ACC women’s basketball: Wake Forest ousts UNC

Published 12:00 am Friday, March 5, 2021

Associated Press

GREENSBORO — Freshman Jewel Spear scored 29 points with seven 3-pointers and Wake Forest beat North Carolina 82-71 on Thursday in the second round of the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament.

Wake Forest (12-11), pursuing its second-ever NCAA bid, advances to play No. 1 seed and fifth ranked Louisville today. The Demon Deacons narrowly lost to the Cardinals 65-64 on Jan. 24 when Dana Evans hit a driving shot for the go-ahead three-point play with 8.0 seconds left.

Ivana Raca added 21 points with 12 rebounds and Gina Conti had 13 points and 12 assists for the Demon Deacons. Spear was 10 of 15 from the field, including 7 of 10 from distance. Wake Forest made 53% of its shots and scored 20 points off 12 North Carolina turnovers.

Wake Forest coach Jen Hoover became the program leader with 126 wins, passing Mike Petersen (2005-12).

Alyssa Ustby had 23 points and nine rebounds and Deja Kelly scored 19 for North Carolina (13-10, 8-10), which had won five of its last six. Janelle Bailey had 12 points and 10 rebounds, and Stephanie Watts scored 15 points. Petra Holesinska, ranking second on the team with 12.6 points, was held to just two points on 0-for-8 shooting.

Syracuse advances to face FSU

GREENSBORO (AP) — Kiara Lewis scored 21 points with five assists, Digna Strautmane added 13 points and eight rebounds, and Syracuse held off Boston College 67-61 in the tourney.

Emily Engstler completed a three-point play with 52 seconds left to extend Syracuse’s lead to 61-53. But Cameron Swartz and Makayla Dickens each made a 3-pointer on consecutive Boston College possessions to pull within 63-61. It was Dickens’ fourth 3-pointer of the fourth quarter.

Maeva Djaldi-Tabdi gave Syracuse a two-possession lead at 65-61 and Swartz had a 3-pointer blocked at the other end, leading to two free throws by Priscilla Williams to seal it.

Syracuse (12-7) advances to play No. 4 seed Florida State today, looking to avenge a 67-52 loss on Feb. 11.