Raca Joins 1,000-Point Club in Regular Season Finale

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – In the final game inside of Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum this season, the Wake Forest women's basketball team fell to Miami, 79-63, Thursday.

The Demon Deacons' (14-15, 7-11 ACC) seniors of Ona Udoh, Alex Sharp and Raegyn Branch were honored prior to the game for their four years of accomplishments and contributions to the program.

Branch, Sharp and Udoh suited up one final time in front of the home crowd as all three were in the starting lineup for the first time this season. During the game, the trio crossed 6,000 career minutes played as a group. Combined, they have played in 292 games for the Deacs during their four seasons.

"First of all, I want to recognize our special group of seniors," head coach Jen Hoover said. "These three young ladies have given so much to this program over the past four years. I couldn't be prouder of the women they have become since arriving at Wake Forest. Obviously, it wasn't the result we wanted to see on the court, but I know we'll bounce back as we start to prepare for the ACC Tournament."

Another Demon Deacon crossed a career milestone in the midst of game as Ivana Raca passed 1,000 career points with a layup at the 9:41 mark in the fourth quarter.

She came into the game needing 15 points to join the exclusive club and she finished the game with a team-high 19 points to go along with a team-high eight rebounds. Raca becomes the 28th Demon Deacon member of the club, joining teammate Alex Sharp.

The Demon Deacons were able to erase a hot start from the Hurricanes (14-14, 6-11 ACC) with balanced offensive. At one point in the first quarter, the Deacons were down 13-2 before working their way back to tie the game at 24-24 with 6:30 left in the second quarter.

Wake Forest took the lead for the first time, 27-26, with 5:55 to play in the second quarter off a Raca three-pointer. The team had a 14-2 run over five minutes of the second quarter including an 8-0 run to help put Wake Forest up 37-34 at the half.

At the midway point, Raca led all players with 11 points and four rebounds.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

Ona Udoh got the Deacons on the board first on senior night, hitting a turnaround jumper in the paint at 8:29.
Fellow senior Alex Sharp shifted the momentum for the Demon Deacons at 6:06 in the first quarter. Her three-pointer to continue to cut into the Wake Forest deficit.
Raca cut Miami's lead to just two, 24-22, with 1:57 into the second quarter. After a myriad of moves on the low block, she got to the rim for a layup.
Kaia Harrison got her first points of the game and helped push the lead to 29-26 with 4:54 left in the second quarter, knocking down a midrange jumper.
Wake led by as much as eight in the first half before taking a 37-34 lead into the halftime break.
The game remained close for much of the third quarter. After an Ona Udoh tied the game at 48-48 with 3:24 left in the quarter, Miami went on a 12-0 run, taking control of the game the rest of the way.
The deficit remained in double figures from that point on as Wake Forest fell in its final regular season home game this year.

NEXT UP
Wake Forest awaits its seeding in the ACC Tournament, which is set to begin next week in Greensboro, N.C.

Come make the short drive over and support your Demon Deacons' women's basketball squad. Get your tickets here.

Prior to Thursday, the Demon Deacons were just a half game back of ninth place while holding head-to-head tiebreakers over both Virginia and North Carolina.

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Players Mentioned

Raegyn Branch

Kaia Harrison

Ivana Raca

Alex Sharp

Ona Udoh

Players Mentioned

Raegyn Branch

Kaia Harrison

Ivana Raca

Alex Sharp

Ona Udoh

Wake Forest Athletics