Wake Forest University
4-3,0-1ACC
Coastal Carolina
1-4,0-0Sun Belt
Spear Leads Deacs to Double-Digit Win
11/27/2022 6:59:00 PM | Women's Basketball
The Demon Deacons were led by a season-best 30 points by junior guard Jewel Spear who finished 8-of-11 from the field and tied her career high with six assists in the win over Coastal Carolina.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Behind a season-high 30 points from junior guard Jewel Spear, the Wake Forest women's basketball team remained unbeaten at home, defeating Coastal Carolina, 76-61, Sunday evening at Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum.
The Deacs (4-3, 0-1 ACC) used a strong defensive effort and efficient three-point shooting to upend the Chanticleers (1-4, 0-0 Sun Belt). Wake Forest also totaled 20 assists on its 26 made baskets with senior Kaia Harrison totaling a career-best six assists to lead the way while senior forward Olivia Summiel and Spear each tallied five assists which were also career highs for the upperclassmen.
With a season-best 30 points, Spear has now totaled four 30-plus points in her career and continues to add to her career totals. On Sunday, The Colony, Texas native moved into the top five in program history for threes with seven triples. She now has 169 for her career and less than 100 away from the program record.
Additionally, Spear now is just 48 points away from the 1,000-point barrier in her career.
Spear was joined in double figures by sophomore guard Elise Williams and senior forward Niyah Becker as they tallied 12 points and 11 points, respectively.
The Deacs won the rebounding battle with the help of a game-high nine rebounds from Summiel.
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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After both sides were held scoreless over the first minute of action, Olivia Summiel opened up the scoring on an assist from Elise Williams.
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Coastal Carolina evened the ledger 20 seconds later before another Summiel layup gave the Deacs a 4-2 lead.
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Summiel's layup sparked a 12-1 Demon Deacon run.
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Arin Freeman of Coastal Carolina knocked down a jumper to pull the Chanticleers within 11 but Spear immediately responded with a three-pointer.
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Niyah Becker then made a free throw to give the Deacs a 20-5 lead.
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Coastal Carolina responded with consecutive unanswered buckets before another Becker free throw.
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Spear made two three's during the final 56 seconds of the first quarter to give the Deacs a 16-point advantage.
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Wake Forest held a 27-11 lead after the first 10 minutes of play.
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The Demon Deacons tallied eight assists on nine made baskets while out rebounding the Chanticleers 12-8 during the opening frame.
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Spear led the Deacs offensively in the first quarter as she logged 14 points on 4-of-5 shooting from the field and 3-for-4 from beyond the arc.
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Summiel also had a strong first quarter as she registered six points and four boards during the frame.
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Coastal Carolina came out aggressive to open the second quarter as the Chanticleers went on a 12-2 run to cut Wake Forest's lead to six points (29-23).
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The Demon Deacons went nearly five minutes without a point before the two teams traded consecutive baskets over a 60-second span.
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Wake Forest held a 37-30 lead at the halftime break.
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As a team, the Demon Deacons shot 46.2 percent from three in the first half while holding the Chanticleers to only 20 percent shooting from beyond the arc.
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Spear led all scorers in the first half with 17 points and shot an efficient 5-of-7 from the field.
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Williams and Summiel also contributed significantly during the first 20 minutes of action as they combined for 14 points, nine rebounds and five assists.
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Spear opened up the second half scoring at the 9:06 mark of the third quarter as she knocked down a three-pointer in transition from the wing.
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The Chanticleers immediately responded with an 8-1 run forcing a Demon Deacon timeout.
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Undaunted, Wake Forest went on a 12-0 run behind baskets from Becker, Spear, Harrison and Williams.
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A Coastal Carolina three cut Wake Forest's lead to nine before Alyssa Andrews knocked down her fifth trey of the season to give the Deacs 56-44 lead.
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Over the final three minutes of the quarter, Coastal Carolina outscored the Deacs 6-4 to narrow its deficit to 10 (60-50) entering the fourth quarter.
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Through three quarters, Wake Forest led in nearly every statistical category as the Deacs accumulated more rebounds, assists, blocks, points in the paint, fast break points and second chance points than Coastal Carolina.
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Spear tied her season-high in points after only three quarters as she logged 23 points during the first 30 minutes of action.
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Coastal Carolina was unable to cut into the Demon Deacon lead over the first six minutes of the fourth quarter as the Deacs held a 12-point lead with four minutes remaining.
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After a Williams layup forced a Chanticleer timeout at the 4:02 mark of the fourth, Alexandria Scruggs knocked down a three from the wing to extend Wake Forest's lead to 15.
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Spear tied her career-high in assists with five on Williams' layup.
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The Demon Deacons then went on a 5-2 run to take an 18-point lead with under two minutes remaining behind a three from Spear and two free throws from Harrison.
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Wake Forest held on for a 76-61 victory to remain unbeaten at home.
STANDOUT STAT
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With the help of an efficient night from behind the arc, junior guard Jewel Spear has now moved into the top five in program history in career threes.
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She finished the game shooting 7-of-9 from three and now has 169 threes for her career.
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|
Rank |
Player |
Career Threes |
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1. |
Cotelia Bond Young (2003-06) |
267 |
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2. |
Chelsea Douglas (2010-14) |
257 |
|
3. |
Nicole Levesque (1991-94) |
193 |
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4. |
Heidi Coleman (1995-99) |
191 |
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5. |
Jewel Spear (2020-Pres.) |
169 |
|
6. |
Lakevia Boykin (2009-13) |
167 |
FROM GEBBIA
"I'm really happy that we came out with the win. We needed to come in off the Bahamas feeling better about ourselves and really happy to see that we had three players in double digits. Obviously, Jewel shot the ball extremely well today, but really proud of Niyah Becker who came in off the bench. She's been working really hard to get more minutes and we talked to her a lot about the defensive end. She showed up at that end today, and then was able to also score which has been a struggle for her. I am happy for Niyah and just the assists as a team. The turnover ratio is what I would want to see it at. We've talked a lot about that being flipped in some of our other games. When we see a high number of assists, we know that we're running our offense better. That's good. We need to kind of clamp down a little bit more on the defensive end, get to things a little faster, and not go into a lull in the second and third quarters. If we can start to play the way we play in the first and fourth quarters all game then we've got a heck of a team. Until we do that, it's going to take us some time to learn that consistency and discipline is for 40 minutes and that's what I'm trying to get them to understand." - Coach Megan Gebbia
NEXT UP
Wake Forest travels to face Minnesota in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge on Wednesday, Nov. 30 before returning home to host in-state foe High Point on Saturday, Dec. 3 for a 6 p.m. tipoff at Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Be sure to claim your spot at GoDeacs.com/Tickets.
For those who cannot attend, the game can be seen on ACC Network Extra.
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.
