Deacs Push No. 12 Virginia Tech on Road

BLACKSBURG, Va. – The Wake Forest women's basketball team nearly climbed all the way back from a 17-point deficit at No. 12 Virginia Tech, climbing within three points before falling to the Hokies, 74-57, Sunday afternoon in Blacksburg, Va.

The Demon Deacons (11-9, 2-7 ACC) were led by a sinsational performance from junior guard Jewel Spear in the defeat to the nationally-ranked Hokies (16-3, 6-3 ACC). After scoring a team-high six points in the first 20 minutes of action, Spear put on a memorable performance in the third quarter to help Wake Forest climb within one possession.

Spear had an immaculate 10 minutes as she did not miss from the field, hitting all five of her attempts from the field including three from behind the arc. She also knocked down all five of her free throws to complete the perfect shooting quarter.

It was the second-highest scoring quarter in her career, nearly tying her 20-point fourth quarter against East Tennessee State in her 40-point performance as a sophomore.

With the help of Spear's third quarter effort and ACC-best 27 points, Wake Forest was within three points with 10 minutes left in the game. The Demon Deacons could not come any closer, falling to the Hokies.

Fellow junior Demeara Hinds nearly recorded a double-double, posting a team-best 10 rebounds to go along with nine points on 4-of-6 shooting. Sophomore guard Elise Williams pushed her double-digit scoring streak to seven consecutive games.

Wake Forest had one of its best games from the free throw line, netting 15-of-16 attempts with guard Spear, Williams and senior Kaia Harrison going a perfect 14-of-14 from the stripe.

This concludes the three-game road stretch, the longest in the ACC this season as the Deacs return home to host Louisville on Thursday night. The Jan. 26 tilt will be the first home game for the Demon Deacons since defeating Georgia Tech on Sunday, Jan. 8.

There are only a limited number of home games remaining at Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum this season. Be sure to claim your spot for exciting ACC matchups at GoDeacs.com/Tickets.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Sophomore Elise Williams got the Demon Deacons on the scoreboard first as she knocked down a jumper from the free throw line.
- After junior forward Demeara Hinds forced a Hokie turnover on the next possession, junior guard Jewel Spear banked home a triple from the right wing to give the Demon Deacons the first lead of the game.
- They improved the run to 8-0 after a Williams layup was banked home through contact and she finished off the and-one opportunity at the free throw line.
- After the Hokies scored on the first two possessions, Wake Forest held Virginia Tech scoreless until the 4:43 mark of the first quarter.
The Deacs remained tied or in the lead until the 1:27 mark of the first quarter when the Hokies inched in front with the help of two free throw makes.
- The Demon Deacons remained within striking distance after the first 10 minutes of the game, trailing 14-10.
Spear got Wake Forest going offensively in the second quarter when she maneuvered to find some open room on the left wing where she drilled her second trip of the game.
- This put the Demon Deacons within three of the Hokies at 16-13.
Wake Forest remained scoreless until the 5:14 mark of the second quarter when Hinds ended the run for the Hokies.
The Deacs were within 10 until a three with a minute left before halftime increased the Virgina Tech lead to 13 points.
The Hokies took a 35-20 lead going into the halftime interval.
- Spear accounted for a team-high six points on her two three pointers while Kaia Harrison and Williams each added five points to the score column.
- Wake Forest made the most of their free throw opportunities, knocking down 4-of-4 attempts from the charity stripe.
- On the defensive end of the floor, the Deacs limited the Hokies to just 40 percent shooting from the field and just 3-of-9 from behind the arc.
The Demon Deacons netted 10 points on the opening four offensive possessions of the second half.
- This helped the Deacs cut the deficit down to 10 points within the first three minutes of the half, 39-29.
Despite a response from the Hokies, Wake Forest refused to go away. After a technical foul call on the Virginia Tech head coach, Spear stepped up and knocked down both attempts at the line.
- The Deacs retained possession of the ball and off a screen Spear knocked down a triple to cap off the five-point possession.
- It trimmed the deficit to 11 points.
  - A possession later, Wake Forest cut it single digits as Williams drilled a jumper from the left elbow.
Wake Forest continued their run when Spear knocked down another triple, this time from the left wing fading to the corner.
- This pulled the Demon Deacons within six, the closest they were since the first quarter.
Spear finished the quarter with 18 points in the third quarter.
- She netted all five of her baskets including three from behind the arc while adding an additional 5-fo-5 from the free throw line.
  - It was her most points in a quarter since scoring 20 points in the first quarter in her 40-point game against ETSU last season.
- With her effort, the Demon Deacons pulled within three points before the quarter ended.
Wake Forest trailed No. 12 Virginia Tech, 53-50, with 10 minutes left on the road.
Despite pulling within a possession going into the fourth quarter, it would be the closest they would come to the nationally-ranked Hokies as Wake Forest dropped the road battle against Virginia Tech.
- The final from Blacksburg, Va. had the Hokies come out on top, 74-57.

STANDOUT STAT

Wake Forest was led by an ACC-best scoring performance from junior guard Jewel Spear, who finished the night with 27 points, her highest total in conference play this season.
- Spear was aided by one of the best quarters in her career in the third, posting 18 points on a perfect 5-of-5 from the field including three triples. She also converted all five of her free throw attempts.
- This was the second-highest scoring quarter of her career, nearly tying her previous high from the fourth quarter of the East Tennessee State game as a sophomore when she finished the game with a career-best 40 points.
- With her five threes in the game, Spear becomes just the third player in program history to net 200 career threes.

FROM GEBBIA

"We were right where we wanted to be going into the fourth quarter. I am happy with the way this team fought and we are close to getting over the hump. Jewel and Elise really went and got theirs in the third quarter and got us within striking distance. We had a chance going into the final few minutes. We need to learn from this in terms of how to take it to the next level in the final 10 minutes. We were excellent from the free throw line and that is a huge positive in a road venue. We just had some mental errors down the stretch and we just needed to make more plays than them in the fourth. Credit to them they executed down the stretch and we still need to take that next step to breakthrough in this league." - Coach Megan Gebbia

NEXT UP

After a three-game road stand, the Demon Deacons return home to face Louisville Thursday night. Tipoff for the game is scheduled for 6 p.m.

For those who cannot attend, the game will air on ACC Network.

Players Mentioned

Kaia Harrison

Demeara Hinds

Jewel Spear

Elise Williams

Players Mentioned

Kaia Harrison

Demeara Hinds

Jewel Spear

Elise Williams

Wake Forest Athletics