MYRTLE BEACH – Senior guard Rhein Beamon tossed in a team-high 13 points, while Keyesha Lewis added 10 but it wasn't enough as South Carolina State dropped an tough 58-44 decision to ACC foe Wake Forest Wednesday in the Carolinas Basketball Classic at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center.

Elisa Penna tossed in 16 points to lead three Wake Forest players, while Ona Udoh and Alex Sharp contributed 15 points each, and added 14 and 11 rebounds, respectively, in the win, which lifted the Demon Deacons to 8-4 on the season.

Coach Audra Smith's team, coming off an 11-day layoff, fell to 6-6 on the season. Taylor Brown added nine points for SC State, while Jakayvea Akins contributed six.

Jaquanna Murray led SC State on the boards with six.

Lewis had seven straight points in the first half during a 12-6 Lady Bulldog run that pulled SC State to within 15-12 at the end of one after Wake Forest had taken a 9-0 lead. Brown's 3-pointer tied the game at 15-all early in the second half but Wake Forest led 28-24 at the half.

The Demon Deacons led 42-34 after three periods and outscored SC State 16-10 in fourth period for the final margin.

The Lady Bulldogs will play East Carolina on Friday at 6:30 p.m.
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