Wake Forest University
13-13,3-12ACC
NC State
24-3,15-1ACC
Four Go for Double Figures in Loss to No. 3/4 Wolfpack
2/17/2022 10:09:00 PM | Women's Basketball
For the fourth consecutive game, four Demon Deacons finished the game in double figures including a team-high 14 points from freshman guard Elise Williams.
RALEIGH, N.C. -- Led by four Demon Deacons in double figures, the Wake Forest women's basketball team fell on the road to No. 3/4 NC State, 92-61, on Thursday evening
In the defeat to the Wolfpack (23-3, 15-1 ACC), the Demon Deacons (13-13, 3-12 ACC) were led in the score column by 14 points from freshman guard Elise Williams, tying the most points she has scored in an Atlantic Coast Conference game this season. Williams also paced her squad with three assists and hauled in six rebounds, tied for a team-best with Alexandria Scruggs.
Additionally, this is the first game in 14 games that someone other than sophomore guard Jewel Spear led the team in scoring. Overall, this is just the second game in conference play that Williams led the team in scoring.
Rounding out the Deacs in double figures were Christina Morra (13 points), Spear (11 points), and Scruggs (10 points).
Wake Forest outrebounded NC State 35-34.
HOW IT HAPPENED
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Sophomore guard Jewel Spear was the first Deac to net a basket, pulling back for a three-pointer near the right wing.
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Early turnovers hurt Wake Forest, suffering three in the first two minutes.
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Senior forward Christina Morra made her way inside for a hook finish, as her Deacons trailed 8-5 at the 6:05 mark.
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All of NC State's first eight points happened inside the paint.
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Spear poured in another jumper for an early five points.
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Junior guard Kaia Harrison weaved her way through traffic for a drawn foul right before the first media timeout was called, with NC State leading 11-7.
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Morra finished another close look fresh out of the timeout.
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Junior guard Alexandria Scruggs checked and immediately displayed her usual hustle play, completing a putback to trim down the Wolfpack's lead, 13-12.
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A made free throw by Scruggs tied up the margin at 13 all, the first tied score of the evening.
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Scruggs made a try from deep, but was unable to convert as the first quarter came to a close. NC State narrowly led 14-13.
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Wake Forest started with the upper hand in rebounds, grabbing 12 to NC State's eight.
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Spear scored five points in the period.
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The Wolfpack was held to only one make from three-point range.
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NC State plugged in eight unanswered points to start the second, extending its lead to 22-13 in three minutes.
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Scruggs stopped the bleeding on a turnaround jumper in the free-throw line area.
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Morra continued her solid offensive start, getting a jump shot of her own to fall during the Deacs' next possession.
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The forward completed three of her first five field goals.
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Drawn fouls on drives helped NC State reach the bonus with 4:35 on the clock in the second frame.
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A pull-up look, followed by a free throw, increased the Wolfpack's lead to 31-17.
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Spear ended a scoring drought for Wake Forest, driving in the ball for two points. Harrison chased down an offensive board and finished a baseline sweep shortly afterward.
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As time winded down in the first half, Morra flicked another hook shot and Elise Williams smartly beat the buzzer on a floater, as Wake Forest headed into the break, down 39-25.
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Morra led the Deacs with eight points and three rebounds through the first pair of quarters.
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Spear chipped in seven points. Both she and Morra shot a 50 percent field goal percentage in the half.
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Wake Forest kept its rebounding advantage, 19-17.
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NC State continued to struggle in three-point shooting, making only 1-of-8 attempts during the half.
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NC State opened the second half on an 8-0 run before Niyah Becker spotted up for a short corner swish.
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The Wolfpack got hot from three, making four straight in the midst of a 14-4 run.
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After Williams rang in a triple from the top of the key, Morra reached scoring double-figures first for Wake Forest, completing traditional three-point play.
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Wake Forest made four of five shots. Still, NC State stayed in control, 61-37.
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The Deacs called for a timeout at 5:40 mark of the third.
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Williams scored her eighth point once both teams stepped back onto the floor.
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She stepped into double-digits as well soon after, knocking down two at the charity stripe.
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NC State refused to cool down during the third, going 14-of-18 on its end of the court, including an 8-of-9 clip from outside the arc. The Wolfpack went into the fourth frame remaining ahead, 76-43.
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Williams totaled eight points in the quarter.
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Much of Wake Forest's production happened around the rim.
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A slicing, off-hand finish, plus a foul, gave Spear ten points as soon as the final period unfolded.
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Scruggs became the fourth Deac to reach double-figures in points on a transition layp immediately after Spear's three-point play.
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Reserve guard Alyssa Andrews nailed a three-point basket at 6:29 in the quarter.
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NC State led 84-54 at a media timeout.
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A second trey ball from Andrews happened in the final minutes, giving the first-year six points, along with three boards.
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Wake Forest fell, 92-61.
STANDOUT STAT
For the fourth consecutive game, Wake Forest had four or more players finish in double figures scoring. Additionally, the four-game stretch is the only time this conference season that Wake Forest has had four or more double-figure scorers in a single game.
They accounted for 78.69 percent of the Demon Deacons points in the game.
Over her last three showings, Christina Morra has averaged 12.3 points per game – a mark that is 4.3 points better than her current season average.
FROM HOOVER
"Against a team that is this talented, you have to play a full four quarters of great basketball. We did a great job in the first quarter of making plays and being competitive on both ends of the floor. Give NC State credit, their defense really stepped up in the second quarter and allowed them to go on a run to begin the quarter. We still have a lot to play for over the next three games of the regular season and in the ACC Tournament. We'll move past this one and turn our focus to Boston College on Sunday." - Head Coach Jen Hoover
NEXT UP
Wake Forest travels to Boston College on Sunday afternoon for a Noon ET tipoff with the Eagles at Conte Forum.
The game will also air on ACC Network.
