Wake Forest University
10-2,0-1ACC
Georgia Tech
9-2,1-0ACC
Williams Reaches Double Figures in ACC Opener
12/19/2021 8:43:00 PM | Women's Basketball
The Demon Deacons fell on the road to No. 18 Georgia Tech, 62-45, on Sunday night.
ATLANTA, Ga. -- Wake Forest women's basketball team fell to No. 18 Georgia Tech, 62-45, Sunday in the Atlantic Coast Conference opener at McCamish Pavilion.
The Demon Deacons (10-2, 0-1 ACC) were led by a double-digit performance from freshman guard Elise Williams. She helped lead the Deacs scoring effort to start the third quarter, netting eight points on 4-of-5 shooting. Williams finished the night with 10 points.
Fellow freshman Alyssa Andrews also had a strong start in her first career ACC game. Andrews posted nine points while also adding three rebounds to her total.
Freshman forward Malaya Cowles led the Deacs on the glass with nine rebounds in the game, the second-highest total in her young career. Sophomore forward Demeara Hinds ended the night with eight rebounds.
Despite the loss, the Demon Deacons did an impressive job shutting down Georgia Tech's (9-2, 1-0 ACC) 2021 All-ACC performer Lorela Cubaj on the offensive end of the floor. She finished with just four points, her second fewest of the season, on 2-of-5 shooting and the Deacs also forced her to foul out after playing just 17 minutes in the game.
Both of the Demon Deacons losses this season have come to teams ranked No. 31 or higher in the latest NET rankings.
HOW IT HAPPENED
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After a steal on the opening possession of the game from Demeara Hinds, Elise Williams called her own number, getting to the basket for a left-hand layup and an early 2-0 lead for Wake Forest.
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Georgia Tech proceeded to go on a 7-0 run to force a Wake Forest timeout at the 5:17 mark of the first quarter.
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Sophomore Jewel Spear connected on her first basket of the game at the 4:09 mark of the first, hitting a long-range three from the left wing to cut the deficit to 11-6.
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The Demon Deacons continued to show fight despite being down 15-8 at the end of the first quarter.
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To open up the second quarter, the Deacs found Raegyn Conley in the corner as she knocked down the three to cut it to a 15-11 game just 15 seconds into the second stanza.
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The Deacs continued to battle throughout the second quarter behind balanced scoring throughout the lineup. Of the eight players who saw the court in the first 20 minutes, six scored.
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Wake Forest also continued to be impressive on the glass, pulling down 22 rebounds to Georgia Tech's 18 in the opening two quarters.
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At halftime, the Deacs trailed the nationally-ranked Yellow Jackets 29-17.
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Malaya Cowles led the team with seven rebounds in the first two quarters while also hitting on 3-of-4 free throw line.
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Elise Williams opened up the third quarter with the first three baskets for the Demon Deacons with the third coming at the 5:16 mark of the third quarter, making it a 40-23 game in favor of No. 18 Georgia Tech.
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Williams netted eight of the Demon Deacons 12 points in the quarter, finishing the 10-minute period 4-of-5 from the field.
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By the end of the period, Wake Forest trailed 51-29.
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The Demon Deacons had their best quarter in the fourth, making a couple mini runs. Wake Forest scored 16 points in the fourth quarter, cutting the deficit down to as few as 17 points.
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Spear posted six of her nine points in the fourth, her fewest of the season and the first time she was held under double digits since her freshman campaign.
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Wake Forest fell to the nationally-ranked Georgia Tech, 62-45.
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Both losses this season have come to teams ranked No. 31 or higher in the latest NET rankings.
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STANDOUT STAT
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40 of the 45 points for the Demon Deacons came from underclassmen as freshman Elise Williams led the way with 10 points while Alyssa Andrews posted nine points in the loss.
FROM COACH HOOVER
"We have played three games in seven days and I thought we looked like a team that did that. I was proud of the way that the team fought throughout the game. We did a great job of controlling the boards in the first half and wish we did a better job there in the second half. We weren't able to limit their second-chance opportunities. The one game doesn't define us and we will take learning lessons from this and grow before getting back to our home court on Dec. 30 against a tough Florida State team." - Coach Hoover
NEXT UP
Wake Forest is off for 12 days before returning to the court against Florida State on Thursday, Dec. 30 for the home ACC opener. Tipoff at Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Secure your spot at the Joel at GoDeacs.com/Tickets
The game will also be televised on ACC Network Extra.
