Thursday, February 15
Winston-Salem, N.C.
6:00 p.m.
Wake Forest University
vs
Florida State
Deacs Scheduled to Face Seminoles for Second Time
2/14/2024 9:13:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Wake Forest will look to claim its first conference win of the season Thursday night at Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum with the 6:00 p.m. tipoff airing on ACC Network Extra.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – The Wake Forest women's basketball team is in the middle of a three-game homestand with Thursday night's contest coming against Florida State at Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum.
The Demon Deacons (4-20, 0-12 ACC) will be looking for their highest NET win of the season and Quad-2 win as Virginia currently sits at No. 39 in the latest release of the ranking. The Deacs are looking to continue their winning ways against the Seminoles as they have split the last two games in the series. Wake Forest has navigated one of the most difficult schedules in the country, as the Deacs' average opponent NET now ranks third nationally with only UConn and Stanford have played a more challenging schedule.
The Seminoles (17-8, 8-5 ACC) won the previous three games before falling in their last contest to a nationally-ranked Notre Dame team in double overtime on Sunday afternoon. The Noles have been one of the better rebounding teams in the country to this point in the season as they 26th in the country with 41.8 rebounds per game while their 30.0 defensive rebounds per game ranks 11th nationally. Additionally, Florida State averages 81.5 points per game which is 11th nationally on average and ranks second in the conference. Ta'Niya Latson who is fourth in the ACC and 17th in the country has averaged 20.8 points per game this season including 30 points in the first contest against the Deacs in late December.
Tipoff for Thursday is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. (ET) at LJVM Coliseum.
For those not at the arena, fans can tune in to ACC Network Extra for Thursday's game. A live stats feed can be found here for Thursday. You can also listen to the game on GoDeacs.com/Watch.
Fans can follow along via the Demon Deacons Twitter, Instagram and Facebook accounts (@WakeWBB).
PLAY 4 KAY IN THE JOEL
Thursday, the Play 4 Kay game will be a collaboration between Wake Forest Women's Basketball and the Kay Yow Cancer Fund. at Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum.
Fans will be able to visit the Fan Experience table on their way into the Joel to collect I Play 4 signs and buttons.
Signs and buttons will have a blank space for fans to write who they are honoring that has battled or is currently battling cancer
Claim your spot for Thursday at GoDeacs.com/Tickets.
KNOCKDOWN SHOOTERS
The Deacs went 9-of-13 (69.2 percent) from beyond-the-arc against the Blue Devils, including a perfect 6-for-6 mark in the first half. It marked the highest percentage of the Her Hoop Stats era and nearly broke the school record which was set against Clemson on Jan. 2, 1997 when the Deacs knocked down 72.7 pct. (8-of-11 3FG) of their three-point attempts.
The Deacs went 10-of-31 (32.3 percent) from beyond-the-arc against the Cavaliers on Sunday. It marked the second-most made threes by Wake Forest this season and the most in ACC play.
Additionally, over the last four games the Demon Deacons have been on fire from deep, as the Deacs have shot a combined 33-of-79 (41.8 pct.) from behind the arc.
STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE
Over the course of the season, the Demon Deacons have navigated one of the toughest schedules in the country as the Deacs currently sit at No. 3 in the Average Opponent NET Rank metric in the country. This includes eight games against NET top-50 teams and 18 teams in the NET top-100:
NCAA Average Opponent NET Rank
1. UConn
2. Stanford
3. Wake Forest
4. Maryland
5. NC State
Additionally since the start of conference play, all but four teams that Wake Forest has played were either ranked or receiving votes in the AP Poll.
The strong schedule has seen Wake Forest rise 14 spots overall in the NET rankings since the start of conference play.
ELISE'S HISTORIC PERFORMANCES
Junior guard Elise Williams recorded her third-career double-double as she notched 14 points and 10 rebounds in addition to seven assists against Boston College. It marked the first double-double by a Demon Deacon since Demeara Hinds against Morgan State last season on March 16, 2023.
Additionally, it was just the third 14-10-7 or better game in the Her Hoops Stats era (2009-10) by a Wake Forest player and first since Dearica Hamby against Pitt on March 5, 2014.
Aginasint Georgia Tech, she followed that up with another historic night and her second double-double of the season. Williams led the Deacs with 23 points and 11 rebounds along with three assists and one steal.
It marked the first 20-point/10-rebound performance by a Wake Forest player since Feb. 24, 2022 against Syracuse. Additionally, it was the first 23-plus point and 11-plus rebound game by a Wake Forest player since Ivana Raca in a 83-73 win over North Carolina on March 4, 2020.
Since the start of ACC play, Williams leads the team with 11.2 points per game while also averaging 4.6 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game.
She has played her best at home during conference play this sason, averaging almost 10.0 points per game better than when the Demon Deacons play on the road in conference play. Averaging 17.0 points per game, Williams has shot the three-ball at nearly 42 percent and is the Decs leading scorer in conference play.
COWLES GETS IT GOING
Malaya Cowles finished 1-of-6 for five points and four rebounds Sunday afternoon against Virginia.
Additionally, she has shot a stellar 58-of-96 (60.4 percent) from the floor while inside LJVM Coliseum.
SCRUGGS MAKING MOST OF SENIOR SEASON
Alexandria Scruggs made her 140th appearance in a Wake Forest uniform Sunday, adding to her program-record that she set in the previous game against No. 13 Virginia Tech. Additionally against Boston College, Kaia Harrison solely moved into second place in the all-time games played list:
RK Name Years Games Played
1. Alexandria Scruggs 2019-Pres. 141
2. Kaia Harrison 2019-Pres. 137
3. Lakevia Boykin 2009-13 130
4. Brooke Thomas 2008-12 129
Dearica Hamby 2011-15 129
Milan Quinn 2013-17 129
Amber Campbell 2014-18 129
8. Secily Ray 2008-12 128
Sandra Garcia 2009-13 128
10. Chelsea Douglas 2010-14 126
In six of the last 14 games, Scruggs posted double-figure points. Overall, she has recorded double-digit points seven times this season.
Through 24 games she leads the team with 4.9 rebounds per game, her highest average of her career by nearly 1.0 rebounds per game.
ASSISTS ON MADE BASKETS
The Demon Deacons recorded 13 assists on 25 made baskets (52.0 percent) versus the Cavaliers.
Wake Forest has had 10 or more assists on 19 separate occasions this season.
This season, the Deacs have assisted 301 of 519 made field goals (58.6 percent). This matches the same percentage from last season and ranks in the 72nd percentile.
FORCING TURNOVERS
Defensively, the Demon Deacons forced double-digit turnovers for the 34th time in the last 35 games, with the lone game coming against Syracuse on Jan. 11. The 35-game stretch goes back to January of 2022.
In total, the Deacs forced 17 turnovers against Virginia, tied for the third-most forced turnovers in an ACC game by Wake Forest this season.
In total, the Deacs forced 18 turnovers against Duke, the second-most forced turnovers in an ACC game by Wake Forest this season and most since the 20 against Clemson on Jan. 28.
This included 13 turnovers in the first half alone which resulted in 11 points on the other end in the opening 20 minutes.
In total, the Deacs forced 20 turnovers by Clemson. This included nine steals from five different players.
The 20 turnovers are the highest total forced in ACC play both this season and during the Gebbia era as well as tied for the second-highest total this season, marking the most since forcing 25 in the opening game of the North Shore Showcase against BYU:
1. vs. BYU - 25 turnovers forced (Nov. 18, 2023)
T2. at Clemson - 20 turnovers forced (Jan. 28, 2024)
T2. vs. NC A&T - 20 turnovers forced (Nov. 15, 2023)
The Demon Deacons forced 15 Florida State turnovers, despite the Seminoles coming into the game averaging only 11.2 per game.
Of note, Florida State came in ranked top-10 in the country in turnover offense. Additionally, the Deacs won the turnover battle, despite the Seminoles averaging a +4.2 turnover margin over their first 13 games of the season.
Against Villanova, the Demon Deacons turned the Wildcats over a season-high 10 times in the game as Villanova came into the contest second in the country in assist-to-turnover ratio.
Prior to that, Wake Forest forced 19 Saint Louis turnovers, the second-most the Billikens had committed in a single game this season and it resulted in 20 points on the other end for the Demon Deacons.
In the Deacs' game against BYU, they forced 26 turnovers, marking the most since January 22, 2017 against Georgia Tech when the Demon Deacons also forced 26 turnovers in the game. Additionally, it was the first time since December 18 and 21, 2017 against Charlotte and College of Charleston that Wake Forest has produced 20 or more opponent turnovers in back-to-back games. It marked the first time since March 16, 2017 (Washington State) that a Power-5 team had forced BYU into 26 or more turnovers.
FROM THE LINE
Graduate guard Kaia Harrison went 3-of-4 from the free throw line Sunday against Virginia. Overall this season, Harrison is 67-of-80 (83.8 pct.), ranking fourth in the ACC and 66th nationally in free throw percentage.
Junior Elise Williams is averaging a career-best 81.4 percent from the stripe (57-of-70) this season. She is now ranked ninth in program history in free throw percentage:
Through 24 games this season, Wake Forest has seen a massive uptick in free throw shooting percentage, going from 66.0 percent (343-of-520) last season to 72.9 percent (245-of-336) this season.
On Sunday, the team went 19-of-26 from the charity stripe (73.1 percent). This is the 10th time in the last 11 games the Demon Deacons have shot 70 percent or better.
LAST TIME
Wake Forest vs. Virginia (Feb. 11)
Result: L, 79-87
Versus Florida State
Series: Florida State leads 36-20
Last Time: December 31, 2023
Result: L, 68-57
Sunday four-packs are available for six games for the upcoming 2023-24 season including four ACC home matchups at Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum. A four-pack includes four tickets and four popcorn vouchers for just $28. The games with four-packs available:
UP NEXT
The Demon Deacons conclude their three-game homestand Sunday afternoon as they play host to North Carolina in the second game against a Big-4 opponent this season.
Senior and Graduates Day tipoff is set for 2:00 p.m. against the Tar Heels and will also air on ACC Network.
The Demon Deacons (4-20, 0-12 ACC) will be looking for their highest NET win of the season and Quad-2 win as Virginia currently sits at No. 39 in the latest release of the ranking. The Deacs are looking to continue their winning ways against the Seminoles as they have split the last two games in the series. Wake Forest has navigated one of the most difficult schedules in the country, as the Deacs' average opponent NET now ranks third nationally with only UConn and Stanford have played a more challenging schedule.
The Seminoles (17-8, 8-5 ACC) won the previous three games before falling in their last contest to a nationally-ranked Notre Dame team in double overtime on Sunday afternoon. The Noles have been one of the better rebounding teams in the country to this point in the season as they 26th in the country with 41.8 rebounds per game while their 30.0 defensive rebounds per game ranks 11th nationally. Additionally, Florida State averages 81.5 points per game which is 11th nationally on average and ranks second in the conference. Ta'Niya Latson who is fourth in the ACC and 17th in the country has averaged 20.8 points per game this season including 30 points in the first contest against the Deacs in late December.
Tipoff for Thursday is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. (ET) at LJVM Coliseum.
For those not at the arena, fans can tune in to ACC Network Extra for Thursday's game. A live stats feed can be found here for Thursday. You can also listen to the game on GoDeacs.com/Watch.
Fans can follow along via the Demon Deacons Twitter, Instagram and Facebook accounts (@WakeWBB).
PLAY 4 KAY IN THE JOEL
Thursday, the Play 4 Kay game will be a collaboration between Wake Forest Women's Basketball and the Kay Yow Cancer Fund. at Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum.
Fans will be able to visit the Fan Experience table on their way into the Joel to collect I Play 4 signs and buttons.
Signs and buttons will have a blank space for fans to write who they are honoring that has battled or is currently battling cancer
Claim your spot for Thursday at GoDeacs.com/Tickets.
KNOCKDOWN SHOOTERS
The Deacs went 9-of-13 (69.2 percent) from beyond-the-arc against the Blue Devils, including a perfect 6-for-6 mark in the first half. It marked the highest percentage of the Her Hoop Stats era and nearly broke the school record which was set against Clemson on Jan. 2, 1997 when the Deacs knocked down 72.7 pct. (8-of-11 3FG) of their three-point attempts.
The Deacs went 10-of-31 (32.3 percent) from beyond-the-arc against the Cavaliers on Sunday. It marked the second-most made threes by Wake Forest this season and the most in ACC play.
Additionally, over the last four games the Demon Deacons have been on fire from deep, as the Deacs have shot a combined 33-of-79 (41.8 pct.) from behind the arc.
STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE
Over the course of the season, the Demon Deacons have navigated one of the toughest schedules in the country as the Deacs currently sit at No. 3 in the Average Opponent NET Rank metric in the country. This includes eight games against NET top-50 teams and 18 teams in the NET top-100:
NCAA Average Opponent NET Rank
1. UConn
2. Stanford
3. Wake Forest
4. Maryland
5. NC State
Additionally since the start of conference play, all but four teams that Wake Forest has played were either ranked or receiving votes in the AP Poll.
The strong schedule has seen Wake Forest rise 14 spots overall in the NET rankings since the start of conference play.
ELISE'S HISTORIC PERFORMANCES
Junior guard Elise Williams recorded her third-career double-double as she notched 14 points and 10 rebounds in addition to seven assists against Boston College. It marked the first double-double by a Demon Deacon since Demeara Hinds against Morgan State last season on March 16, 2023.
Additionally, it was just the third 14-10-7 or better game in the Her Hoops Stats era (2009-10) by a Wake Forest player and first since Dearica Hamby against Pitt on March 5, 2014.
| Player | Date | Points | Rebounds | Assists |
| Elise Williams | Jan. 18, 2024 | 14 | 10 | 7 |
| Dearica Hamby | March 5, 2014 | 25 | 16 | 8 |
| Brittany Waters | Feb. 27, 2011 | 20 | 11 | 7 |
Aginasint Georgia Tech, she followed that up with another historic night and her second double-double of the season. Williams led the Deacs with 23 points and 11 rebounds along with three assists and one steal.
It marked the first 20-point/10-rebound performance by a Wake Forest player since Feb. 24, 2022 against Syracuse. Additionally, it was the first 23-plus point and 11-plus rebound game by a Wake Forest player since Ivana Raca in a 83-73 win over North Carolina on March 4, 2020.
Since the start of ACC play, Williams leads the team with 11.2 points per game while also averaging 4.6 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game.
She has played her best at home during conference play this sason, averaging almost 10.0 points per game better than when the Demon Deacons play on the road in conference play. Averaging 17.0 points per game, Williams has shot the three-ball at nearly 42 percent and is the Decs leading scorer in conference play.
COWLES GETS IT GOING
Malaya Cowles finished 1-of-6 for five points and four rebounds Sunday afternoon against Virginia.
Additionally, she has shot a stellar 58-of-96 (60.4 percent) from the floor while inside LJVM Coliseum.
- 8-of-12 vs. Wofford
- 2-of-2 vs. NC A&T
- 10-of-13 vs. Villanova
- 2-of-4 vs. Texas A&M
- 9-of-13 vs. Charlotte
- 3-of-9 vs. Norfolk State
- 5-of-5 vs. Marshall
- 1-of-2 vs. No. 13 Virginia Tech
- 6-of-11 vs. Syracuse
- 6-of-7 vs. No. 19 Notre Dame
- 2-of-5 vs. Miami
- 3-of-8 vs. Georgia Tech
- 1-of-6 vs. Virginia
- FIELD GOAL PCT. (minimum 50 attempts)
- 1. Lisa Dodd 1987-88 .647
- 2. Ona Udoh 2019-20 .623
- 3. Jenny Mitchell 1988-89 .616
- 4. Jenny Mitchell 1990-91 .610
- 5. Jenny Mitchell 1989-90 .606
- 6. Ona Udoh 2018-19 .587
- 7. Jenny Mitchell 1987-88 .572
- 8. Lisa Dodd 1986-87 .567
- 9. Alice Neal 1986-87 .563
- 10. Malaya Cowles 2023-24 .560
SCRUGGS MAKING MOST OF SENIOR SEASON
Alexandria Scruggs made her 140th appearance in a Wake Forest uniform Sunday, adding to her program-record that she set in the previous game against No. 13 Virginia Tech. Additionally against Boston College, Kaia Harrison solely moved into second place in the all-time games played list:
RK Name Years Games Played
1. Alexandria Scruggs 2019-Pres. 141
2. Kaia Harrison 2019-Pres. 137
3. Lakevia Boykin 2009-13 130
4. Brooke Thomas 2008-12 129
Dearica Hamby 2011-15 129
Milan Quinn 2013-17 129
Amber Campbell 2014-18 129
8. Secily Ray 2008-12 128
Sandra Garcia 2009-13 128
10. Chelsea Douglas 2010-14 126
In six of the last 14 games, Scruggs posted double-figure points. Overall, she has recorded double-digit points seven times this season.
Through 24 games she leads the team with 4.9 rebounds per game, her highest average of her career by nearly 1.0 rebounds per game.
ASSISTS ON MADE BASKETS
The Demon Deacons recorded 13 assists on 25 made baskets (52.0 percent) versus the Cavaliers.
Wake Forest has had 10 or more assists on 19 separate occasions this season.
This season, the Deacs have assisted 301 of 519 made field goals (58.6 percent). This matches the same percentage from last season and ranks in the 72nd percentile.
FORCING TURNOVERS
Defensively, the Demon Deacons forced double-digit turnovers for the 34th time in the last 35 games, with the lone game coming against Syracuse on Jan. 11. The 35-game stretch goes back to January of 2022.
In total, the Deacs forced 17 turnovers against Virginia, tied for the third-most forced turnovers in an ACC game by Wake Forest this season.
In total, the Deacs forced 18 turnovers against Duke, the second-most forced turnovers in an ACC game by Wake Forest this season and most since the 20 against Clemson on Jan. 28.
This included 13 turnovers in the first half alone which resulted in 11 points on the other end in the opening 20 minutes.
In total, the Deacs forced 20 turnovers by Clemson. This included nine steals from five different players.
The 20 turnovers are the highest total forced in ACC play both this season and during the Gebbia era as well as tied for the second-highest total this season, marking the most since forcing 25 in the opening game of the North Shore Showcase against BYU:
1. vs. BYU - 25 turnovers forced (Nov. 18, 2023)
T2. at Clemson - 20 turnovers forced (Jan. 28, 2024)
T2. vs. NC A&T - 20 turnovers forced (Nov. 15, 2023)
The Demon Deacons forced 15 Florida State turnovers, despite the Seminoles coming into the game averaging only 11.2 per game.
Of note, Florida State came in ranked top-10 in the country in turnover offense. Additionally, the Deacs won the turnover battle, despite the Seminoles averaging a +4.2 turnover margin over their first 13 games of the season.
Against Villanova, the Demon Deacons turned the Wildcats over a season-high 10 times in the game as Villanova came into the contest second in the country in assist-to-turnover ratio.
Prior to that, Wake Forest forced 19 Saint Louis turnovers, the second-most the Billikens had committed in a single game this season and it resulted in 20 points on the other end for the Demon Deacons.
In the Deacs' game against BYU, they forced 26 turnovers, marking the most since January 22, 2017 against Georgia Tech when the Demon Deacons also forced 26 turnovers in the game. Additionally, it was the first time since December 18 and 21, 2017 against Charlotte and College of Charleston that Wake Forest has produced 20 or more opponent turnovers in back-to-back games. It marked the first time since March 16, 2017 (Washington State) that a Power-5 team had forced BYU into 26 or more turnovers.
FROM THE LINE
Graduate guard Kaia Harrison went 3-of-4 from the free throw line Sunday against Virginia. Overall this season, Harrison is 67-of-80 (83.8 pct.), ranking fourth in the ACC and 66th nationally in free throw percentage.
Junior Elise Williams is averaging a career-best 81.4 percent from the stripe (57-of-70) this season. She is now ranked ninth in program history in free throw percentage:
| Rank | Player | FT Percentage |
| 1. | Nicole Levesque (1991-94) | .830 |
| 2. | Jewel Spear (2020-23) | .827 |
| 3. | Alice Neal (1986-89) | .805 |
| 4. | Heidi Coleman (1995-99) | .800 |
| 5. | Beth Davis (1989-91) | .792 |
| 6. | Porsche' Jones (2004-06) | .778 |
| 7. | Ivana Raca (2017-21) | .765 |
| 9. | Elise Williams (2021-Present) | .759 |
| 10. | Amber Campbell (2014-18) | .755 |
Through 24 games this season, Wake Forest has seen a massive uptick in free throw shooting percentage, going from 66.0 percent (343-of-520) last season to 72.9 percent (245-of-336) this season.
On Sunday, the team went 19-of-26 from the charity stripe (73.1 percent). This is the 10th time in the last 11 games the Demon Deacons have shot 70 percent or better.
LAST TIME
Wake Forest vs. Virginia (Feb. 11)
Result: L, 79-87
- The Demon Deacons netted their second-highest point total of the season and their highest in ACC play this season. Additionally, the Deacs' 28 points in the fourth quarter was the second-highest total in ACC play this season with just 29 points in the third quarter against Virginia Tech being a higher total.
- Virginia was forced into 17 turnovers, including nine in the second quarter, as the Deacs have now forced 10-or-more turnovers for the 34th time in the last 35 games, with the lone game coming against Syracuse on Jan. 11.
- The Deacs were led by junior guard Elise Williams, who posted her third 20-point game of the season and second in the last three games, as she finished the contest with 26 points, seven rebounds, four assists and a season-high three steals. It also marked her 10th game this season with double-digit points and fifth time in ACC play. Of note, she entered the contest ranked ninth in the ACC in assists per game and now averages 3.9/game.
- Redshirt freshman Kate Deeble posted her second-best scoring performance of the season and best since the opener against Wofford as she recorded 17 points, a team-high five assists and two steals. It marked her fourth double-digit scoring game of the season and third in ACC play. Fellow freshman guard Rylie Theuerkauf added 10 points of her own off the bench and set a career-high with three steals.
Versus Florida State
Series: Florida State leads 36-20
Last Time: December 31, 2023
Result: L, 68-57
- The Demon Deacons limited the Seminoles to their second-lowest season point total as the Noles came into the game averaging 86.0 points per game, ranking 11th nationally. Wake Forest also forced 15 turnovers which was four more than Florida State's season average. The Seminoles ranked eighth in the country in turnovers per game coming into the contest.
- On the offensive end of the floor, the Deacs were led by another great post performance from Cowles as she tallied a team-high 16 points on 7-of-13 shooting while also pulling down four rebounds and tallying two assists.
- Junior guard Elise Williams had a balanced effort with nine points to go along with a team-best eight rebounds and a team-high four assists.
- Graduate guard Alexandria Scruggs had a near double-double performance with 10 points and a team-best eight rebounds.
Sunday four-packs are available for six games for the upcoming 2023-24 season including four ACC home matchups at Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum. A four-pack includes four tickets and four popcorn vouchers for just $28. The games with four-packs available:
- Sunday, Feb. 18 vs. North Carolina
UP NEXT
The Demon Deacons conclude their three-game homestand Sunday afternoon as they play host to North Carolina in the second game against a Big-4 opponent this season.
Senior and Graduates Day tipoff is set for 2:00 p.m. against the Tar Heels and will also air on ACC Network.
Players Mentioned
Forward
/ Women's Basketball
Guard
/ Women's Basketball
Guard
/ Women's Basketball
Forward
/ Women's Basketball
Guard
/ Women's Basketball
Guard
/ Women's Basketball
Guard
/ Women's Basketball
Guard
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