freshman guard Jewel Spear and sophomore guard Alexandria Scruggs helped led the Demon Deacons (4-3, 1-2 ACC) on the offensive end. Spear netted a season-high 22 points, marking the most points by a freshman since Ariel Stephenson had 22 points versus NC State on Feb. 7, 2016.

Spear was lethal from behind the arc, connecting on 6-of-12 threes. It led Wake Forest to its best day behind the arc in the Jen Hoover era, ending the afternoon with 14 three pointers with a 46.7 percentage from distance.

In overtime and trailing by six, Spear's final three of the day put the Demon Deacons right back in the game, making it a 77-74 game with seven seconds remaining. After a North Carolina (7-2, 2-2 ACC) turnover, Wake Forest had the ball with a chance to tie the game. Gina Conti's three from the top of the key hit front rim, allowing the Tar Heels to sneak away with the win.

Scuggs also finished with her best outing of the season on Sunday, tying her career-high with 16 points. She also did damage with the three ball, connecting on 4-of-7 from behind the arc. Additionally, she grabbed five rebounds.

The Deacs were led on the glass by senior forward Ivana Raca who posted nine in the game. She fell one rebound short of her third consecutive double-double against the Tar Heels as she tallied 11 points.

The 11 points moves her into 20th on the Wake Forest all-time scoring list, passing Beth Davis (1998-90). Raca now needs just 18 points to tie Corrine Groves (1,194 points; 2005-09) for 19th on the list.

With the loss to the Tar Heels, Wake Forest had its three-game winning streak snapped. It was the Deacs' longest streak since rattling off six straight between 1988-90.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Deacs came out fast in the first six minutes of the game, netting four of the first five field goal attempts in the game. It helped them build an early 12-7 lead at the 5:59 mark of the first quarter.
The Demon Deacons continued to build on their lead through the first, pushing the advantage to double figures before the end of the period. Ivana Raca heated up late including a layup right before the buzzer to put Wake Forest up 22-10 after one.
Behind efficient offensive play, the lead grew to as much as 17 points in the second quarter of play. After another Raca made basket, the Deacs jumped in front 27-10 at the 7:41 mark of the second quarter.
The Tar Heels from that point went on a 20-2 run to jump in front for the first time in the game at 30-29 with 1:56 left in the second quarter. A pair of triples from Gina Conti and Jewel Spear help the Deacs take a 35-30 lead at halftime.
The third quarter was close throughout with neither team holding more than a two-basket advantage through the first five minutes. The largest lead in the quarter came after a Alexandria Scruggs made layup to put Wake Forest up 45-38 at the 3:24 mark.
A pair of late three pointers from North Carolina gave them a 53-49 lead heading into the fourth quarter. It marked the Tar Heels largest lead of the game to that point.
The North Carolina lead quickly pushed put to double figures before the Deacs climbed back in with a pair of triples. The first coming from Spear on the right wing and Scruggs followed with one of her own from the left wing. It forced a Tar Heel timeout with 5:32 remaining in the game. At that point, it was a 61-57 advantage for North Carolina.
Wake Forest continued to work its way back with the help of the three ball. At the end of regulation, the Deacs had 12 three pointers. It marked the most in a game in the Jen Hoover era. They ended the afternoon with 14 made threes.
Spear was responsible for six of the three-point makes to help her to a season-best 22 points in the game.
Despite the effort from behind the arc, Wake Forest fell in overtime to the Tar Heels, 77-74. It snapped a three-game winning streak in the series.

STANDOUT STAT
Wake Forest finished the afternoon with 14 three-point makes, marking the highest total in the Jen Hoover era. The previous high was 12 at Florida St. on Jan. 25, 2015.

The Demon Deacons high this season coming into Sunday was seven last coming in the win over No. 24 Missouri State.

Jewel Spear's six threes are the most by any Demon Deacon player this season. It was the most since Elisa Penna knocked down nine at NC State on Feb. 18, 2018.

FROM HOOVER
"This was a tough one because it was one, we felt like we had and let slip through our fingers. Coming back from our disappointing loss at NC State, we really did not feel like we played our best basketball. We came out tonight and I thought looked good in the first quarter. Moving the ball, hitting open players, hitting shots, but we just did not get the job done on the boards. That is what it came down to. Offensive rebounds, second-chance points for them, we just could not keep them off the glass, and that is an Achilles heel right now. We have got to get that fixed."

NEXT UP
The Deacs' next scheduled game is Sunday, Jan. 3, when they host Florida State at Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

The game will tip off at 1 p.m. on ACC Network Extra.

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Team Stats

Jewel Spear

Alexandria Scruggs

Gina Conti

Ivana Raca

Players Mentioned

Gina Conti

Ivana Raca

Alexandria Scruggs

Jewel Spear

Players Mentioned

Gina Conti

Ivana Raca

Alexandria Scruggs

Jewel Spear

Wake Forest Athletics