Wake Forest University
Miami
Deacs Scheduled to Open 2021 at Home
1/6/2021 2:52:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Wake Forest will play host to Miami (FL) Thursday inside Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - The Wake Forest women's basketball team starts the new year on Thursday against Miami (FL) at Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum.
The Demon Deacons (4-3, 1-2 ACC) are back on the court after a 18-day holiday break. The last time the Deacs were on the floor, they set a Jen Hoover era record with 14 made threes at North Carolina. Freshman guard Jewel Spear had a season-high 22 points including six three-point makes in the overtime loss to the Tar Heels.
The Hurricanes (5-3, 2-3 ACC) are coming off an 80-71 win over Clemson on Sunday. They were led by Ednia Banks who netted a team-best 20 points while claiming six rebounds and handing out three assists.
Tipoff for Thursday's game against Miami (FL) is scheduled for 6 p.m. (ET) in LJVM Coliseum. The game will be streamed on ACC Network.
Fans can follow along via the Demon Deacons Twitter, Instagram and Facebook accounts (@WakeWBB).
STARTING THE YEAR STRONG
Last season, the Demon Deacons started off 2020 with a 3-0 record including a pair of wins at LJVM Coliseum.
Wake Forest starts off 2020 with its first two games in Winston-Salem and has a total of five scheduled home contests in the month of January:
- Jan. 7 vs. Miami
- Jan. 10 vs. Boston College
- Jan. 21 vs. Georgia Tech
- Jan. 24 vs. Louisville
- Jan. 31 vs. Clemson
LAST TIME
Wake Forest at North Carolina (Dec. 20)
Result: L, 77-74 (OT)
- Freshman guard Jewel 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.
SERIES HISTORY
Versus Miami (FL)
Series: Miami (FL) leads 14-9
Last: Feb. 27, 2020
Result: L, 63-79
- In the regular season and home finale the Deacs fell to the Hurricanes. I marked the final home game for seniors of Ona Udoh, Alex Sharp and Raegyn Branch.
- 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
STANDOUT STAT
Through seven games this season, Wake Forest has been one of the best free throw shooting teams in the country. Heading into Thursday, the Deacs ranked 12th in the nation, hitting their attempts at a 79.2 percent clip.
Gina Conti and Christina Morra have been knocking down their attempts at a historic clip. The Wake Forest school record is held by Alice Neal as she hit 88.9 percent of her free throws during the 1988-89 season.
Conti currently sits at 93.1 percent (27-of-29) while Morra is currently hitting at 92.3 percent (24-of-26).
ROSTER ADDITION
The Demon Deacons have added the first member of the 2021 recruiting class to the roster ahead of Thursday's game against Miami. After graduating early from high school, guard Elise Williams joins the team for the final stretch of the season.
The Raleigh, N.C. native averaged 19.9 points per game, 8.3 rebounds, 4.7 assists, 5.3 steals and 1.4 blocks as a junior at Wakefield High School.
NEXT UP
The Deacs are set for their second straight home game, facing Boston College on Sunday, Jan. 10, at Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum.
The game will tip off at 4 p.m. on ACC Network.
