Balanced Offensive Attack Leads Wake Forest Past Norfolk State, 51-46
12/10/2023 4:51:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Graduate guard Alexandria Scruggs tallied 11 points and a season-high nine rebounds to lead the Demon Deacons.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Behind balanced scoring and stingy defense, the Wake Forest women's basketball team got back to winning ways Sunday afternoon, as they picked up a hard-fought, 51-46, victory over Norfolk State inside Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum.
The Demon Deacons (3-7) held the Spartans (7-3) to just 16-of-59 (27.1 percent) from the floor, the lowest percentage they have held a team to this season and the fifth time they have held an opponent to under 40 percent. Additionally, it marked the first time this season the Deacs allowed under 50 points in a game.
Graduate guard Kaia Harrison made her 60th-career start and 123rd appearance overall, leading the team with 12 points, including an 8-of-9 clip (88.9 percent) from the charity stripe in addition to five rebounds. Of note, She entered the contest ranked fifth in the ACC in free throw percentage at 86.5 percent.
As a team, Wake Forest went 13-of-16 (81.3 percent) from the free throw line, the third-highest percentage of the season and third time the Deacs finished above 80 percent.
Graduate guard Alexandria Scruggs finished one rebound shy of a double-double as she ended the contest with 11 points and a season-high nine rebounds. She also added two assists, a block and a steal to complete her all-around performance.
The Demon Deacons hauled in 38 rebounds against the Spartans, the second-highest mark of the season and most since the opener against Wofford (43). Additionally, three separate Demon Deacons recorded five or more rebounds (Scruggs, Harrison, Deeble).
An exciting season awaits at Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum for 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 $60 season ticket package this season there are many added benefits exclusive only to those who buy season tickets.
How It Happened
"Happy we got the win and that is first and foremost. We had a lot of great performances that helped us that and there were a lot of little things that got us the win. We need to shoot the three better and if we aren't shooting it well then we need to find different ways to score at the basket or at the line. There are still some things that we need to build on and some situational things we are going to learn from when we watch the film, but just proud that we found a way to get the win. It was tight at the end and we made the little plays: loose ball, turnovers and hitting our free throws. That was the least amount of points we gave up this season and beat a good team in the NET rankings. We executed defensively in the practice and carried it over to the game. Now, we have a week to get some time to rest and prepare for a tough game on the road at Georgetown. We need to figure out how to get one on the road." - Megan Gebbia
Next Up
The Demon Deacons will hit the road for one game as they take on the Georgetown Hoyas in Washington, D.C. on Sunday, Dec. 17.
The noon tipoff can also be seen on FloHoops.
Claim Your Spot for the 2023-24 Season
Claim your spot in Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum for what is shaping up to be another exciting season for Megan Gebbia's second season with the Demon Deacons! Season tickets for 2023-24 Wake Forest women's basketball season tickets are now open at GoDeacs.com/tickets with tickets starting at $60.
Along with your purchase of a women's basketball season ticket package this season there are many added benefits exclusive only to those who buy season tickets. Admission to all home games for this price Additional perks include:
The Demon Deacons (3-7) held the Spartans (7-3) to just 16-of-59 (27.1 percent) from the floor, the lowest percentage they have held a team to this season and the fifth time they have held an opponent to under 40 percent. Additionally, it marked the first time this season the Deacs allowed under 50 points in a game.
Graduate guard Kaia Harrison made her 60th-career start and 123rd appearance overall, leading the team with 12 points, including an 8-of-9 clip (88.9 percent) from the charity stripe in addition to five rebounds. Of note, She entered the contest ranked fifth in the ACC in free throw percentage at 86.5 percent.
As a team, Wake Forest went 13-of-16 (81.3 percent) from the free throw line, the third-highest percentage of the season and third time the Deacs finished above 80 percent.
Graduate guard Alexandria Scruggs finished one rebound shy of a double-double as she ended the contest with 11 points and a season-high nine rebounds. She also added two assists, a block and a steal to complete her all-around performance.
The Demon Deacons hauled in 38 rebounds against the Spartans, the second-highest mark of the season and most since the opener against Wofford (43). Additionally, three separate Demon Deacons recorded five or more rebounds (Scruggs, Harrison, Deeble).
An exciting season awaits at Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum for 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 $60 season ticket package this season there are many added benefits exclusive only to those who buy season tickets.
How It Happened
- Raegyn Conley opened the scoring 30 seconds into the contest, as she drained a triple from the left wing.
- After four unanswered from Norfolk State, Kate Deeble knocked down a three to give the Deacs a 6-4 advantage.
- The two teams traded baskets before a Madisyn Jordan three-pointer extended Wake Forest's lead.
- The Demon Deacons held a 13-10 lead at the end of the first quarter, behind four points from Kaia Harrison.
- Defensively, the Deacs held the Spartans to just 20 percent shooting from the field in the opening period.
- Norfolk State scored five unanswered to start the second quarter, but Wake Forest responded with a 7-2 run.
- The Demon Deacons and the Spartans traded baskets for the remainder of the half, as the two sides entered the halftime break tied, 22-22.
- Wake Forest presented a balanced offensive attack in the first half as seven Deacs scored.
- Alexandria Scruggs opened the third quarter scoring with consecutive left-handed layups.
- Overall, the Deacs opened the second half on a 10-3 run, but Norfolk State knocked down consecutive three's to make it a one point game.
- Wake Forest closed the third quarter on a 9-3 run to take a 41-34 lead into the final frame.
- Harrison finished an and-one with 0.4 seconds remaining in the quarter.
- The two teams exchanged field goals, before the Demon Deacons went on a 5-1 spurt to take an 11-point lead with just under five minutes left in the contest.
- Conley made a three-pointer and Malaya Cowles made a layup.
- The Spartans then scored seven unanswered to make it a four point game at the 3:10 mark.
- Danielle Robinson of Norfolk State made a pullup jumper with just over one minute remaining to pull the Spartans within two (48-46).
- Deeble knocked down three free throws down the stretch to seal the 51-46 victory for Wake Forest.
- The Spartans were held to just 46 points Sunday afternoon, the fewest points allowed by the Demon Deacons this season and first time they held an opponent to under 50.
- The Deacs also held the Spartans to 16-of-59 (27.1 percent) from the floor, the lowest percentage they have held a team to this season.
- It also marked the fifth-time this season Wake Forest held an opponent to under 40 percent from the floor.
- Wofford - 38.6 percent
- Davidson - 37.9 percent
- NC A&T - 36.5 percent
- James Maddison - 35.0 percent
- Norfolk State - 27.1 percent
- It also marked the fifth-time this season Wake Forest held an opponent to under 40 percent from the floor.
"Happy we got the win and that is first and foremost. We had a lot of great performances that helped us that and there were a lot of little things that got us the win. We need to shoot the three better and if we aren't shooting it well then we need to find different ways to score at the basket or at the line. There are still some things that we need to build on and some situational things we are going to learn from when we watch the film, but just proud that we found a way to get the win. It was tight at the end and we made the little plays: loose ball, turnovers and hitting our free throws. That was the least amount of points we gave up this season and beat a good team in the NET rankings. We executed defensively in the practice and carried it over to the game. Now, we have a week to get some time to rest and prepare for a tough game on the road at Georgetown. We need to figure out how to get one on the road." - Megan Gebbia
Next Up
The Demon Deacons will hit the road for one game as they take on the Georgetown Hoyas in Washington, D.C. on Sunday, Dec. 17.
The noon tipoff can also be seen on FloHoops.
Claim Your Spot for the 2023-24 Season
Claim your spot in Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum for what is shaping up to be another exciting season for Megan Gebbia's second season with the Demon Deacons! Season tickets for 2023-24 Wake Forest women's basketball season tickets are now open at GoDeacs.com/tickets with tickets starting at $60.
Along with your purchase of a women's basketball season ticket package this season there are many added benefits exclusive only to those who buy season tickets. Admission to all home games for this price Additional perks include:
- A lunch opportunity with the Wake Forest women's basketball team
- Only season ticket holders can sit in floor level seats
- Access to The Blue Ridge Room for free light refreshments and snacks before and during each home game
- "Season Ticket Holder of the Game"
- A season ticket holder will be recognized at each game
- They will be brought onto the floor during a quarter break or timeout to be recognized
- They will be presented with a signed picture of the team
- They will also have video board graphics made for them as well
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