Nov. 1, 2006

Box Score

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Wake Forest raced out to a 21-3 lead to open the game and never looked back, as the Demon Deacons opened their exhibition schedule with a 66-46 victory over Lenoir-Rhyne Wednesday evening at Joel Coliseum.

Sophomore Corinne Groves led Wake with a double-double, scoring 10 points and pulling down a game-high 11 boards.

Three other Deacons joined Groves in double figures in the scoring column. Sophomore Yolanda Lavender and freshman Mekia Valentine tied for the team-lead with 11 markers apiece, while junior Christen Brown chipped in 10 points on the night.

Valentine also turned in a game-high three blocked shots.

Lavender led all players with five assists, while freshman Tiffany Roulhac was right behind with four assists of her own.

Junior Melissa Washington fell two points and two boards shy of a double-double. Washington finished the game with eight points and eight rebounds.

The Demon Deacons used their significant size advantage to win the battle in the post. Wake out-rebounded Lenoir-Rhyne 45-37. The Deacs also scored 26 points in the paint compared to just two points in the paint for the Bears.

Wake Forest scored the game's first 13 points to open the exhibition season in grand fashion. After Lenoir-Rhyne got on the board with a three-pointer at the 16:25 mark, Wake scored another eight unanswered points to open up a sizable 21-3 lead.

The Bears were able to cut into the margin, however, as they pulled to within seven at 32-25 heading into halftime.

The Deacons quickly squelched any chance of a comeback, however, as they doubled their lead over the first eight minutes of the second half. Wake opened the period by out-scoring Lenoir-Rhyne 12-4 during the stretch.

Wake Forest built its lead up to as many as 24 before settling for the 66-46 victory.

For the game, the Demon Deacons shot 38.7 percent (24-of-62) from the floor. Wake made 54.5 percent (6-of-11) from beyond the arc. Brown led the Deacs in shooting as she went 3-for-4 from the floor, including a 2-for-3 mark from three-point range.

Wake Forest will wrap up its exhibition schedule this Friday, Nov. 3, when it hosts Anderson University at 7 p.m.