Wake Forest University
16-16,4-14ACC
Akron
17-12,13-7MAC
Wake Forest Advances to Second Round of WNIT, Winning 71-59
3/17/2022 9:30:00 PM | Women's Basketball
This marks the sixth time in seven WNIT appearances that Wake Forest has advanced to the second round or further.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- Behind a near career night from freshman forward Alyssa Andrews, the Wake Forest women's basketball team advanced past Akron in the opening round of the WNIT, 71-59, on Thursday night.
This marks the sixth time in seven WNIT appearances that Wake Forest (16-16, 4-14 ACC) has advanced to the second round or further.
The Demon Deacons forced Akron (17-12, 13-7 MAC) to turn the ball over 19 times in the game, directly leading to 20 points on the other end of the floor. Additionally, Wake Forest forced Mid-American Conference Player of the Year Jordyn Dawson to turn the ball over eight times in the game.
Andrews nearly had the best night of her young career scoring, finishing the game with a team-best 18 points in the game. From behind the arc, the Woodbridge, Virginia native shot 3-of-4 while playing 35 minutes in her first postseason start.
Freshman guard Raegyn Conley added three makes from distance of her own, as she combined with Andrews to shoot over 66 percent from three-point land.
The Deacons created an intimidating defensive presence, ending the evening with a season-best 13 steals as a team. Elise Williams had a hand in five of those, being a new career mark for the freshman guard. Akron was held to zero points scored during the game's final two minutes.
For the eighth time in ten games, Wake Forest had four Deacs finish in double figures: Alyssa Andrews (18 points), junior forward Niyah Becker (11 points), Raegyn Conley (11 points), and senior forward Christiana Morra (10 points).
Wake Forest ended with a 40-36 rebounding edge led by a career-tying 12 boards by sophomore forward Demeara Hinds.
HOW IT HAPPENED
-
Through the opening minutes of the game, the Demon Deacons and the Zips traded baskets back and forth.
-
Wake Forest was the first team on the board when senior forward Christina Morra connected on a pair of free throws in the opening minute.
-
-
Morra quickly got up to six points in the game, scoring six of the first seven points for the Deacs.
-
With her second basket, Wake Forest took a 7-6 lead at the 5:50 mark of the first quarter.
-
She also got the job done on the boards, pulling down three rebounds in the opening minutes.
-
-
Late in the first quarter, Akron grabbed the lead on a three from the right wing.
-
A pair of free throws from junior forward Niyah Becker cut into the lead, making it 14-13 with 25 seconds left.
-
-
After the end of the first, Wake Forest trailed by just one, 14-13.
-
The Deacs limited the Zips to just 41.7 percent shooting through 10 minutes.
-
Morra led the way with six points and three rebounds for the Demon Deacons.
-
-
To begin the second quarter, Wake Forest jumped back into the lead with a three from freshman guard Elise Williams, and a basket from freshman forward Malaya Cowles.
-
The basket from Cowles gave Wake Forest an 18-14 advantage.
-
-
A left-wing triple from freshman forward Alyssa Andrews lifted the Demon Deacons back into the lead with 3:57 left before the halftime interval.
-
Andrews became the sixth Demon Deacon to find the score column.
-
-
Off a steal, junior guard Kaia Harrison took it the rest of the way to the basket for a layup. The play extended the Wake Forest lead to its largest of the day, at 26-21 with 2:02 left in the second quarter.
-
The Zips answered with a quick 4-0 run to end the second quarter.
-
-
Wake Forest took a 26-25 lead into the halftime break.
-
Morra led the way with six points and five rebounds while Cowles also had five rebounds.
-
Williams and Becker each accounted for five points with Williams leading the way with a trio of assists.
-
The Demon Deacons held a 22-19 lead on the boards.
-
Wake Forest continued to hold down the Zips' offense, limiting Akron to 38.5 percent from the field. Additionally, the Demon Deacons held MAC Player of the Year Jordyn Dawson to just 3-of-10 shooting in the first 20 minutes.
-
-
The Demon Deacons continued to limit the offense of the Zips to open the second half. In the opening five minutes of the third quarter, Akron managed to net just two baskets.
-
With 5:10 on the clock, Wake Forest led 33-31.
-
-
Sophomore forward Demeara Hinds continued to attack the glass and, on an offensive rebound at the 3:15 mark of the third, she got the putback to extend the Demon Deacons' lead to 37-34.
-
The Wake Forest lead continued to grow when Andrews knocked down a right corner triple, pushing the advantage to 43-36.
-
-
The three ball continued to be big for the Deacs, as freshman Raegyn Conley and Andrews each hit again to push the lead up.
-
The Demon Deacons led 49-42 heading into the final quarter of play.
-
Wake Forest shot 50.0 percent in the third quarter including going 4-of-5 from behind the arc.
-
With a perfect 3-of-3 mark from three, Andrews was the Deacs leading scorer with 13 points at this point.
-
-
The Zips were limited to just 28.6 percent shooting from the field in the third quarter.
-
-
The Demon Deacons continued their hot shooting behind Andrews.
-
She netted a baseline jumper and then got a steal that led to an and-one layup where she converted at the line.
-
At that point, Andrews had 18 points, one shy of her season-high.
-
-
The Demon Deacons extended their lead to double digits with a Williams layup, pushing the advantage to 58-44 with 7:43 left in the game.
-
The Zips answered with a 7-0 to cut into the Wake Forest lead, but a nice find from Andrews to Morra ended the run with 5:54 left in the fourth.
-
The game remained in single digits before a pull up three from Conley extended it out to a 65-55 lead with 2:44 left in the game.
-
Wake Forest secured the victory, 71-59.
STANDOUT STAT
Two Wake Forest underclassmen either notched or tied career-highs during Thursday night's victory:
-
Elise Williams - five steals
-
Demeara Hinds - 12 rebounds
The Deacs were at their most aggressive defensively, swiping in a season-best 13 team steals. Additionally, the team forced 18 turnovers from Akron.
FROM HOOVER
"I could not be proud of this team with what we have been through throughout the year, but especially this week. We did not get our name called initially and then we got a call to say that we were the first replacement team and then we found out that we were going to play without Jewel, Olivia and Alex. We battled with them and we knew they were really good. Jordyn Dawson what a talent. She is so smooth, balanced and doesn't get rattled. Just for us to withstand that and continue to trust each other and play confident. Finally, we got that lid off the basket when our freshmen came in and started to light it up. Everyone contributed to this one: Demeara Hinds had 12 rebounds, Elise with five steals, Alyssa and Raegyn hitting the shots. It was just a great overall team effort. We knew that is what it would take tonight." - Head Coach Jen Hoover
UP NEXT
The winner of the game will face the winner of Middle Tennessee (23-7, 14-4 C-USA) or Wofford (17-13, 11-3 SoCON). They tipped at 9 p.m. with the location, date and time of the second round game being determined following the conclusion of all first round games.
