Thursday, March 5
Greensboro, NC
11:00 AM
Wake Forest University
16-15,7-11ACC
58
vs
55
Virginia Tech
21-9,11-7ACC
1
2
3
4
F
Wake Forest
14
12
16
16
58
Virginia Tech
17
9
15
14
55
Wake Moves to ACC Quarterfinals with 58-55 Win Over Virginia Tech
3/5/2020 2:52:00 PM | Women's Basketball
The Demon Deacons are set to face No. 22 Florida State in the ACC Tournament Quarterfinals
GREENSBORO, N.C. – In the second round of the ACC Tournament, the Wake Forest women's basketball took down No. 5 seed Virginia Tech, 58-55, on Thursday morning.
The Demon Deacons (16-15) limited one of the conference's best offenses to just 37 percent shooting from the field and 27 percent from behind the arc.
The Hokies (21-9) came into the game ranked second in the ACC in three pointers made. In the second half, Virginia Tech went just 1-of-9 from three-point range and the Deacs only allowed the Hokies to attempt one three in the fourth quarter.
This attempt came with a second left on the clock. Aisha Shepard, who came into the game as Virginia Tech's leading scorer at 15.2 points per game, go the ball in the left corner. The shot hit the front of the rim and the Demon Deacons advanced to the ACC Quarterfinals.
Wake limited Shepard to just two points on the afternoon, going 1-of-9 from the field and 0-of-5 from three.
On the offensive end, Maya Banks provided key minutes on the low block and a spark offensively. The junior, who had eight points in the game, set the tempo in the fourth quarter with three of the Deacs four baskets. This helped push the lead to 50-43 with 6:10 remaining.
She was a major reason why Wake Forest led the entire fourth quarter.
All-ACC selection Ivana Raca poured in a team-high 16 points while grabbing six rebounds. Senior Alex Sharp finished a rebound shy of her second double-double of the tournament, posting 11 points and nine rebounds.
"The character of this team is above and beyond anything," head coach Jen Hoover. "And I think when you hit adversity, when you hit runs this team has learned that our character and our fight and our desire to help each other out and play for each other- they've got each other's back."
Sharp and Raca picked up right where they left off combining for 16 of the Demon Deacons' 26 first half points. Sharp looked to be well on her way to her second double-double of the tournament with seven points and six rebounds at halftime.
Raca led all scorers with nine points in the first 20 minutes of play. This including a pair of three pointers. After trailing for much of the first half, the Deacs worked themselves back into the game just before the break.
The Belgrade, Serbia native's second triple tied it with 3:53 to play in the second quarter. Just a minute later, Alexandria Scruggs put Wake in front 26-24.
Both teams went into the halftime interval tied at 26-26.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
• After a slow start offensively, the Deacs attacked the basket to initiate their offense. Maya Banks worked her way to the line at the 4:03 mark, helping ignite a 6-0 Wake Forest run.
• Gina Conti was able to get to the basket for layups on two possessions and after the opening 10 minutes of action the Demon Deacons trailed just 17-14.
• Wake continued to battle back into the game in the second quarter. Again, it was Banks who initiated the run. From there, Raca and Sharp took over clawing in front with just under three minutes to play in the half.
• On a pick-and-pop, Ivana Raca knocked down a left wing three to tie the game at 24-24 at the 3:53 mark. Just a minute later at the 2:40 mark, Alexandria Scruggs put the Demon Deacons in front for the first time in the second quarter. She banked it off the backboard to make it 26-24 in favor of Deacs.
• The defensive battle continued through the first half as at the midway point it was tied at 26-26.
• The game remained tight through the entire third quarter with neither team having more than a four-point advantage. At the end of the quarter, the ball found the Deacs All-ACC selection and Ivana Raca put the Deacs in front 42-41.
• The three pointer from Raca gave Wake a one-point lead heading in the final frame. There the Demon Deacons continued to increase their lead.
• Led by a pair of Maya Banks layups at the beginning of the fourth quarter, extended the lead to 48-41 just three minutes in. At the 6:10 mark, Wake went to Banks again as she made it a 50-43 lead for the Deacs.
• The Hokies cut it down to a 54-51 Deacs lead with a pair of Kitley free throws at the 1:19 mark.
• The Demon Deacons was cut down to 56-55 after Kitley made a layup with 14 seconds to play. Gina Conti salted the game away at the line seconds later to clinch the Deacs' 59-56 second round victory.
NEXT UP
Wake Forest advances to the quarterfinal round of the ACC Tournament where they will face No. 4 seed Florida State. The No. 22 Seminoles took both matchups this season.
Tipoff is scheduled for 11 a.m. at the Greensboro Coliseum. The game can also be seen on RSN/ACCNX.
The Demon Deacons (16-15) limited one of the conference's best offenses to just 37 percent shooting from the field and 27 percent from behind the arc.
The Hokies (21-9) came into the game ranked second in the ACC in three pointers made. In the second half, Virginia Tech went just 1-of-9 from three-point range and the Deacs only allowed the Hokies to attempt one three in the fourth quarter.
This attempt came with a second left on the clock. Aisha Shepard, who came into the game as Virginia Tech's leading scorer at 15.2 points per game, go the ball in the left corner. The shot hit the front of the rim and the Demon Deacons advanced to the ACC Quarterfinals.
Wake limited Shepard to just two points on the afternoon, going 1-of-9 from the field and 0-of-5 from three.
On the offensive end, Maya Banks provided key minutes on the low block and a spark offensively. The junior, who had eight points in the game, set the tempo in the fourth quarter with three of the Deacs four baskets. This helped push the lead to 50-43 with 6:10 remaining.
She was a major reason why Wake Forest led the entire fourth quarter.
All-ACC selection Ivana Raca poured in a team-high 16 points while grabbing six rebounds. Senior Alex Sharp finished a rebound shy of her second double-double of the tournament, posting 11 points and nine rebounds.
"The character of this team is above and beyond anything," head coach Jen Hoover. "And I think when you hit adversity, when you hit runs this team has learned that our character and our fight and our desire to help each other out and play for each other- they've got each other's back."
Sharp and Raca picked up right where they left off combining for 16 of the Demon Deacons' 26 first half points. Sharp looked to be well on her way to her second double-double of the tournament with seven points and six rebounds at halftime.
Raca led all scorers with nine points in the first 20 minutes of play. This including a pair of three pointers. After trailing for much of the first half, the Deacs worked themselves back into the game just before the break.
The Belgrade, Serbia native's second triple tied it with 3:53 to play in the second quarter. Just a minute later, Alexandria Scruggs put Wake in front 26-24.
Both teams went into the halftime interval tied at 26-26.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
• After a slow start offensively, the Deacs attacked the basket to initiate their offense. Maya Banks worked her way to the line at the 4:03 mark, helping ignite a 6-0 Wake Forest run.
• Gina Conti was able to get to the basket for layups on two possessions and after the opening 10 minutes of action the Demon Deacons trailed just 17-14.
• Wake continued to battle back into the game in the second quarter. Again, it was Banks who initiated the run. From there, Raca and Sharp took over clawing in front with just under three minutes to play in the half.
• On a pick-and-pop, Ivana Raca knocked down a left wing three to tie the game at 24-24 at the 3:53 mark. Just a minute later at the 2:40 mark, Alexandria Scruggs put the Demon Deacons in front for the first time in the second quarter. She banked it off the backboard to make it 26-24 in favor of Deacs.
• The defensive battle continued through the first half as at the midway point it was tied at 26-26.
• The game remained tight through the entire third quarter with neither team having more than a four-point advantage. At the end of the quarter, the ball found the Deacs All-ACC selection and Ivana Raca put the Deacs in front 42-41.
• The three pointer from Raca gave Wake a one-point lead heading in the final frame. There the Demon Deacons continued to increase their lead.
• Led by a pair of Maya Banks layups at the beginning of the fourth quarter, extended the lead to 48-41 just three minutes in. At the 6:10 mark, Wake went to Banks again as she made it a 50-43 lead for the Deacs.
• The Hokies cut it down to a 54-51 Deacs lead with a pair of Kitley free throws at the 1:19 mark.
• The Demon Deacons was cut down to 56-55 after Kitley made a layup with 14 seconds to play. Gina Conti salted the game away at the line seconds later to clinch the Deacs' 59-56 second round victory.
NEXT UP
Wake Forest advances to the quarterfinal round of the ACC Tournament where they will face No. 4 seed Florida State. The No. 22 Seminoles took both matchups this season.
Tipoff is scheduled for 11 a.m. at the Greensboro Coliseum. The game can also be seen on RSN/ACCNX.
Team Stats
Wake
Hokies
FG%
.377
.368
3FG%
.250
.267
FT%
.667
.750
RB
36
38
TO
14
16
STL
5
6
Game Leaders
Pts
16
FGM
6
3FGM
3
FTM
1
Pts
11
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Pts
11
FGM
4
3FGM
1
FTM
2
Pts
8
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
Forward
/ Women's BasketballGuard
/ Women's BasketballForward
/ Women's Basketball
Guard
/ Women's BasketballGuard
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