SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (Interstat) — In a defensive struggle defined by frigid shooting, the Wake Forest women’s basketball team remained undefeated, grinding out a victory over Illinois State on Friday at Coliseo de Puerto Rico.

The Demon Deacons improved to 9-0 on the season, while the Redbirds fell to an even 4-4.

Wake Forest seized control of the contest with a dominant first quarter, outscoring Illinois State 21-8. The Demon Deacons’ defense was suffocating from the opening tip, forcing the Redbirds into difficult shots and capitalizing on the other end. The early run, fueled by a pair of three-pointers from Kennedy Moore and one from Mary Carter, provided a cushion that Illinois State could never fully erode.

The Redbirds found a rhythm in the second quarter, outscoring Wake Forest 17-9 to claw their way back into the game. A key factor in the resurgence was the relentless effort of Doneelah Washington, who repeatedly attacked the offensive glass. Her putback layup with just over seven minutes remaining in the half capped a personal 6-0 run that cut the Wake Forest lead to single digits. Illinois State continued to chip away, and an Addison Martin free throw late in the quarter brought the score to 30-25 at the intermission.

Any momentum the Redbirds carried into the locker room was stifled as the second half began. Both teams traded baskets in a tightly contested third quarter, with Wake Forest maintaining its lead by outscoring Illinois State 16-14. The Demon Deacons’ defense again tightened when needed, holding the Redbirds to just five points in the final period to secure the win.

The story of the game was written in the shooting percentages. Wake Forest connected on a efficient 51 percent of its shots from the floor, going 23 for 45. Illinois State, by contrast, endured a nightmarish shooting performance, making only 16 of its 60 attempts for a 27 percent clip. The Redbirds’ struggles were particularly acute from beyond the arc, where they hit just 4 of 29 three-point attempts. Wake Forest was 7 for 21 from deep.

Despite the loss, Illinois State’s Doneelah Washington recorded a double-double, scoring 10 points and grabbing 11 rebounds in 35 minutes of action. Teammate Addison Martin led all scorers with 14 points and added eight rebounds.

Wake Forest’s offense was balanced, with Mary Carter and Grace Oliver each contributing 11 points. Carter, a 6-foot-3 forward from Rocklin, California, also added three rebounds, an assist and a block. Opal Bird of Sydney, Australia, facilitated the offense with a team-high four assists.

The Demon Deacons’ defense was disruptive throughout, tallying 11 steals and forcing 18 Illinois State turnovers. Wake Forest also committed 18 turnovers, but its superior shooting efficiency proved to be the decisive factor.

The game was part of a multi-team event in Puerto Rico. Wake Forest entered the contest following a 65-60 overtime victory against UCF on Thursday. Illinois State was coming off a 73-66 loss to East Carolina.

According to Interstat’s ELO system, Illinois State had been projected with a 54.90 percent probability to win the game.

Wake Forest will look to continue its perfect start when it returns home to face William & Mary on Wednesday. Illinois State will hit the road for its next contest, a Wednesday matchup at Northern Iowa.

The announced attendance at the Coliseo de Puerto Rico was 250.