Wake Forest University
12-10,2-9ACC
North Carolina
17-4,7-4ACC
Wake Forest Drops Home Contest to No. 24 North Carolina
2/3/2022 10:37:00 PM | Women's Basketball
The Demon Deacons hold a 5-2 record against the in-state Tar Heels over the last three seasons.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- The Wake Forest women's basketball team dropped Thursday night's contest to No. 24 North Carolina, 78-59, at Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum.
The Demon Deacons (12-10, 2-9 ACC) are now 5-2 against the in-state Tar Heels (17-4, 7-4 ACC) over the last three seasons including a 2-1 record in home games over that period.
Sophomore guard Jewel Spear continued to climb the three-point rankings both on the single season and career lists. She entered the top 10 in career three pointers with her second triple of the game in the fourth quarter. She also is fifth in single-season triples with 69 so far this year.
Spear, who ended the evening with a team-high 13 points, was one of a pair of Demon Deacons to finish in double figures. For the third time this season and the first time in conference action, junior forward Niyah Becker posted double-figure points.
Becker ended the game with 11 points while going a perfect 6-of-6 from the free throw line. Olivia Summiel and Demeara Hinds stood out on the rebounding end with seven and six, respectively.
HOW IT HAPPENED
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Christina Morra scored Wake Forest's first basket, finishing a left-handed hook shot at the 8:53 mark of the first quarter.
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North Carolina found its way to the free-throw line a few times early on, taking a 9-2 lead.
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A pull-up jumper from Niyah Becker ended a run by the Tar Heels.
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Wake Forest called a timeout with 4:45 to go in the opening period, trailing 13-4.
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Ten of North Carolina's first 13 points scored happened inside the arc.
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Following the timeout, neither team scored for over two minutes before the Tar Heels netted a short jump shot.
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Demeara Hinds finished an offensive putback right as the horn signaled the end of the first frame.
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The Demon Deacons were down 16-6 after the first ten minutes.
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North Carolina did not make a field goal for nearly three of the quarter's final minutes.
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While the Deacs forced several misses around the rim, turnovers and personal fouls hurt Wake Forest once the second quarter unfolded.
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North Carolina increased its advantage to 22-6 on a pair of freebies from the charity stripe.
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Morra added five consecutive points to give Wake Forest a boost around the midway point of the period.
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A corner look made by Elise Williams cut into the Tar Heels' lead, 27-13.
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North Carolina went on to tally five straight, leading into a media timeout.
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Jewel Spear's first two points arrived in the form of free throws at 3:40 in the second quarter.
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Back-to-back baskets in transition breaks by North Carolina prompted Wake Forest to call another timeout, down 36-15.
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Spear drove into the lane for a high floater but was unable to get it to fall right before the first half came to a close. North Carolina led 40-15 after two frames.
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Morra led Wake Forest with seven points in 16 minutes.
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North Carolina ended the half on an 8-0 run.
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A free throw by Spear opened up the third quarter, followed by Williams' second trey of the evening.
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A much more aggressive start from Wake Forest took it right to the Tar Heels' defense, ignited by Spear and Kaia Harrison. The latter scored four quick points during a 9-0 run by the Deacs.
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North Carolina responded with six consecutive points. Becker quieted the momentum on a second-chance three-pointer.
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Back-and-forth play began to take place, as Spear shifted her way into the paint for another drawn foul. The quarter's media timeout then took place, displaying North Carolina ahead 50-28.
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Wake Forest did an excellent job of making the most of its tries at the free throw line, knocking down 11-of-14 tries.
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Becker went 6-of-6 at the line during the quarter.
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With just over a minute to go in the third, Alexandria Scruggs made a strong drive at the basket to have her squad trailing 55-40.
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North Carolina finished a layup before the clock expired in the third period, leading 60-40.
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Wake Forest outscored the Tar Heels 25-20 during the quarter.
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Becker was the first Deac to reach scoring double-figures (11).
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North Carolina began the final quarter with a 7-0 clip through 3:30 minutes, ended by a Hinds layup.
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The sophomore forward continued her fight in the post, crashing the glass for drawn fouls.
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At the 6:17 mark, Spear swished a left wing triple to reach double-digits in points (10). She rang in another shot from distance two minutes later to enter the program's top 10 in career three-pointers made.
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Reserves Raegyn Conley and Marta Morales chipped into the Deacs' scoring column late into the game.
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It marked the first career points for Morales who was playing in her third game since joining the squad in December.
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Wake Forest fell 78-59.
STANDOUT STAT
Jewel Spear poured in two three-pointers during the fourth quarter to join elite company in Wake Forest's career top-10 list. Through 47 games, the prolific guard has already totaled 127 triples. Additionally, Spear's 69 three-pointers this season ranks fifth-best in single-season history.
Wake Forest Women's Basketball Career Three-Point Leaders
1. Cotelia Bond Young (2003-06) - 267
2. Chelsea Douglas (2010-14) - 257
3. Nicole Levesque (1991-94) - 193
4. Heidi Coleman (1995-99) - 191
5. Lakevia Boykin (2009-13) - 167
6. Tonia Brown (2001-04) - 142
Ariel Stephenson (2015-19) - 142
8. Liz Strunk (2003-06) - 141
9. Alex Tchangoue (2006-09) - 129
T10. Camille Collier (2007-12) - 127
T10. Jewel Spear (2020-pres.) - 127
FROM HOOVER
"We are one of the youngest teams in this conference and going through some growing pains, but we will continue to attack the process. There is a lot of fight left in this team and we will fight." - Head Coach Jen Hoover
NEXT UP
Wake Forest is back on the road on Sunday when the Demon Deacons travel to Cameron Indoor Stadium as the Deacs play in-state rival Duke at 6 p.m.
For those not in attendance on Sunday, the game will also air on ACC Network.
