Wake Forest University
Louisville
Deacs Set to Host No. 1 Louisville
1/23/2021 11:16:00 AM | Women's Basketball
This marks the first time since the 2007-08 season Wake Forest will host the nation’s top-ranked team inside of LJVM Coliseum.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - The Wake Forest women's basketball continues its four-game homestand on Sunday afternoon, hosting No. 1 Louisville inside of Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum.
The Demon Deacons (7-5, 4-4 ACC) have hosted the nation's top team five times in program history with the last coming against No. 1 Duke during the 2006-07 season. A key to Wake Forest's success at home has been Ivana Raca production, averaging 16.3 points and 11.3 rebounds per game.
The Cardinals (13-0, 6-0 ACC) ascended to the No. 1 rankings on Monday for the first time in program history. They are coming off a 67-54 victory over No. 23 Syracuse on Thursday. Reigning ACC Player of the Year Dana Evans finished the night with a game-high 21 points and seven rebounds.
Tipoff for Sunday's game against Louisville is scheduled for 2 p.m. (ET) in Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum. The game will air on ACC Network.
Fans can follow along via the Demon Deacons Twitter, Instagram and Facebook accounts (@WakeWBB).
ACC PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Senior guard Gina Conti was named the Atlantic Coast Conference Co-Player of the Week, as announced by the league office Monday afternoon.
This is Wake Forest's second consecutive week with an ACC weekly honor, as Ivana Raca claimed this accolade one week ago.
Conti recorded a career-best performance at Notre Dame last Thursday as she scored 29 points and knocked down 8-of-12 threes in the game. Both tallies were career bests and her eight triples was just one short of the school record held by Elisa Penna (Feb. 18, 2018 at NC State) and Chelsea Douglas (Dec. 29, 2013 vs. Florida International).
Also, she scored 26 points in the second half of that contest, which was the highest tally by a Demon Deacon in half since Dearica Hamby had 27 in the second half against Montana on Nov. 29, 2014.
The Grove City, Ohio native followed that effort with a game-high tying 18 points in the Demon Deacons win over Virginia Tech on Sunday afternoon.
More on the ACC Player of the Week
LAST TIME
Wake Forest vs. Georgia Tech (Jan. 21)
Result: L, 73-44
- For the first time this season, the Demon Deacons dropped a home contest. The Yellow Jackets limited Wake Forest to its fewest points of the season as the Deacs were able to shoot just 26.4 percent from the field and 19 percent from behind the arc.
- Ivana Raca led the Deacs in scoring and rebounding with 13 and eight, just two rebounds shy of her fourth double-double in as many games inside of Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum.
SERIES HISTORY
Versus Louisville
Series: Louisville leads 6-0
Last: January 12, 2020
Result: L, 61-75
- Despite trailing by as much as 19 in the game, the Deacs continued to make runs against the top-10 Cardinals. In the fourth quarter, Wake Forest was as close as eight points.
- Christina Morra posted a game and career-high 13 rebounds en route to her second career double-double. She added 13 points on 6-of-9 shooting.
STANDOUT STAT
Through three home games this season, the Demon Deacons have a near perfect 3-1 record with the help of senior leader Ivana Raca. The Belgrade, Serbia native has averaged a double-double, posting 16.3 points per game and 11.3 rebounds per game over the four contests.
Ivana at Home
Opponent Points Rebounds
North Carolina 14 12
Miami 22 14
Boston College 16 11
Georgia Tech 13 8
MAY I ASSIST YOU
Gina Conti goes into the game needing just 93 more assists to break the Wake Forest school record for career assists:
1. Brooke Thomas (513; 2008-12)
2. Nicole Levesque (488; 1991-94)
3. Cotelia Bond-Young (462; 2003-06)
4. Gretchen Hollifield (453; 1993-96)
5. Amy Privette (424; 1984-87)
6. Gina Conti (421; 2017-21)
NEXT UP
The Deacs continue their homestand, playing host to Florida State on Thursday, Jan. 28, in Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum. It marks the third of four consecutive home contests.
The game will tip off at 6 p.m. on ACC Network Extra.
