Wednesday, March 6
Greensboro, N.C.
6:30 p.m.
Wake Forest University
7-24,2-16ACC
58
vs
55
Virginia
15-15,7-11ACC
1
2
3
4
F
Wake Forest
11
14
10
23
58
Virginia
11
12
23
9
55
Demon Deacons Overcome 15-Point Deficit, Down Virginia in Opening Round of ACC Tournament
3/6/2024 9:56:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Junior guard Elise Williams added 11 of her 25 points in the fourth quarter as the Deacs outscored the Cavaliers 23-9 in the final frame.
GREENSBORO, N.C. – Behind a 20-1 run in the fourth quarter, the Wake Forest women's basketball team completed another stellar comeback in the ACC tournament, as it took down Virginia, 58-55, Wednesday night inside Greensboro Coliseum and advanced in the tournament for the fifth-consecutive season.
The Demon Deacons (7-24, 2-16 ACC) outscored the Cavaliers (15-15, 7-11 ACC), 23-9, in the fourth quarter. It marked the second-consecutive season the Deacs overcame a double-digit deficit in the ACC tournament and came back to win. Last March, Wake Forest came back from 18-points down against Florida State to win 65-54 and advance to the quarterfinals.
This also marks the third consecutive year that Wake Forest has defeated Virginia in the opening round of the conference tournament.
The Deacs played well on the defensive end of the court for the entire 40 minutes, as they limited Virginia to its second-lowest point total of the season and fewest in a non-road game. Additionally, the Cavaliers' 23 first-half points were the fewest they have scored in a first half this season. Of note, Virginia was limited to just two second-chance points, also marking its fewest of the campaign.
Offensively, Wake Forest was led by junior guard Elise Willaims, who recorded her sixth 20-point performance of the season and third in the last four games. She finished with 25 points and went an impressive 12-of-14 (85.7 percent) from the free throw line in addition to a team-high nine rebounds, two assists and two steals. Since the start of February, Williams is averaging 18.6 points per game, 5.7 rebounds per game and 3.1 assists per game. She leads the team in all three categories during that span.
Graduate guard Alexandria Scruggs posted her ninth double-digit scoring performance of the season with 12 points on 5-of-10 shooting. She also added five rebounds and three steals.
Off of the bench, junior guard Alyssa Andrews finished with a team-high plus/minus of plus-18. She was elite on the defensive end of the floor and hauled in eight rebounds, including three on the offensive glass. It was tied for her second-most rebounds in a game this season and most since the game against Georgia Tech on Feb. 4.
How It Happened
"In that moment we absolutely needed to be resilient, we came through and it's something that is just innate with this group. They never feel down and out. We've been down a lot all year and haven't been able to close out games. Alyssa's offensive rebound and putback was the turning point. We needed that shot to go in and her to make the free throw for us to get the lead. Then, it just seemed like once we got the lead, we executed well at both ends of the floor. It really wasn't our best shooting day by far, but this group has learned how to play a scout. They did a great job of doing that today and they battled the entire 40 minutes." - Megan Gebbia
Next Up
For the second consecutive year, Wake Forest will face No. 6 seed Florida State (21-9, 12-6 ACC) at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday with the game being broadcasted on ACC Network.
Hosted at the Greensboro Coliseum Complex, the tournament will run through the championship game set for noon (ET) on March 10.
Purchase your tickets today and come cheer on the Deacs in Greensboro.
The Demon Deacons (7-24, 2-16 ACC) outscored the Cavaliers (15-15, 7-11 ACC), 23-9, in the fourth quarter. It marked the second-consecutive season the Deacs overcame a double-digit deficit in the ACC tournament and came back to win. Last March, Wake Forest came back from 18-points down against Florida State to win 65-54 and advance to the quarterfinals.
This also marks the third consecutive year that Wake Forest has defeated Virginia in the opening round of the conference tournament.
The Deacs played well on the defensive end of the court for the entire 40 minutes, as they limited Virginia to its second-lowest point total of the season and fewest in a non-road game. Additionally, the Cavaliers' 23 first-half points were the fewest they have scored in a first half this season. Of note, Virginia was limited to just two second-chance points, also marking its fewest of the campaign.
Offensively, Wake Forest was led by junior guard Elise Willaims, who recorded her sixth 20-point performance of the season and third in the last four games. She finished with 25 points and went an impressive 12-of-14 (85.7 percent) from the free throw line in addition to a team-high nine rebounds, two assists and two steals. Since the start of February, Williams is averaging 18.6 points per game, 5.7 rebounds per game and 3.1 assists per game. She leads the team in all three categories during that span.
Graduate guard Alexandria Scruggs posted her ninth double-digit scoring performance of the season with 12 points on 5-of-10 shooting. She also added five rebounds and three steals.
Off of the bench, junior guard Alyssa Andrews finished with a team-high plus/minus of plus-18. She was elite on the defensive end of the floor and hauled in eight rebounds, including three on the offensive glass. It was tied for her second-most rebounds in a game this season and most since the game against Georgia Tech on Feb. 4.
How It Happened
- Virginia opened the scoring with a mid-range jumper, before an Alexandria Scruggs layup marked Wake Forest's first basket.
- The Cavaliers then knocked down a triple to take a 5-2 lead.
- The Demon Deacons responded with a 6-2 spurt to tie the contest at seven with 2:07 minutes left in the opening period.
- The two sides exchanged buckets for the remainder of the frame, as the score was tied (11-11) after 10 minutes of action.
- Scruggs tallied six points on 3-of-4 shooting from the field in the first quarter.
- Scruggs opened the second quarter with a basket, but Virginia responded with a 9-2 run to force a Wake Forest timeout.
- Coming out of the break in action, the Demon Deacons evened the ledger (20-20) as Elise Williams drained a three and Malaya Cowles finished a layup.
- The Deacs sustained their momentum, going on a 5-1 spurt after the timeout.
- Wake Forest led 25-23 at the halftime break.
- The Demon Deacons forced 10 Virginia turnovers in the first half.
- Offensively, the Deacs were led by the tandem of Scruggs and Williams, as they combined for 16 points.
- Scruggs added a game-high four rebounds.
- Virginia started the third quarter on a 7-0 run to take a 30-25 lead.
- The two sides traded baskets for the following 90 seconds.
- The Cavaliers then went on a 9-2 run, taking a 41-31 lead at the 3:28 mark of the third quarter.
- Williams knocked down four free throws to close the period, narrowing Wake Forest's deficit to 11 (46-35), entering the fourth quarter.
- The Demon Deacons outscored Virginia, 11-2, to open the final frame.
- Wake Forest pulled to within two (48-46) behind a layup and three-consecutive triples from Deeble, Andrews and Williams.
- After a Virginia free throw, the Demon Deacons went on a blistering 11-0 run to take a 57-49 lead with 18 seconds remaining in the contest.
- Williams iced the game, making five-consecutive free throws.
- Overall, Williams outscored the Cavaliers 11-9 in the final period.
- Williams iced the game, making five-consecutive free throws.
- Wake Forest held on to defeat Virginia, 58-55, to advance to the second round of the ACC Tournament.
- Wake Forest has now advanced in the tournament for the fifth consecutive season with ACC Quarterfinal appearances in 2023, 2021 and 2020.
- The Deacs own a 7-4 record over the past five years in ACC Tournament action.
- It also marked the second-consecutive season the Demon Deacons overcame a deficit of at least 15 points to advance in the ACC Tournament.
- Last season, the Deacs came back from 18-points down against Florida State to win 65-54 on March 2, 2023.
- Virginia's 55 points mark the second-fewest points it has scored in a game this season and fewest in a non-road game.
- Additionally, the Cavaliers' 23 first-half points were the fewest they have scored in a first half this season.
- Virginia was also limited to just two second-chance points, marking its fewest of the season.
"In that moment we absolutely needed to be resilient, we came through and it's something that is just innate with this group. They never feel down and out. We've been down a lot all year and haven't been able to close out games. Alyssa's offensive rebound and putback was the turning point. We needed that shot to go in and her to make the free throw for us to get the lead. Then, it just seemed like once we got the lead, we executed well at both ends of the floor. It really wasn't our best shooting day by far, but this group has learned how to play a scout. They did a great job of doing that today and they battled the entire 40 minutes." - Megan Gebbia
Next Up
For the second consecutive year, Wake Forest will face No. 6 seed Florida State (21-9, 12-6 ACC) at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday with the game being broadcasted on ACC Network.
Hosted at the Greensboro Coliseum Complex, the tournament will run through the championship game set for noon (ET) on March 10.
Purchase your tickets today and come cheer on the Deacs in Greensboro.
Team Stats
WF
UVa
FG%
.353
.397
3FG%
.313
.318
FT%
.810
.500
RB
33
33
TO
15
15
STL
7
5
Game Leaders
Pts
25
FGM
5
3FGM
3
FTM
12
Pts
12
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
6
FGM
2
3FGM
1
FTM
1
Pts
6
FGM
2
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
Guard
/ Women's Basketball
Forward
/ Women's BasketballGuard
/ Women's BasketballGuard
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