WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – The Presbyterian College women's basketball team (0-2) suffered a road defeat on Thursday night (Nov. 5) to Wake Forest, falling to the Demon Deacons by an 85-53 score at LJVM Coliseum.
Presbyterian trailed by 10 going into halftime, but a 29-point third quarter helped Wake Forest pull away to pick up the victory. Yolanda Floyd and Azjah Reeves powered the Blue Hose offensively on Thursday night, each posting 11 points. They were both 5-for-11 from the field. Yasmeen Brightwell added eight points, while two other Blue Hose players came away with five.
On the glass, Dylande Innocent and Brightwell led the charge for PC, grabbing four rebounds apiece. Alyssa Febres tallied four assists as well.
Four different Blue Hose players recorded a block in Winston-Salem. Febres finished with a team-high two steals.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Quarter
The Demon Deacons surged ahead to begin the night in Winston-Salem, scoring 13 of the game's first 15 points. A three-point play by Azjah Reeves helped get the Blue Hose going offensively. PC trailed by as many as 10 down 15-5 early but chipped away at the lead. Aretha Linger began the comeback, making three straight free throws after being fouled from beyond the three-point line. The Blue Hose showed their resilience by finishing the quarter on a 5-0 run to close the gap to four down 22-18 through one period. Samantha Mullock and Yolanda Floyd added baskets down the stretch for PC.
Second Quarter
Presbyterian continued to stay right with Wake Forest in the opening minutes of quarter two. Yasmeen Brightwell and Linger helped cut the deficit to just two down 24-22. The Demon Deacons responded to go up double digit halfway through the period, leading 32-22. Floyd got hot for Presbyterian offensively in the ensuing minutes, cutting the Wake lead to just single digits once again. However, one more made free throw in the final minute put Wake Forest back up 10 going into the break. Floyd led a balanced PC attack in the first half with seven points. Linger and Reeves contributed five. As a team, the Blue Hose went 11-of-28 from the field in half one.
Third Quarter
Brightwell continued her productive evening coming out of the locker room, draining a jumper on the opening possession of the second half. Saoirse Smart added a jumper a couple of minutes later for Presbyterian before the Demon Deacons went on a big run. Wake Forest used a 17-3 run in the middle of the period to separate, building a 24-point advantage. Smart and Brightwell poured in baskets in the final minutes of the third for the Blue Hose, but the Demon Deacons took a 67-41 lead going into the final period. In the third, Wake outscored PC 29-13.
Fourth Quarter
Reeves scored the first points for either team in the final quarter, splashing home a jumper. A minute later, Floyd and Haddock tallied four points for the Blue Hose. Reeves continued to have the hot hand later in the quarter, scoring on a layup. She ended the night with 11 points. Alyssa Febres cashed in on a three-pointer in the final minutes, making PC's first of the game. She poured in a free throw as well to finish the night, but Wake Forest closed out the game with an 85-53 win.
NOTABLES
- Yolanda Floyd and Azjah Reeves both scored in double figures for the second straight game.
- Alyssa Febres made the lone three of the night for Presbyterian, her first in a Blue Hose uniform.
- Aretha Linger finished a perfect 3-for-3 from the free-throw line.
- Fiona Diomande and Inna Dimova made their Presbyterian College debuts.
- Linger, Floyd, Febres, and Samantha Mullock all tallied a block.
- As a team, Presbyterian shot 38.9 percent from the field.
UP NEXT
The Blue Hose complete their road trip at Marquette on Tuesday night (Nov. 10) at noon ET on ESPN+.
