Wake Forest Takes North Carolina to the Wire

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Sunday night was a night to honor four outstanding Wake Forest women's basketball seniors and graduates ahead of the primetime clash against North Carolina at Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum, honoring seniors Demeara Hinds and Aliah McWhorter as well as recognizing graduates Kaia Harrison and Alexandria Scruggs.

The Demon Deacons (4-21, 0-13 ACC) defense held North Carolina (17-9, 9-5 ACC) to an ACC-low 58 points as Wake Forest nearly came out on top, falling 58-50. It was the fewest points the Tar Heels had scored since scoring 58 in a loss to No. 1 South Carolina on Nov. 30.

In total, the Deacs forced 24 turnovers against North Carolina. This was the most turnovers in the Courtney Banghart era and the most since the 2018-19 season when North Carolina turned it over 27 times against Auburn on Dec. 20, 2018.

Additionally, Wake Forest forced All-ACC Deja Kelly into a career-high eight turnovers.

Wake Forest was led on the defensive end by another impressive performance from redshirt freshman guard Kate Deelbe. The Brisbane, Australia native finished the night with a career-high five steals, accounting for half of the 10 Demon Deacon steals on the night.

This marks the third time in the last four games and the ninth time this season that the Deacs have tallied double-digit steals in a game. Wake Forest is on pace to have its highest steal total in nearly a decade as they have 209 steals so far this season.

Deeble added 12 points to her ledger in an efficient scoring performance. She ended the night shooting 5-of-7 from the field while also being +9 in 23 minutes of play.

Junior Elise Williams was the leading scorer for Wake Forest Sunday, tallying 13 points including going 2-of-4 from three. Redshirt sophomore Malaya Cowles also posted double figures for the second time this week with 10 points.

How It Happened

Malaya Cowles won the tip to start the game for the Deacs.
The Deacs scored their first points of the game courtesy of a Elise Williams jumper to make the score 2-3.
Kaia Harrison was fouled driving the basket and went 2-of-2 from the charity stripe to make the score 4-14.
After a defensive rebound from Harrison, Cowles finished the Deacs possession with a lay up to cut the deficit to 6-18.
During the final seconds of the first quarter, Kate Deeble drove the paint and scored a lay up to make the score 8-20.
Cowles scored off the inbound off an assist from Harrison to cut the deficit to 10-20.
- On the next possession, Cowles scored off a North Carolina turnover to make the score 12-20 just under the eight minute mark in the second quarter.
On the defensive side of the floor, Williams tallied her first steal of the night to regain possession for Wake Forest.
- The Deacs held the Tarheels scoreless until the 5:39 mark in the second quarter
Scruggs scored the first points from behind the arc to make the score 15-22.
North Carolina sent Alexandria Scruggs to the line where she went 1-of-2 to cut the Deacs deficit down to 16-22.
With just under 1:30 left in the half, Harrison went 2-of-2 from the free throw line to make the score 18-30.
After a North Carolina turnover, Cowles made a layup to cut the North Caroline lead to 20-31.
Wake Forest trailed North Carolina 31-20 at the half.
Williams opened the scoring for Wake Forest in the second half with a layup to make the score 22-34.
- On the next possession, Williams hit a jumper from the elbow to cut the North Carolina lead to 24-36.
- After an offensive turnover by North Carolina, Williams scored on the third-straight possession with a three pointer to cut the deficit to 27-36.
Scruggs went 2-of-2 from the free throw line following a North Carolina turnover.
On the next possession for the Deacs, Deeble went 1-of-2 from the line to make the score 30-36 with just under five minutes remaining in the third quarter.
On the defensive side of the floor, Scruggs tallied her first steal of the night.
Williams was fouled driving the lane and went 1-of-2 from the charity stripe to cut the lead down to 31-37.
With just under two minutes to go in the third quarter, Harrison drained a fadeaway jumper to make the score 33-40.
Deeble scored the first points of the fourth quarter after a steal that led to a breakaway layup.
Just before the five minute mark of the fourth quarter, Scruggs was fouled on an and-one and hit the free throw to cut the North Carolina lead to 38-47.
Deeble drove the lane and scored a layup to make the score 40-51.
With just under 1:30 left in the game, Deeble scored on back-to-back possessions for the Deacs.
- Williams dished out an assist to Deeble and hit a big three to cut the North Carolina lead to 43-54.
- Deeble stole the ball off the inbound and put up a lay up to cut the deficit to 45-54.
Williams drained a three off an inbound with 45 seconds left in the game to make the score 48-55.
After a steal off the inbound by Deeble, Cowles scored a layup to cut the lead to 50-56.
North Carolina defeated Wake Forest 58-50.

Standout Stats

Defensively, the Demon Deacons forced double-digit turnovers for the 36th time in the last 37 games, with the lone game coming against Syracuse on Jan. 11.
- The 37-game stretch goes back to January of 2022.
- In total, the Deacs forced 24 turnovers against North Carolina.
  - This was the most turnovers in the Courtney Banghart era and the most since the 2018-19 season when North Carolina turned it over 27 times against Auburn on Dec. 20, 2018.
  - Additionally, Wake Forest forced All-ACC Deja Kelly into a career-high eight turnovers.
Wake Forest has 10 more steals in back-to-back games, for the third time in the last four games and the ninth time overall this season, averaging 10.5 steals per game over the last four games.
- at Duke
  - 13 Steals
- vs Virginia
  - Nine Steals
- vs Florida St.
  - 10 Steals
- vs North Carolina
  - 10 Steals

From Gebbia
We defended the game plan extremely well and that's why we held them to 58 points. We are continuing to fight and play inspired. That's so important to keep fighting as we continue to improve. Our defense is getting better and we were gritty out there today. Kate had five steals today and was really disruptive. We are close and we need to continue to take the next step to start getting the results we want. There is still time and I am proud of the way we continue to not give up. We need to build off our defense and improve on the offensive end of the floor. I am excited to get back in the gym tomorrow and get ready for Pitt on Thursday." - Megan Gebbia

Next Up
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.

Next Event

Team Stats

Elise Williams

Kate Deeble

Malaya Cowles

Alexandria Scruggs

Players Mentioned

Malaya Cowles

Kate Deeble

Kaia Harrison

Demeara Hinds

Aliah McWhorter

Alexandria Scruggs

Elise Williams

Wake Forest Athletics