Deacs Prove Ability Among Nation’s Best
12/3/2020 11:34:00 AM | Women's Basketball, Les Johns
“We felt like we had multiple weapons who could score and felt like we could be deeper than we’ve been.” - Jen Hoover
Trailing by just two at halftime, the Wake Forest women's basketball team let an opportunity slip through their fingers against No. 14 Arkansas Friday, falling 98-82 in the season opener.
That didn't deter the Deacs from finishing strong in their stay at the Gulf Coast Shootout in Fort Myers, Florida, grabbing wins over Davidson on Saturday and Sunday knocking off No. 24 Missouri State — who had toppled No. 12 Maryland just one day earlier.
"It was a nice way to end it," Wake Forest coach Jen Hoover said. "It didn't quite start the way we wanted.
"We talked about how it feels to play that third-straight day in the ACC Tournament, and we knew we were going to be facing some NCAA Tournament teams. We wanted to challenge them early and see how they would handle it."
It was a challenging start to the 2020-21 season for Hoover's Demon Deacons, who finished last season 16-16 after grabbing a pair of wins in the ACC Tournament. The Deacs believed they were set to earn a postseason berth until the COVID-19 pandemic wiped all those tournaments off the schedule.
"They were anxious to get back here and do whatever it takes to get to play basketball this year," Hoover said. "It's been a long and unusual year already, with the long break in playing. Our schedule is challenging. With everything getting pushed back a couple of weeks, we lost some games against opponents who weren't ranked."
Wake Forest has three players scoring in double digits after the first three games, led by preseason All-ACC selection Ivana Raca averaging 19.0 points and 9.0 rebounds a contest. It's the balanced attack that is proving tough for opponents to guard.
"Even in the Arkansas game, I thought we came out focused," Hoover said. "I knew we could play with them, but they're such a high-powered offense. But that's a part of what we did the last two days of the event.
"We felt like we had multiple weapons who could score and felt like we could be deeper than we've been. But we also thought our defense was going to be better than we showed in the first two games."
Raca led the Deacs with 23 points, nine rebounds and five assists in a 68-59 win Sunday over Missouri State.
"We were so focused to just win and execute the game plan," Raca said. "I am so proud of my teammates. We had fun playing and grabbed the big win.
"I was just locked in. My teammates found me well at the 3-point line and down low. I had the easy job of just hitting the shots. All credit to my teammates."
Hoover believes the loss to Arkansas on Friday helped motivate the team through the rest of the event in Florida.
"They were mad we lost and that was an opportunity that slipped through our fingers," she said. "Instead of wallowing in it, we wanted another opportunity.
"They were locked in and focused. Nobody complained about being tired, and the last game was by far the most physical. We played three of the best offensive teams in the country, and for two of the games we were just as good."
The Deacs took a four-point lead into intermission against No. 24 Missouri State, extended it early in the third quarter and never faltered.
"Once we had the lead, we made some winning plays across the board," Hoover said. "It wasn't just one player. We did a good job of executing our game plan, getting kids open shots and then them stepping up and draining them. On the other end, I thought we stepped up to the physicality and toughness of the game. They did rattle us a little late with the pressure, which surprised me because we're capable of playing two-to-three point guards at a time this season.
"This team wanted to be challenged. They were ready to play somebody else. Practice has been competitive, and we mixed the lineups around all the way up until the last week. We have more quickness and athleticism that can help us."
Senior point guard Gina Conti leads the Deacs with 13 assists so far this season. Wake has 35 assists on 76 made buckets.
"Conti played so well through the first two games," Hoover said. "If we take care of the ball and execute, we're going to get somebody a shot that we want them to take. They don't care who gets that shot. They're unselfish."
As part of an eight-player rotation Hoover used in Florida, two freshmen are getting some solid playing time — guard Jewel Spear from Colony, Texas and guard Nevaeh Brown from Charlotte.
"Jewel Spear is starting for us as a freshman," Hoover said. "She's a high-basketball IQ kid who is a gym rat. She watches basketball every day and can really shoot the ball. She played great defense for us.
"Nevaeh Brown is going to be a spark for us and has incredible athleticism. She's going to be an elite defender for us."
Junior forward Christina Morra is 10-for-16 from the field through three games.
"Morra has started well and continues to battle," Hoover said.
A trio of sophomores round out the rest of the rotation that contributed heavily in the successful weekend in Florida.
"I thought Kaia Harrison was huge, and played with tremendous confidence all weekend," Hoover said.
Olivia Summiel leads the team with 29 rebounds, while Alexandria Scruggs is 5-for-10 shooting behind the arc.
"We now have a lot of weapons and teams can't just focus on one player," Hoover said.
Although there were some family members in the stands for the games in Florida, the players weren't allowed to meet with them for dinner. Because of COVID protocols, each player has one primary teammate for which they are roommates, and seating partners on planes, buses and for meals.
"It's different, but I give our kids a lot of credit," Hoover said. "They deal with it and don't complain about it. You miss a lot on the team camaraderie stuff that we always do. But we still find ways to have fun and enjoy each other.
"We're grateful we got to go down there and play three games. We're just thankful we still get to play the game we all love."
In addition to the strict protocols, there was the task of playing three tough games in three days.
"We're thankful to have the opportunity to play basketball," Raca said. "These times are hard, so we're thankful. We knew going to Florida it wasn't going to be easy playing three games in three days. It reminded us of the ACC Tournament last year. We just had to stay focused all three days, play and have fun with it."
Next up for the Deacs is a 6 p.m. road game Thursday against Charlotte (0-2). The 49ers have lost a pair of close contests thus far, losing 74-68 at Appalachian State last week, then 80-73 at home against Clemson Monday.
"They're always well coached and will come in with a solid game plan against us," Hoover said. "We always have heated battles. Last year, they got the best of us. It's a great game for both of us."
The Deacs begin conference play on Thursday, Dec. 10 against UNC, who was picked to finish in the top third of the conference by both the coaches and the blue ribbon panel.
"It's happening pretty fast," Hoover said. "Our goal is just to get better everyday. If you saw us yesterday, you don't know what's coming today. We want to earn it every single day, and get better and improve every day."
That didn't deter the Deacs from finishing strong in their stay at the Gulf Coast Shootout in Fort Myers, Florida, grabbing wins over Davidson on Saturday and Sunday knocking off No. 24 Missouri State — who had toppled No. 12 Maryland just one day earlier.
"It was a nice way to end it," Wake Forest coach Jen Hoover said. "It didn't quite start the way we wanted.
"We talked about how it feels to play that third-straight day in the ACC Tournament, and we knew we were going to be facing some NCAA Tournament teams. We wanted to challenge them early and see how they would handle it."
It was a challenging start to the 2020-21 season for Hoover's Demon Deacons, who finished last season 16-16 after grabbing a pair of wins in the ACC Tournament. The Deacs believed they were set to earn a postseason berth until the COVID-19 pandemic wiped all those tournaments off the schedule.
"They were anxious to get back here and do whatever it takes to get to play basketball this year," Hoover said. "It's been a long and unusual year already, with the long break in playing. Our schedule is challenging. With everything getting pushed back a couple of weeks, we lost some games against opponents who weren't ranked."
Wake Forest has three players scoring in double digits after the first three games, led by preseason All-ACC selection Ivana Raca averaging 19.0 points and 9.0 rebounds a contest. It's the balanced attack that is proving tough for opponents to guard.
"Even in the Arkansas game, I thought we came out focused," Hoover said. "I knew we could play with them, but they're such a high-powered offense. But that's a part of what we did the last two days of the event.
"We felt like we had multiple weapons who could score and felt like we could be deeper than we've been. But we also thought our defense was going to be better than we showed in the first two games."
Raca led the Deacs with 23 points, nine rebounds and five assists in a 68-59 win Sunday over Missouri State.
"We were so focused to just win and execute the game plan," Raca said. "I am so proud of my teammates. We had fun playing and grabbed the big win.
"I was just locked in. My teammates found me well at the 3-point line and down low. I had the easy job of just hitting the shots. All credit to my teammates."
Hoover believes the loss to Arkansas on Friday helped motivate the team through the rest of the event in Florida.
"They were mad we lost and that was an opportunity that slipped through our fingers," she said. "Instead of wallowing in it, we wanted another opportunity.
"They were locked in and focused. Nobody complained about being tired, and the last game was by far the most physical. We played three of the best offensive teams in the country, and for two of the games we were just as good."
The Deacs took a four-point lead into intermission against No. 24 Missouri State, extended it early in the third quarter and never faltered.
"Once we had the lead, we made some winning plays across the board," Hoover said. "It wasn't just one player. We did a good job of executing our game plan, getting kids open shots and then them stepping up and draining them. On the other end, I thought we stepped up to the physicality and toughness of the game. They did rattle us a little late with the pressure, which surprised me because we're capable of playing two-to-three point guards at a time this season.
"This team wanted to be challenged. They were ready to play somebody else. Practice has been competitive, and we mixed the lineups around all the way up until the last week. We have more quickness and athleticism that can help us."
Senior point guard Gina Conti leads the Deacs with 13 assists so far this season. Wake has 35 assists on 76 made buckets.
"Conti played so well through the first two games," Hoover said. "If we take care of the ball and execute, we're going to get somebody a shot that we want them to take. They don't care who gets that shot. They're unselfish."
As part of an eight-player rotation Hoover used in Florida, two freshmen are getting some solid playing time — guard Jewel Spear from Colony, Texas and guard Nevaeh Brown from Charlotte.
"Jewel Spear is starting for us as a freshman," Hoover said. "She's a high-basketball IQ kid who is a gym rat. She watches basketball every day and can really shoot the ball. She played great defense for us.
"Nevaeh Brown is going to be a spark for us and has incredible athleticism. She's going to be an elite defender for us."
Junior forward Christina Morra is 10-for-16 from the field through three games.
"Morra has started well and continues to battle," Hoover said.
A trio of sophomores round out the rest of the rotation that contributed heavily in the successful weekend in Florida.
"I thought Kaia Harrison was huge, and played with tremendous confidence all weekend," Hoover said.
Olivia Summiel leads the team with 29 rebounds, while Alexandria Scruggs is 5-for-10 shooting behind the arc.
"We now have a lot of weapons and teams can't just focus on one player," Hoover said.
Although there were some family members in the stands for the games in Florida, the players weren't allowed to meet with them for dinner. Because of COVID protocols, each player has one primary teammate for which they are roommates, and seating partners on planes, buses and for meals.
"It's different, but I give our kids a lot of credit," Hoover said. "They deal with it and don't complain about it. You miss a lot on the team camaraderie stuff that we always do. But we still find ways to have fun and enjoy each other.
"We're grateful we got to go down there and play three games. We're just thankful we still get to play the game we all love."
In addition to the strict protocols, there was the task of playing three tough games in three days.
"We're thankful to have the opportunity to play basketball," Raca said. "These times are hard, so we're thankful. We knew going to Florida it wasn't going to be easy playing three games in three days. It reminded us of the ACC Tournament last year. We just had to stay focused all three days, play and have fun with it."
Next up for the Deacs is a 6 p.m. road game Thursday against Charlotte (0-2). The 49ers have lost a pair of close contests thus far, losing 74-68 at Appalachian State last week, then 80-73 at home against Clemson Monday.
"They're always well coached and will come in with a solid game plan against us," Hoover said. "We always have heated battles. Last year, they got the best of us. It's a great game for both of us."
The Deacs begin conference play on Thursday, Dec. 10 against UNC, who was picked to finish in the top third of the conference by both the coaches and the blue ribbon panel.
"It's happening pretty fast," Hoover said. "Our goal is just to get better everyday. If you saw us yesterday, you don't know what's coming today. We want to earn it every single day, and get better and improve every day."
Players Mentioned
Guard
/ Women's Basketball
Guard
/ Women's Basketball
Guard
/ Women's Basketball
Forward
/ Women's Basketball
Forward
/ Women's Basketball
Guard
/ Women's Basketball
Guard
/ Women's Basketball
Forward
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