This past week, Wake Forest’s women’s basketball team (2-3 in the ACC) defeated the Carolina Tar Heels (1-5 in the ACC) in dramatic fashion.

The game came down to the final minute when Junior Ariel Stephenson closed the gap and evened the score. In the final 15 seconds, it was Alex Sharp that hit a critical three-pointer that put the Deacs on top.

The fourth quarter was really when Wake Forest gained momentum and got out of their comfort zone.

They were five of six from behind the arc and the team was efficient on offense.

The Deacs had seven total assists and kept their turnovers to only one in this quarter.

They were off to a rough start with turnovers, and North Carolina took advantage, scoring 21 total points strictly as a result of Wake Forest’s mistakes.

In the first quarter alone, the Tar Heels had 10 points from turnovers.

Junior Elisa Penna was the high scorer on Wake Forest’s team finishing with 23 points and was followed by Milan Quinn (18) and Stephenson (17).

For the Tar Heels, Stephanie Watts was the game’s leading scorer with 25 total points and was followed by Paris Kea (21) and Jamie Cherry (12).

The second half was a game-changer and this momentum carried into the next game on Jan. 22 versus Georgia Tech at home, when the Deacs won in overtime, 70-65.

In another nail-biting game for the Deacs, Quinn forced overtime with a made free throw after a Wake Forest 7-0 run in the fourth quarter.

This game was relatively equal with regards to points from turnovers and points in the paint.

The Yellow Jackets had 20 points off turnovers, while the Demon Deacons had 19.

Each team finished with 34 points in the paint.

Georgia Tech thrived with fast break points, second chance points and had a whopping 38 bench points compared to Wake Forest’s five.

Penna led the Deacs in scoring with 18 points, followed by Stephenson (17) and Quinn and Campbell (11). The game’s leading scorer, Georgia Tech’s Zaire O’Neil, scored 22 points, shooting 11 for 24 from the field.

She was followed by Chanin Scott and Francesca Pan, both finishing with 10 points.

The Deacs will take on the Boston College Eagles at 7:00 p.m. on Jan. 26 at the LJVM Coliseum.

The following Sunday, Jan. 29, the Deacs will face the Duke Duke Blue Devils at 1:00 p.m. in Durham.