Wake Forest University
7-3,0-1ACC
Charlotte
-44,00 CUSA
Spear Reaches 1,000 Points in Charlotte Victory
12/11/2022 4:51:00 PM | Women's Basketball
The Demon Deacons were led by strong guard play including a career-high tying 18 points from sophomore guard Elise Williams.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Behind a career-high in points from sophomore guard Elise Williams and a career milestone from junior guard Jewel Spear, the Wake Forest women's basketball team claimed a 63-54 victory over Charlotte Sunday at Halton Arena.
The Deacs (7-3, 0-1 ACC) were led by strong front court play with multiple career-highs as Williams led Wake Forest with 18 points, tying her career high while senior guard Kaia Harrison dished out a team-best and new career-high nine assists.
It marks the most assists by a Demon Deacon since the 2020-21 season. Additionally, it bested Harrison's previous career high of six assists by three. She added nine points to her statline while also pulling down five rebounds.
As a team, Wake Forest finished the game with 15 assists on 23 made baskets.
Spear also reached a career milestone in the victory over the 49ers (4-4, 0-0 C-USA) as she became the 30th player in program history to reach the 1,000-point club, totaling 17 points Sunday. She becomes the first Wake Forest player to join the 1,000-point club since 2020-21.
The Colony, Texas native iced the game at the end as clutch free throws sealed the Deacs fourth consecutive win.
Alexandria Scruggs added a key 10 points and seven rebounds off the bench for the Demon Deacons while Olivia Summiel ended the afternoon with seven points and a team-best eight rebounds.
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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On the first possession of the contest, Olivia Summiel opened up the scoring as she knocked down a three pointer.
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Charlotte responded 17 seconds later as Keanna Rembert made a jumper to make it a one point game.
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A Kaia Harrison free throw extended the Demon Deacons' lead to two before a pair of Charlotte free throws evened the ledger (4-4).
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The two sides traded layups before a Mya McGraw free throw gave the 49ers their first lead of the contest (7-6).
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Elise Williams immediately responded with consecutive three's to give the Deacs a 12-7 lead at the under five media timeout.
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Charlotte made two free throws following the break in action, but the Demon Deacons went on a blistering 4-0 run over the ensuing 49 seconds to extend their lead to seven.
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A layup from Jewel Spear marked four-consecutive made baskets for the Deacs.
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Dazia Lawrence made a trey to pull the 49ers within four with just under four minutes remaining in the quarter.
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Neither side was able to find the net over the following three minutes before Williams found Scruggs, who finished a layup.
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Jacee Busick of Charlotte made a layup at the buzzer to pull the 49ers within four at the end of the first quarter.
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Wake Forest held a 18-14 lead after 10 minutes of play.
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The Demon Deacons shot 50 percent from the field in the first quarter.
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Additionally, the Deacs tallied six assists on seven made baskets over the first 10 minutes of action.
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Both sides were held scoreless until the 7:19 mark of the second quarter as Aylesha Wade of Charlotte knocked down a three.
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Of note, the 49ers opened the second quarter on a 6-0 run to take a two point lead before a Spear jumper evened the score at 20.
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Wake Forest regained the lead following the media timeout as Harrison made a layup on an assist from Niyah Becker.
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After a Charlotte layup tied the contest again, a pair of Spear free throws gave the Deacs a two point lead.
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The two teams exchanged baskets before a free throw from Williams extended the Demon Deacons' lead to three.
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Charlotte made a layup with four seconds remaining to narrow its deficit to one entering the halftime break.
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Wake Forest owned a 27-26 lead after 20 minutes of action behind six points and five rebounds from Scruggs.
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Defensively, the Demon Deacons held the 49ers to only 37.5 percent shooting from the field during the first half.
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After dealing with foul trouble in the first half, Summiel opened up the second half scoring as she made a jumper 19 seconds into the third quarter.
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Spear then knocked down her third field goal of the game before Harrison finished an up-and-under to extend the Demon Deacons' lead to seven at the 7:44 mark of the third quarter.
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Charlotte scored its first points of the second half at the 6:51 mark of the third.
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Williams immediately responded as she knocked down a three to give the Demon Deacons their largest lead of the game (36-28).
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Charlotte then went on a 7-2 run to make it a one possession game before a Williams three and a Scruggs layup extended the Deacs' lead back to eight.
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Charlotte was unable to cut into the deficit as the Deacs took a 10 point lead into the fourth quarter.
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Wake Forest held a 49-39 lead after three quarters of play.
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During the third quarter, the Demon Deacons outrebounded the 49ers, 13-8.
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Defensively, the Deacs held Charlotte to 37.5 percent shooting from the field and 25 percent shooting from three during the third frame.
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Offensively, Wake Forest recorded 12 points in the paint during the third quarter.
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Charlotte opened the fourth quarter on a 9-2 run to make it a three point game with just over six minutes remaining in the contest.
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Wake Forest responded shortly after as a Summiel jumper extended the Demon Deacons' lead to five.
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The 49ers knocked down a jumpshot 35 seconds later to keep it a one possession game (53-50).
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Spear made her first three of the game with just over four minutes remaining in the contest.
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Williams then knocked down her fifth trey of the game to extend the Deacs' lead to nine.
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Charlotte put together a quick 4-0 run to make it a five point game with 33 seconds remaining before a pair of Spear free throws.
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With 11 seconds remaining, Spear scored her 1,000th career point, becoming the 30th player in program history to achieve the feat.
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Wake Forest held on for a 63-54 victory, marking its seventh win of the 2022 campaign.
STANDOUT STAT
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Junior guard Jewel Spear became the 30th player in program history to reach 1,000 points for her career, becoming the first to do so since the 2020-21 season.
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Spear reached the milestone in just 66 career games, marking the fastest to reach 1,000 points in program history since Tracy Connor in the mid-1990's.
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FROM GEBBIA
"I am proud of this team and give them a lot of credit because it is never easy to win on the road no matter where you are. We got a lot of strong performances including a career-high nine assists from Kaia and a big 18 points from Elise including a huge three there at the end. I want to congratulate Jewel on getting to 1,000 career points. She has meant so much to this program over the last three years and I am proud of her. She really helped clinch the victory at the end with her free throws. We also did a good job focusing on the defensive scouting as we limited their two best players to just 20 points. Still some areas we are going to need to improve but always happy you come home with the win." - Coach Megan Gebbia
NEXT UP
The Demon Deacons return home for the holiday game, facing Longwood on Thursday, Dec. 15. Tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m.
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.
