GREENSBORO, N.C. (theACC.com) – Basketball coach-speak about “finishing strong” has almost become cliché, but it does work. And it did for Wake Forest on Wednesday night.
Trailing 14th-seeded Virginia by seven points with eight minutes to play in the opening round of the ACC Women’s Basketball Tournament, the Demon Deacons closed the game on 19-4 run to post a 61-53 win at Greensboro Coliseum.
Wake Forest (15-15) moves on to face No. 6 Georgia Tech (20-9) in Thursday night’s 8 p.m. second-round game. The Deacons will seek to break into the win column versus the Yellow Jackets after dropping both regular-season meetings, including a 64-56 decision in last Sunday’s home finale.
Wednesday night’s loss ended Virginia’s season at 5-22.
Deacons sophomore guard Jewel Spear led all scorers with 23 points. Spear connected on 5-of-10 shots from 3-point range, the final of which came with eight minutes to play and jump-started Wake’s comeback.
Olivia Summiel also hit a key 3-pointer down the stretch, while Kaia Harrison muscled in two layups and center Christian Morra delivered a three-point play with 1:44 remaining that put Wake Forest ahead 59-53 and all but sealed the win.
The outcome proved similar to the regular-season meeting between the teams in which the Demon Deacons broke open a close game by outscoring the Cavaliers 20-8 in the final eight minutes.
Morra finished with a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds. London Clarkson and Mir McLean scored 11 points apiece to lead UVA.
OF NOTE
- UVA leads the all-time series 68-9 but Wake Forest has won the last four matchups, including two this season.
- ACC leading scorer Jewel Spear’s 23 points continues her streak of games finishing in double figures, which stands at 19 straight. Spears has scored in double digits in all but one Wake Forest contests this season.
- The Deacons improve to 6-2 on the season while shooting better than 75% from the charity stripe. (13-for-13 Wednesday night)
- Wake Forest picked up its first win over an ACC opponent while attempting more 3-point field goals. Previously 0-5 on the season.
- Spear’s five 3-point baskets place her second all-time in Wake Forest history for 3-pointers made in a season (89).