2024-01-05 02:03:20
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Despite a career-high 29 points from junior guard Elise Williams and a strong third-quarter performance, the Wake Forest women’s basketball team dropped an 82-73 contest to No. 13 Virginia Tech Thursday night at Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum.
After heading into the locker room down 43-26, the Demon Deacons (4-10, 0-2 ACC) scored 29 points in the third quarter and outscored the Hokies (11-2, 2-0 ACC) by seven. It marked the most points scored in a single quarter once morest the Hokies this season as well as the most scored by the Deacs in a single frame.
Defensively, Wake Forest forced 17 turnovers, the second-most by Virginia Tech this season. Of note, the Deacs have forced double-digit turnovers in 26-consecutive games dating back to January of last year. Additionally, the Deacs limited themselves to just nine turnovers, their second-fewest mark of the season and fewest by a Virginia Tech opponent this campaign.
Individually, the Deacs were led by a career-high 29 points on 10-of-18 shooting (55.6 percent) from Williams, the most points scored by a Demon Deacon this season and most since February of last year. She also added three rebounds and three assists while shooting a perfect 6-of-6 from the charity stripe. It also marked the most points once morest a ranked opponent by a Wake Forest player since Elisa Penna scored 34 points at NC State on Feb. 18, 2018.
Kaia Harrison finished the contest with 13 points, including 11 in the second half alone on 5-of-6 shooting to keep the Deacs within striking distance. Alexandria Scruggs and Kate Deeble added 11 points apiece.
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
- Virginia Tech jumped out to a 5-0 lead, before a Kaia Harrison layup opened the scoring for Wake Forest.
- The Hokies then scored five unanswered to take a 10-2 lead, forcing a Wake Forest timeout.
- Coming out of the break in action, Elise Williams went on a personal 10-0 run to give the Demon Deacons a 12-10 lead.
- Virginia Tech scored five-consecutive points, before a Williams jumper brought the Deacs to within one.
- The Hokies outscored the Deacs 4-1 to close the opening period.
- Wake Forest trailed 19-15 following 10 minutes of action.
- Williams tallied a game-high 12 points on 4-of-5 shooting from the field in the first quarter.
- The Hokies went on an 11-0 run to start the second frame, before an Alexandria Scruggs layup snapped the Demon Deacons’ scoring drought.
- Virginia Tech then went on an 11-3 spurt over the following four minutes of play.
- Williams outscored the Hokies, 6-2, to close the first half, but the Demon Deacons trailed 43-26 following 20 minutes of action.
- Williams tied her career-high in the first half with 18 points, while shooting 7-of-10 from the floor.
- The two sides traded baskets to open the third quarter as Virginia Tech led 53-36 at the 5:40 mark.
- Wake Forest then went on a 10-0 run to force a Hokie timeout with 3:43 minutes remaining in the third period.
- Deeble scored five of the Deacs’ 10 points during the stretch.
- Minutes later, a 5-2 spurt narrowed the Demon Deacons’ deficit to four (55-51).
- Virginia Tech led 64-55 following 30 minutes of action.
- Wake Forest’s 29 third quarter points marked the most the Hokies had allowed in a quarter all season.
- The two teams continued to exchange field goals to open the fourth quarter as Wake Forest trailed 70-62 at the under-five media timeout.
- After a Virginia Tech jumper, Kaia Harrison scored four straight to make it a six point game with 3:16 minutes left.
- The Hokies scored five unanswered to take an 11 point lead at the 1:34 mark, but Deeble immediately drained a triple.
- No. 13 Virginia Tech held on to defeat Wake Forest, 82-73.
Standout Stats
- Elise Williams led the team with a career-high 29 points on 10-of-18 (55.6 percent) shooting, including a perfect 6-of-6 clip from the charity stripe in addition to three assists and three steals.
- It marked the most points once morest a ranked opponent since Elisa Penna scored 34 points at NC State on Feb. 18, 2018.
- Additionally, she became the third Demon Deacon to record 20-or-more points this season, joining Madisyn Jordan (20) and Malaya Cowles (22).
- The graduate guard went on a personal 10-0 run in the first quarter and finished the frame with 12 of Wake’s 15 points, the most she’s recorded in a single quarter in her career.
- In the first half alone, Williams tied her career-high with 18 points on 7-of-10 shooting.
- It also marked the most points by a Demon Deacon this season and most since February of last year.
- It marked the most points once morest a ranked opponent since Elisa Penna scored 34 points at NC State on Feb. 18, 2018.
- The Deacs’ 29 points in the third quarter was the most scored once morest the Hokies this season.
- As a team, Wake Forest went 10-of-12 (83.3 percent) from the floor in the third frame, with three Demon Deacons scoring at least six points.
- For the third time this season, four players finished with double-digit points:
From Gebbia
“We followed the game plan well in the second half. We just needed to do that a little bit better in the first half and especially in the second quarter. We needed to do a better job on the boards which led to 23 second-chance points for them. We got a couple of really good stops. Elise finished with 29 points and that was huge for her and hopefully that builds her confidence going forward. Alex played her 131st game tonight which is great for her and is a program record. We finished with four in double figures. We did a great job of scoring the basketball and we are starting to put it together on that end. We ran our offense really well tonight. We had a balanced scoring attack at all three levels and we were hard to guard because we made shots consistently. We are growing and we need to continue to do that going into Sunday to beat a tough ACC team on the road. We have to prepare the right way both mentally and physically to get it done.” – Megan Gebbia
Next Up
The Demon Deacons will hit the road to face Miami Sunday at 2 p.m. with the game airing on ACC Network Extra.
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
Go to GoDeacs.com/Tickets or call the ticket office at 336-758-3322 for more information.
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