H. Scott Hoffmann - News & Record/AP
Miami's Riquna Williams, left, and Wake Forest's Sandra Garcia reach for rebound during the opening game of Atlantic Coast Conference women's basketball tournament Thursday, March 4, 2010, in Greensboro, NC.
GREENSBORO -- Wake Forest women's basketball coach Mike Petersen said his team has been resilient this season, bouncing back from losses and deficits with a never-worried resolve.
The fifth-seeded Demon Deacons showed that resolve in the opening game of the ACC Women's Basketball Tournament, rallying from 11 down to eke by 12th-seeded Miami 66-65 in overtime at Greensboro Coliseum.
"They just kind of grind," said Petersen, whose team advances to the tournament quarterfinals for the second season in row and face fourth-seeded Georgia Tech on Friday.
It's the first time since 1990 that the Deacs (18-12) have held a fifth seed. They showed they deserved it against the Hurricanes, remaining calm under the scoring assault of sophomore guard Shenise Johnson, who scored a game-high 28 points.
The Deacs were able to guard Johnson when it counted. Down by a point with 12.2 seconds remaining in overtime, the Hurricanes gained possession of the ball and had a chance to capture the game.
Johnson attacked the baseline and got a shot off, but it knocked off the rim and junior Camille Collier snagged the rebound.
Wake junior Brittany Waters finished with a team-high 21 points and eight rebounds, while freshman center Sandra Garcia added 18 points and 13 rebounds.
On Jan. 17, the Deacs defeated the Hurricanes 67-64. This victory only helps their argument to the NCAA Tournament committee for a berth in the championship.
"It's a great win for us," Petersen said. "I'm not going to like to you. I'm not going to act like I'm not happy."
