Wake Forest University
3-1,0-1ACC
Mercer
1-1,0-0SoCon
Strong Fourth-Quarter Performance Propels Deacs Past Mercer
11/17/2022 1:37:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Four Demon Deacons hit double-digit scoring in the 25-point victory over Mercer on School Day Thursday afternoon.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – The Wake Forest women's basketball team used a late fourth quarter run to pull away from Mercer in a 70-45 home win.
The Deacs (3-1, 0-1 ACC) were led by balanced scoring across the board. Senior forward Olivia Summiel led the team with 13 points on 5-of-9 (56 percent) shooting in addition to eight rebounds. Sophomore forward Raegyn Conley finished with 11 points while shooting 3-of-6 from beyond the arc.
Sophomore guard Elise Williams had a solid statline of 10 points, five rebounds, six assists and two steals. Junior guard Jewel Spear recorded 10 points and six rebounds.
As a team, Wake Forest shot 44.8 percent from the floor and 35.5 percent from three. The Deacs also held the Lions (1-1, 0-0 SoCon) to just 26.2 percent shooting, including a 22.9 percent clip in the second half.
The Deacs were boosted by 23 bench points, led by Conley's 11 points. In her first game action at the Joel, freshman guard Kate Deeble put on a show and helped lead the Demon Deacons to a 25-point victory on Thursday.
She netted all eight points in the third quarter and sparked the Wake Forest offense with three assists. After she subbed in, Wake Forest finished the quarter on a 16-10 run. That momentum continued into the fourth where the Deacs outscored the Bears 27-9 to close the game strong.
Additionally, the Demon Deacons outscored the Lions, 30-10, in the paint.
Junior forward Demara Hinds continues to be a strong presence on the glass, pulling down a season-best 12 boards in the victory. She came into the game leading all Power-5 players with 16 offensive rebounds. Hinds added three offensive rebounds to her total this afternoon.
An exciting season awaits at Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum as the Wake Forest women's basketball team! There is no better time than now to become a season ticket holder and support your Demon Deacons at home this season.
Along with your purchase of a $50 season ticket package this season there are many added benefits exclusive only to those who buy season tickets.
HOW IT HAPPENED
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Harrison earned her way to the line to open the scoring at the 8:22 mark.
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Summiel drained a three on the next possession following an assist from Williams.
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Hinds converted an and-one opportunity after she fought her way through contact for a layup.
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Scruggs found Hinds cutting to the basket with a nice pass which resulted in an easy layup for the junior forward with two minutes left in the first quarter.
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Mercer took a 12-11 lead into the second quarter.
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Hinds was tied for the team lead with five points (Summiel) and was dominating the glass with seven rebounds over the first 10 minutes of action.
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As a team, the Deacs held Mercer to just 5-of-18 (27.8%) from the floor in the first quarter.
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For the second-straight quarter, Harrison opened the scoring from the charity stripe, as she knocked down a pair at the 7:39 mark.
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She came back on the next possession with a smooth left-handed layup.
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Conley made an immediate impact off the bench, as she connected from long range on her first touch of the ball.
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Williams found Summiel in the paint as the Deacs cut the deficit to just two points with 2:26 left in the half.
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Conley knocked down a second-chance corner three after she followed her shot and earned another possession for the Deacs.
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The sophomore guard then gave Wake Forest the lead with a second left in the first half with a pair of free throws.
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The Demon Deacons went into the locker room up 25-24.
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Conley had a team-high eight points in just five minutes of action.
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Wake Forest closed out the half on a 10-2 run.
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It took Spear just nine seconds to get the Deacons on the board in the second half as she drove to the basket for two.
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Deeble scored her first collegiate points with a layup after Williams hit her with a nice pass as she was cutting towards the basket.
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The freshman then drained a corner three on the very next possession, also assisted by Williams.
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The Australia native continued to stay hot as she connected on another three pointer with 4:08 left in the third quarter.
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Summiel knocked down back-to-back three pointers to give Wake Forest a nine-point advantage with 1:34 remaining in the third.
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Deeble hit Andrews with a bounce pass in stride as she sent the Demon Deacons into the fourth quarter up 43-36.
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Wake Forest shot 7-for-14 (50%) from the floor and 4-for-8 (50%) from beyonf the Arc in the third quarter.
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Deeble led the way with eight third quarter points on 3-of-4 shooting.
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Conley opened the scoring in the final frame with a three pointer assisted by Becker.
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Hinds made a second-chance layup and Spear connected from deep on the next possession to give Wake Forest an 11-point lead with 6:19 remaining in the contest.
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Williams went coast-to-coast after pick-pocketing the opponent to extend the lead to 15.
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Spear became the third Decs with double-digits after converting a three-point play.
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Good ball movement led to a wide-open three for Williams on two different possessions during a 12-0 Wake Forest run to close out the game.
STANDOUT STAT
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The Demon Deacons took complete control of the game in the fourth quarter, as they outscored Mercer 27-9 over the final 10 minutes.
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Mercer was held scoreless over the final 4:10 of the contest during the Demon Deacons 12-0 run.
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Wake Forest closed the game on 5-of-6 shooting.
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Williams was a perfect 4-for-4 (2-for-2 from three) in the fourth quarter.
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FROM GEBBIA
"We knew that they were a good team. They've been a good team for years and they're well coached. We talked a lot about playing scout defense and guarding tendencies. At times, we weren't doing that. I took people out when they weren't doing that because they have to understand that if you can't do it against mid major, you're not gonna be able to do it in the ACC. We have to hold them accountable for that. It was a nice team win. The bench really showed up today when they came in. Raegan Conley basically got us back the lead in the second quarter and that was big. She took the shots that she's good at. For me, it was a huge win in the sense of winning by that many points. You never know how games are going to go where they can't hear us because the crowd is so loud. We love what the fan experience team has done for us and for this game. They're setting the bar for getting people here and the players really appreciate that they went into the stands afterwards to kind of talk to them and hopefully get them to come back. That's the goal. I'm really proud of the team. I really like how everybody locked in at times and got stops when we needed to and we're able to get transition baskets." - Coach Megan Gebbia
NEXT UP
The Demon Deacons head to the Bahamas for the Baha Mar Hoops Pink Flamingo Championship with the first game against Missouri on Monday, Nov. 21 at 5:30 p.m. The second game comes on Wednesday, Nov. 23 at 11 a.m. against Alabama.
The game will air on FloSports ($).
Claim Your Spot for the 2022-23 Season
The best way to see your Demon Deacons' women's basketball team this season is by purchasing season tickets for just $50.
Along with your purchase of a $50 season ticket package this season there are many added benefits exclusive only to those who buy season tickets. Admission to all 16 home games for this price Additional perks include:
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A lunch opportunity with the Wake Forest women's basketball team
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Only season ticket holders can sit in floor level seats
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Access to Blue Ridge Room for free light refreshments and snacks before and during each home game
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"Season Ticket Holder of the Game"
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A season ticket holder will be recognized at each game
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They will be brought onto the floor during a quarter break or timeout to be recognized
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They will be presented with a signed picture of the team
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They will also have videoboard graphics made for them as well
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The quickest and most efficient way to order season tickets is to visit GoDeacs.com/Tickets and purchase online or call the Wake Forest Ticket Office at 336-758-3322 ext. 1. Office hours are Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
