This Week in Wake Forest Women’s Athletics – Presented by Truist (Nov. 27-Dec. 3)
11/28/2023 1:56:00 PM | General, Women's Basketball, Women's Track and Field, Women's Volleyball
This weekly feature is brought to you by Truist - The Presenting Partner of Wake Forest Women’s Athletics.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Truist, a longstanding partner of Wake Forest University who is An Official Banking Partner of Wake Forest Athletics and the Presenting Partner of Wake Forest Women's Athletics brings Deacon Nation this weekly update from the Demon Deacons women's programs:
Truist Financial Corporation is a purpose-driven financial services company committed to inspiring and building better lives and communities. Truist has leading market share in many high-growth markets in the country, and offers a wide range of products and services through our retail and small business banking, commercial banking, corporate and investment banking, insurance, wealth management, and specialized lending businesses. Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., Truist is a top 10 U.S. commercial bank with total assets of $574 billion as of March 31, 2023. Truist Bank, Member FDIC. Learn more at Truist.com.
About Wake Forest University
Wake Forest University is a combination of world-class academics, unrivaled campus experience, intimate learning environment and Power 5 athletics in a top-growing metro market. A Charter member of the Atlantic Coast Conference, the Demon Deacons have won 56 conference titles and are one of only seven ACC schools to win 10 or more national championships, along with Notre Dame, North Carolina, Virginia, Duke, Syracuse and Florida State. Additionally, Wake Forest anchors the Winston-Salem and Triad market, which includes 1.3M residents and was ranked as ESPN's seventh-best market from a viewership perspective.
Specifically since Aug. 1, 2019, Wake Forest has been the fastest growing and hottest brand in the Power 5 (and the ACC), with a 115 percent growth in its fan base during this span. Across the nation, over 2.7 million people now identify as Wake Forest fans, which ranks ninth in the league and ahead of Virginia Tech and just trailing NC State.
Wake Forest's comprehensive excellence includes its highly regarded school of medicine, business school, law school and an innovative department of engineering. Additionally, Wake Forest holds campuses across Winston-Salem, Charlotte and Washington, DC – providing academic offerings across the southeast.
Learn more about Wake Forest University at www.wfu.edu and at GoDeacs.com.
- Women's Basketball:
- During a trip to Hawaii for the North Shore Showcase, the women's basketball team closed the tournament strong with a resounding 94-66 victory over defending A-10 Champions Saint Louis.
- In total, the Deacs led for 97.8 percent of Monday's contest (39:09 minutes) and never trailed at any point in the game.
- The 94 Wake Forest points marked the most in the Gebbia era and the last time that a Wake Forest team scored more than 94 points was on Nov. 8, 2019 against the College of Charleston when the Deacs netted 106 points.
- Individually, the Demon Deacons were led by freshman forward Madisyn Jordan who tallied a career-high 20 points, while shooting an impressive 8-of-9 from the floor. Of note, the Morrisville, N.C., native shot a stellar 4-of-5 from three-point range. Jordan became the first freshman to have a 20-plus point performance since Malaya Cowles against ETSU on Dec. 12, 2021.
- After returning home to Winston-Salem, the Demon Deacons nearly knocked off 2023 Sweet 16 team and Big East Runner-up Villanova on Sunday afternoon.
- The Demon Deacons were led individually by redshirt sophomore forward Malaya Cowles, who scored a career-high 22 points, while shooting an efficient 10-for-13 from the field.
- Off the bench, junior forward Raegyn Conley joined Cowles as the lone Deacs to score in double figures, tying her career-high with 14 points. Conley had one of her best nights from the free throw line, finishing 6-of-7
- Wake Forest turned the Wildcats over a season-high 10 times in the game as Villanova came into the game second in the country in assist-to-turnover ratio.
- The Demon Deacons shot a season-best 17-of-19 (89.5 pct.) from the free throw line. Individually, four Deacs went perfect from the charity stripe, including graduate guard Kaia Harrison. Harrison is shooting an impressive 22-of-24 percent from the line this season.
- The Demon Deacons remain home for the inaugural ACC/SEC Challenge when the Deacs play host to Texas A&M on Thursday night. Tipoff against the Aggies is scheduled for 9:00 p.m. ET and will also air on ACC Network.
- During a trip to Hawaii for the North Shore Showcase, the women's basketball team closed the tournament strong with a resounding 94-66 victory over defending A-10 Champions Saint Louis.
- Track & Field/Cross Country:
- Following a stellar cross country season, Wake Forest will open the 2023-24 indoor track & field campaign Saturday with several Demon Deacons traveling to Boston for the Sharon Colyear-Danville Season Opener, while others will remain in Winston-Salem for the Visit Winston-Salem College Kickoff.
- This season, the Deacs will be led by graduate students Anna Bush and Leia Braunagel along with freshman standout Brooke Wilson.
- Volleyball:
- Wake Forest's 2023 fall season recently came to a close last week, as the Demon Deacons finished with an overall record of 17-12. This year was the first time the program has posted back-to-back seasons of 17 or more wins since 2000-01.
- Wake Forest tallied eight wins in conference play -- marking two consecutive years of at least eight victories against ACC opponents. Against non-conference competition, Wake Forest finished 9-2 overall earlier this season.
- Through the 2023 season in the Randi Smart era, the program has pieced together a 36-8 record versus non-conference foes.
- Freshman outside hitter Ava Carney was named to the ACC All-Freshman Team after ending second on the roster in total kills for the season (332).
- Carney is the 15th individual in program history to land a spot on the All-Freshman team. Additionally, with fellow Demon Deacons Emma Farrell and Paige Crawford each having earned All-Freshman honors a year ago in 2022, this marks the first time since 2007-08 in which Wake Forest has had one or more players attain such honors in back-to-back years.
- Wake Forest's three All-Freshman picks in two years are its most in such a span since 1997-98.
- Carney registered 10 or more kills on 20 separate occasions throughout the fall. For the final eight matches, she plugged in 11 or more for each showing.
- Carney is the 15th individual in program history to land a spot on the All-Freshman team. Additionally, with fellow Demon Deacons Emma Farrell and Paige Crawford each having earned All-Freshman honors a year ago in 2022, this marks the first time since 2007-08 in which Wake Forest has had one or more players attain such honors in back-to-back years.
Truist Financial Corporation is a purpose-driven financial services company committed to inspiring and building better lives and communities. Truist has leading market share in many high-growth markets in the country, and offers a wide range of products and services through our retail and small business banking, commercial banking, corporate and investment banking, insurance, wealth management, and specialized lending businesses. Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., Truist is a top 10 U.S. commercial bank with total assets of $574 billion as of March 31, 2023. Truist Bank, Member FDIC. Learn more at Truist.com.
About Wake Forest University
Wake Forest University is a combination of world-class academics, unrivaled campus experience, intimate learning environment and Power 5 athletics in a top-growing metro market. A Charter member of the Atlantic Coast Conference, the Demon Deacons have won 56 conference titles and are one of only seven ACC schools to win 10 or more national championships, along with Notre Dame, North Carolina, Virginia, Duke, Syracuse and Florida State. Additionally, Wake Forest anchors the Winston-Salem and Triad market, which includes 1.3M residents and was ranked as ESPN's seventh-best market from a viewership perspective.
Specifically since Aug. 1, 2019, Wake Forest has been the fastest growing and hottest brand in the Power 5 (and the ACC), with a 115 percent growth in its fan base during this span. Across the nation, over 2.7 million people now identify as Wake Forest fans, which ranks ninth in the league and ahead of Virginia Tech and just trailing NC State.
Wake Forest's comprehensive excellence includes its highly regarded school of medicine, business school, law school and an innovative department of engineering. Additionally, Wake Forest holds campuses across Winston-Salem, Charlotte and Washington, DC – providing academic offerings across the southeast.
Learn more about Wake Forest University at www.wfu.edu and at GoDeacs.com.
Players Mentioned
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