Wake Forest University
9-4,0-2ACC
Rhode Island
9-2,0-0Atlantic 10
Wake Forest Downs Rhode Island, 59-45
12/22/2022 3:27:00 PM | Women's Basketball
The Demon Deacons were hot from the field, finishing 37 percent from behind the arc while also holding the Rams to just 26 percent from the field.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Behind stellar shooting and stiffening defense, the Wake Forest women's basketball team ended Rhode Island's nine-game winning streak, defeating the Rams, 59-45, Thursday at Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum to conclude non-conference play.
The Demon Deacons (9-4, 0-2 ACC), who are now 6-0 at home this season, controlled much of the game with the help of a strong end of the first quarter when the Deacs went on a 13-1 run to take a double-digit lead into the second. The Rams (9-2, 0-0 A-10) shrunk the lead down to four in the second, but again a strong finish to the quarter with a 12-1 run from Wake Forest over the final 3:09 increased the lead to 15 at halftime, 36-21.
With the help of a hot start from junior guard Jewel Spear in the third quarter, the Demon Deacons pushed the lead up to as much as 27 points.
Spear led all scorers with 19 points on 6-of-10 shooting and 4-of-8 shooting from behind the arc. She was the only player on either team to finish with double-figure points.
The Rams came into the game ranked in the top 25 nationally, shooting 46.6 percent from the field. The Demon Deacons held them to just 25.9 percent on Thursday afternoon. Additionally, the 45 points scored by Rhode Island was the fewest points scored this season by 18 points.
Senior forward Olivia Summiel set the tone defensively with three first quarter blocks and her season total of 23 marks the most by a Demon Deacon since the 2018-19 season and is just 12 away from the top 10 in program history. The Dayville, Conn. native added nine points to her statline.
Senior guard Kaia Harrison and junior forward Demeara Hinds each had eight points while sophomore guard Elise Williams led the Deacs with six rebounds and five assists.
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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Rhode Island opened the scoring at the 8:55 mark, before a Kaia Harrison three pointer evened the ledger (3-3) two minutes later.
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Of note, the Demon Deacons are now 6-1 in games where Harrison scores the Deacs' first points.
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Shortly after, the Rams regained the lead with another trey, but Wake Forest immediately responded as Olivia Summiel drained her 15th three of the season.
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The Demon Deacons took their first lead of the game at the 4:50 mark as Elise Williams blew past her defender and finished a layup.
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Harrison then knocked down a jumper to give the Deacs a four point advantage at the under five media timeout.
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After a missed three from Jewel Spear, Alexandria Scruggs corralled the rebound and finished a layup.
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Rhode Island made a free throw to make it a five point game, but a Demeara Hinds layup and an Alyssa Andrews trey gave the Deacs a 10-point lead at the end of the first quarter.
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Wake Forest held a 17-7 lead after 10 minutes of play behind five points from Harrison.
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Defensively, the Deacs held the Rams to 14.3 percent shooting from the field in the first quarter.
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Summiel opened the second quarter scoring as she knocked down a jumper from the top of the key, but Rhode Island responded shortly after with a layup.
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After an ensuing Hinds layup, the Rams scored five consecutive to narrow the deficit to seven.
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The Demon Deacons held a 24-17 at the under five media timeout.
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Coming out of the break in action, Rhode Island drained their fifth three of the half to make it a four point game.
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The Deacs then went on a blistering 12-1 run over the final four minutes of the half to take a 15-point lead.
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Spear drained two three's over the final 45 seconds of the half.
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This season, Spear is shooting 43 percent from beyond the arc.
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Wake Forest held a 36-21 lead after 20 minutes of action.
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The Demon Deacons held the Rams to 24.1 percent shooting from the field in the first half.
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Spear opened the second half scoring at the 9:32 mark but Rhode Island knocked down a three 28 seconds later.
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The Deacs then scored five unanswered as Hinds finished a layup and Spear made a three.
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After a pair of Rhode Island free throws, Spear scored four unanswered to extend the Demon Deacons' lead to 21 at the 7:23 mark.
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Wake Forest then went on a 8-2 run to take a 55-28 lead with two minutes remaining in the third.
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After 30 minutes of play, the Deacs held a 55-34 advantage.
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Through three quarters, Wake Forest shot 58.3 percent from three.
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Additionally, the Demon Deacons held the Rams to only 25 percent shooting from the field.
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Summiel scored the first points of the fourth quarter at the 8:17 mark as she drained a jumper.
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Rhode Island scored four unanswered to narrow its deficit to 19 with 4:41 remaining in the contest.
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Wake Forest held on to its double-digit lead and earned the 59-45 victory.
STANDOUT STATS
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Wake Forest held the Rams to just 26 percent shooting from the field which was 20 percent lower than their 46.6 shooting percentage entering the game.
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The Rams ranked 23rd in the nation in that category and held Rhode Island under their 37.4 percent average from three which ranked 20th in the country.
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Senior forward Olivia Summiel displayed her versatility again on Thursday, netting nine points while also adding three first quarter blocks to her total.
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Her season total of 23 blocks are the most blocks in a season by a Demon Deacon since 2018-19 when Ona Udoh had 41.
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She is just 12 away from entering the top 10 in program history with 16 games left in the regular season.
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FROM GEBBIA
"Today was a sound defensive effort from start to finish; however, we need to do a better job on the glass, especially moving ahead into the ACC. I really liked our execution offensively. We got a lot of nice and easy looks out of our sets and we ran motion a little better. The ball was moving and different people were scoring. It was really nice to see the flow happening. We're looking forward to the break and spending a little time with family and then jumping into ACC play with a home game." - Coach Megan Gebbia
NEXT UP
The Demon Deacons are off for the holidays, returning to conference play on Thursday, Dec. 29 for a home contest against Pitt.
For those who cannot attend, the 6 p.m. tipoff 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.
