I'm going to post the story from Wake Media relation in here, which covers some of the details of the win, but I'm also sharing a link to my interview with Wake coach Jen Hoover after the victory.
It's just November, but this was a fantastic win for the women's program, who knocked off a team that's been in the NCAA Tournament 16 of the last 17 years. Playing three games in five days with just eight available players will be a challenge for the Deacs, so we'll see how they perform Sunday and Tuesday.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - The Wake Forest women's basketball team opened the 2015-16 season with a 60-57 win over LSU on Friday at the LJVM Coliseum. The Deacs were led by a pair of freshmen, Ariel Stephenson andKortni Simmons, both scoring in double figures.
Stephenson led all players with 21 points and the rookie grabbed seven rebounds. She also went 6-of-6 from the free-throw line. Simmons added 15 points, four rebounds and three assists.
Wake Forest has now won the season opener in 14 of the last 16 seasons.
Ayana Mitchell and Raigyne Moncrief each scored 14 points to lead LSU. Moncrief also grabbed a team-high six rebounds.
The Demon Deacons out-rebounded LSU 48-32. Wake Forest also went 17-of-21 from the free-throw line while the Tigers were just 10-of-23.
Wake Forest led the entire first half but LSU closed the second quarter on a 4-0 run to cut Wake Forest's lead to 22-21 at the break.
Stephenson hit a jumper with 7:06 to play in the fourth quarter to give Wake Forest a seven-point lead, 58-51. LSU slowly chipped away and tied the game 51-51 with 3:54 to play. The Tigers never took the lead as Amber Campbell made a free throw to swing the game back in favor of the Deacs. Simmons added a pair of free throws and Keyonna Allen picked up a huge second-chance bucket to extend Wake Forest's lead to 56-53 with 1:23 remaining in the game.
With 13 seconds left in the game Alexis Hyder kept LSU within three with two made free throws. On the next play Simmons was fouled and the freshman iced the game by making both shots from the charity stripe. LSU made a layup as time expired for a final score of 60-57.
Milan Quinn provided a spark off the bench with eight rebounds and four steals. Senor Kandice Ball finished with eight rebounds as well.
Wake Forest continues a stretch of three games in five days to open the season with a 2 p.m. tip-off against ETSU on Sunday at the Coliseum.
It's just November, but this was a fantastic win for the women's program, who knocked off a team that's been in the NCAA Tournament 16 of the last 17 years. Playing three games in five days with just eight available players will be a challenge for the Deacs, so we'll see how they perform Sunday and Tuesday.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - The Wake Forest women's basketball team opened the 2015-16 season with a 60-57 win over LSU on Friday at the LJVM Coliseum. The Deacs were led by a pair of freshmen, Ariel Stephenson andKortni Simmons, both scoring in double figures.
Stephenson led all players with 21 points and the rookie grabbed seven rebounds. She also went 6-of-6 from the free-throw line. Simmons added 15 points, four rebounds and three assists.
Wake Forest has now won the season opener in 14 of the last 16 seasons.
Ayana Mitchell and Raigyne Moncrief each scored 14 points to lead LSU. Moncrief also grabbed a team-high six rebounds.
The Demon Deacons out-rebounded LSU 48-32. Wake Forest also went 17-of-21 from the free-throw line while the Tigers were just 10-of-23.
Wake Forest led the entire first half but LSU closed the second quarter on a 4-0 run to cut Wake Forest's lead to 22-21 at the break.
Stephenson hit a jumper with 7:06 to play in the fourth quarter to give Wake Forest a seven-point lead, 58-51. LSU slowly chipped away and tied the game 51-51 with 3:54 to play. The Tigers never took the lead as Amber Campbell made a free throw to swing the game back in favor of the Deacs. Simmons added a pair of free throws and Keyonna Allen picked up a huge second-chance bucket to extend Wake Forest's lead to 56-53 with 1:23 remaining in the game.
With 13 seconds left in the game Alexis Hyder kept LSU within three with two made free throws. On the next play Simmons was fouled and the freshman iced the game by making both shots from the charity stripe. LSU made a layup as time expired for a final score of 60-57.
Milan Quinn provided a spark off the bench with eight rebounds and four steals. Senor Kandice Ball finished with eight rebounds as well.
Wake Forest continues a stretch of three games in five days to open the season with a 2 p.m. tip-off against ETSU on Sunday at the Coliseum.
