Deacs Drop Home Contest to No. 22 NC State

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Despite not relinquishing a single three pointer defensively, the Wake Forest women's basketball team fell to No. 22 NC State, 51-42, Thursday night at Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

With Thursday's defensive performance, the Demon Deacons (14-11, 5-9 ACC) became the first team since Columbia on Jan. 4, 2010 to hold NC State (17-7, 7-6 ACC) to zero made three pointers, ending a 434-game streak with a made triple for the Wolfpack.

While at home, the Deacs have held ACC opponents to 15-of-77 (19.5 percent) from beyond-the-arc this season.

Defensively, Wake Forest held NC State to their second-lowest scoring output of the season. Of note, over the last 20 games, the Demon Deacons have held 15 of 20 opponents to 61 points or less and nine opponents in that stretch to less than 55 points.

As a team, Wake Forest outrebounded the Wolfpack, 42-41, behind a career-high 11 boards from sophomore guard Elise Williams. Of note, Thursday marked the second time this season Williams has led the Deacs in rebounding.

Offensively, junior guard Jewel Spear finished in double figures for the 18th time this season. This is the 14th time this season she has led the team in scoring. With her scoring output, Spear has now moved into 16th in program history in scoring and needs just 44 points away from cracking the top 15 and 140 points away from entering the top 10.

Senior guard Alexandria Scruggs and senior forward Niyah Becker provided valuable minutes off the bench as they both tallied eight points. Of note, Becker went a solid plus-10 in plus/minus, leading all Wake Forest players.

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

Williams opened the scoring for the Deacs with a catch-and-shoot three-pointer off an assist from Hinds at the 8:34 mark.
Spear used a nice move to create space for herself as she knocked down a pull-up jumper to give the Deacs a 5-3 lead with 5:45 remaining in the first quarter.
- NC State was held to just 1-of-8 from the floor to open the contest.
Scruggs recorded her first points off the bench with a driving layup at the 2:52 mark.
Spear followed her shot and finished the second-chance layup to tie the game at 9-9 and close-out the first-quarter scoring.
- As a team, the Demon Deacons held their opponent to 3-for-15 (20 percent) from the floor in the first quarter.
- Additionally, the Deacs won the rebounding battle, 15-10, over the first 10 minutes.
Becker gave the Deacs an 11-9 lead to open the second quarter as she converted a reverse layup just 21 seconds into the period.
Andrews capitalized on a pair of offensive rebounds as the sophomore guard knocked down a triple off a Harrison assist to extend the lead to five.
- The Deacs grabbed five offensive rebounds over the first five minutes of the second quarter.
Scruggs put an end to an 8-0 Wolfpack run with a layup to cut the deficit to three with 3:27 left in the first half.
Harrison hauled in the Deacs' 10th offensive rebound of the first half and recorded her first basket of the evening.
Spear sent Wake Forest into the locker room down just a point as the junior guard connected on a deep two-pointer to make it 22-23 after two periods of play.
- Spear led the Deacs with six points and five rebounds, including three offensive boards at the break.
- The Demon Deacons held the Wolfpack scoreless (0-for-5 FG) over the final 2:53 of the half.
Harrison found Hinds in the paint for the first Wake Forest basket of the second half at the 9:03 mark.
Williams earned her way to the line and ended an 8-0 NC State run.
Scruggs ended a five-minute scoring drought when she finished a tough layup with 3:49 remaining in the third quarter to cut the deficit to nine.
Spear closed out the third quarter with a deep three-pointer as Wake Forest took a 5-0 run into the final frame.
- The Deacs held the Wolfpack to 1-of-7 from the field to close out the third quarter.
Spear converted a driving layup for the first Wake Forest basket of the fourth quarter and kept the Deacs within single digits.
Becker made a layup and Harrison knocked down a pair of free throws on the next possession as the Deacs continued to battle with under a minute to go.
Summiel closed out the scoring with a layup off a Spear assist with nine seconds remaining as Wake Forest fell to NC State, 42-51.

STANDOUT STAT

Wake Forest is the first team since Columbia on Jan. 4, 2010 to hold NC State to zero made three pointers. This ends a 434-game streak with a made triple for the Wolfpack.
- While at home, the Deacs have held ACC opponents to 15-of-77 (19.5 percent) from beyond-the-arc this season.

FROM GEBBIA

"Not our best offensive performance, but our defense took a huge step forward. This was the second-lowest scoring output for them this year with the only other coming against a ranked North Carolina team. We had some positive contributions off the bench from Alex and Niyah. They both played well on both ends of the floor. We just couldn't get over the hump offensively especially in the second half. We need to be crisper passing the ball especially when entering it to the post. I'm proud we won the rebounding battle, but NC State had some timely ones there late, especially on their offensive end. The bye is coming at the right time and we need to take full advantage of it to make the most out of the remaining games this regular season." - head coach Megan Gebbia

NEXT UP

The Demon Deacons remain home for a Big-4 clash against NC State Thursday night at Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum. The Wolfpack go into Sunday ranked at No. 15 in the latest AP poll.

For those who are unable to attend on Thursday night, the game can be seen on ACC Network with tipoff scheduled for 8 p.m.

Players Mentioned

Niyah Becker

Alexandria Scruggs

Jewel Spear

Elise Williams

Players Mentioned

Niyah Becker

Alexandria Scruggs

Jewel Spear

Elise Williams

Wake Forest Athletics