Sunday, February 25
Atlanta, Ga.
2:00 p.m.
Wake Forest University
at
Georgia Tech
Deacs Look to Continue Winning Ways in Atlanta
2/24/2024 1:23:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Wake Forest will look to claim its second conference win and road win this week Sunday afternoon in Atlanta with the 2:00 p.m. tipoff airing on ACC Network Extra.
ATLANTA, Ga. – The Wake Forest women's basketball team will look to continue its winning ways Sunday afternoon when the Demon Deacons travel to Georgia Tech for a matchup at McCamish Pavilion.
The Demon Deacons (5-22, 1-14 ACC) will be looking for their second win of the week and their second top-100 NET win of the season and Quad-2 win as Georgia Tech currently sits at No. 69 in the latest release of the ranking. The Deacs are also looking to win back-to-back games for the first time this season. The Demon Deacons will be in search of their eighth win all time in Atlanta and the first since the 2021 season. Wake Forest has navigated one of the most difficult schedules in the country, as the Deacs' average opponent NET now ranks fourth nationally with only UConn, Stanford and NC State having played a more challenging schedule.
The Yellowjackets (15-13, 6-10 ACC) have dropped their last two, both coming to ranked teams and fourth of their last five with three of those losses against ranked opponents. In the last iteration of Bracketology on ESPN.com, Georgia Tech was listed in the Next Four Out as they are potentially the 10th ACC team to get into the NCAA Tournament field this season. The Yellowjackets have been one of the best teams in the country in assist/turnover ratio, ranking second in the ACC and 35th nationally with a 1.15/1 ratio. Point guard Tonie Morgan is 22nd in the country and third in the ACC with 143 total assists this season. Kara Dunn (16.2 PPG) and Morgan (15.2 PPG) have been one of the best scoring duos in the league this season, ranking 10th and 12th respectively in the ACC in scoring.
Tipoff for Sunday is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. (ET) at McCamish Pavilion.
For those not at the arena, fans can tune in to ACC Network Extra for Sunday's game. A live stats feed can be found here for Sunday. 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).
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. 4 in the Average Opponent NET Rank metric in the country. This includes 10 games against NET top-50 teams and 20 teams in the NET top-100:
NCAA Average Opponent NET Rank
1. UConn
2. Stanford
3. NC State
4. Wake Forest
4. Maryland
4. UCLA
Additionally since the start of conference play, all but five teams that Wake Forest has played were either ranked or receiving votes in the AP Poll.
The strong schedule has seen Wake Forest rise 18 spots overall in the NET rankings since the start of conference play.
AUSSIE, AUSSIE, AUSSIE
Redshirt freshman guard Kate Deeble finished a stellar 5-of-5 (100 percent) from beyond-the-arc and 7-of-9 from the floor in addition to an assist. Her five threes are the most by a Demon Deacon this season and most since Feb. 19, 2023. Of note, she is the first Wake Forest player in the HerHoopsStats era (2009-10) to knock down at least five three-pointers without a miss.
Her 20 points were a career-high, becoming the third player this season (Elise Williams and Madisyn Jordan) to score 20 points in a single game.
Deeble has been a catalyst on the defensive end of the floor, recording a career-high five steals against North Carolina. It helped lead the Demon Deacons to 24 turnovers, which 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.
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.
Against 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.
Williams led the team with 17 points, five rebounds, five assists and three steals against Florida State Thursday.
She became the fifth Demon Deacon in the HerHoopsStats era (2009-10) to record that statline (17 points, five rebounds, five assists and three steals) and first since Gina Conti on Nov. 28, 2020. It also marked her 11th game this season with double-digit points and sixth time in ACC play.
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 season, 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 the night with six points and three rebounds, two assists and one block.
Additionally, she has shot a stellar 70-of-120 (58.3 percent) from the floor while inside LJVM Coliseum.
SCRUGGS MAKING MOST OF SENIOR SEASON
Alexandria Scruggs made her 144th appearance in a Wake Forest uniform Thursday, 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. 144
2. Kaia Harrison 2019-Pres. 140
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
Through 26 games she leads the team with 4.7 rebounds per game, her highest average of her career by nearly 1.0 rebounds per game.
ASSISTS ON MADE BASKETS
The Demon Deacons recorded 16 assists on 22 made baskets (72.7 percent) versus the Panthers.
This was the 22nd time this season that Wake Forest had 10 or more assists in a single game and the 20th time in the last 23 games.
This season, the Deacs have assisted 341 of 585 made field goals (58.3 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 37th time in the last 38 games, with the lone game coming against Syracuse on Jan. 11. The 38-game stretch goes back to January of 2022. In total, the Deacs forced 16 turnovers against Pitt which resulted in 17 points off turnovers on the other end.
Over the last five games, the Deacs are averaging 18.2 turnovers forced per game.
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.
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 second-highest total forced in ACC play both this season and during the Gebbia era as well as tied for the third-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)
2. vs. North Carolina - 24 turnovers forced (Feb. 18, 2024)
T3. at Clemson - 20 turnovers forced (Jan. 28, 2024)
T3. 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 4-of-6 from the free throw line Thursday against Pitt. Overall this season, Harrison is 83-of-100 (83.0 pct.), ranking sixth in the ACC and 79th nationally in free throw percentage.
Junior Elise Williams is averaging a career-best 79.7 percent from the stripe (63-of-79) this season. She is now ranked ninth in program history in career free throw percentage:
Through 26 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 71.8 percent (273-of-380) this season.
LAST TIME
Wake Forest vs. Pitt (Feb. 22)
Result: W, 65-50
Versus Georgia Tech
Series: Georgia Tech leads 51-28
Last Time: February 4, 2023
Result: L, 55-58
Wake Forest is back at home for the penultimate game of the regular season and the final home game at Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum Thursday night against Clemson.
The 6:00 p.m. Leap Day tipoff against the Tigers will also air on ACC Network.
The Demon Deacons (5-22, 1-14 ACC) will be looking for their second win of the week and their second top-100 NET win of the season and Quad-2 win as Georgia Tech currently sits at No. 69 in the latest release of the ranking. The Deacs are also looking to win back-to-back games for the first time this season. The Demon Deacons will be in search of their eighth win all time in Atlanta and the first since the 2021 season. Wake Forest has navigated one of the most difficult schedules in the country, as the Deacs' average opponent NET now ranks fourth nationally with only UConn, Stanford and NC State having played a more challenging schedule.
The Yellowjackets (15-13, 6-10 ACC) have dropped their last two, both coming to ranked teams and fourth of their last five with three of those losses against ranked opponents. In the last iteration of Bracketology on ESPN.com, Georgia Tech was listed in the Next Four Out as they are potentially the 10th ACC team to get into the NCAA Tournament field this season. The Yellowjackets have been one of the best teams in the country in assist/turnover ratio, ranking second in the ACC and 35th nationally with a 1.15/1 ratio. Point guard Tonie Morgan is 22nd in the country and third in the ACC with 143 total assists this season. Kara Dunn (16.2 PPG) and Morgan (15.2 PPG) have been one of the best scoring duos in the league this season, ranking 10th and 12th respectively in the ACC in scoring.
Tipoff for Sunday is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. (ET) at McCamish Pavilion.
For those not at the arena, fans can tune in to ACC Network Extra for Sunday's game. A live stats feed can be found here for Sunday. 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).
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. 4 in the Average Opponent NET Rank metric in the country. This includes 10 games against NET top-50 teams and 20 teams in the NET top-100:
NCAA Average Opponent NET Rank
1. UConn
2. Stanford
3. NC State
4. Wake Forest
4. Maryland
4. UCLA
Additionally since the start of conference play, all but five teams that Wake Forest has played were either ranked or receiving votes in the AP Poll.
The strong schedule has seen Wake Forest rise 18 spots overall in the NET rankings since the start of conference play.
AUSSIE, AUSSIE, AUSSIE
Redshirt freshman guard Kate Deeble finished a stellar 5-of-5 (100 percent) from beyond-the-arc and 7-of-9 from the floor in addition to an assist. Her five threes are the most by a Demon Deacon this season and most since Feb. 19, 2023. Of note, she is the first Wake Forest player in the HerHoopsStats era (2009-10) to knock down at least five three-pointers without a miss.
Her 20 points were a career-high, becoming the third player this season (Elise Williams and Madisyn Jordan) to score 20 points in a single game.
Deeble has been a catalyst on the defensive end of the floor, recording a career-high five steals against North Carolina. It helped lead the Demon Deacons to 24 turnovers, which 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.
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 |
Against 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.
Williams led the team with 17 points, five rebounds, five assists and three steals against Florida State Thursday.
She became the fifth Demon Deacon in the HerHoopsStats era (2009-10) to record that statline (17 points, five rebounds, five assists and three steals) and first since Gina Conti on Nov. 28, 2020. It also marked her 11th game this season with double-digit points and sixth time in ACC play.
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 season, 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 the night with six points and three rebounds, two assists and one block.
Additionally, she has shot a stellar 70-of-120 (58.3 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
- 7-of-12 vs. Florida State
- 5-of-12 vs. North Carolina
SCRUGGS MAKING MOST OF SENIOR SEASON
Alexandria Scruggs made her 144th appearance in a Wake Forest uniform Thursday, 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. 144
2. Kaia Harrison 2019-Pres. 140
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
Through 26 games she leads the team with 4.7 rebounds per game, her highest average of her career by nearly 1.0 rebounds per game.
ASSISTS ON MADE BASKETS
The Demon Deacons recorded 16 assists on 22 made baskets (72.7 percent) versus the Panthers.
This was the 22nd time this season that Wake Forest had 10 or more assists in a single game and the 20th time in the last 23 games.
This season, the Deacs have assisted 341 of 585 made field goals (58.3 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 37th time in the last 38 games, with the lone game coming against Syracuse on Jan. 11. The 38-game stretch goes back to January of 2022. In total, the Deacs forced 16 turnovers against Pitt which resulted in 17 points off turnovers on the other end.
Over the last five games, the Deacs are averaging 18.2 turnovers forced per game.
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.
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 second-highest total forced in ACC play both this season and during the Gebbia era as well as tied for the third-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)
2. vs. North Carolina - 24 turnovers forced (Feb. 18, 2024)
T3. at Clemson - 20 turnovers forced (Jan. 28, 2024)
T3. 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 4-of-6 from the free throw line Thursday against Pitt. Overall this season, Harrison is 83-of-100 (83.0 pct.), ranking sixth in the ACC and 79th nationally in free throw percentage.
Junior Elise Williams is averaging a career-best 79.7 percent from the stripe (63-of-79) this season. She is now ranked ninth in program history in career free throw percentage:
| Rank | Player | FT Percentage |
| 1. | Nicole Levesque (1991-94) | .830 |
| 2. | Jewel Spear (2020-23) | .827 |
| 3. | Lisa Brookes (1981-84) | .823 |
| 4. | Alice Neal (1986-89) | .805 |
| 5. | Heidi Coleman (1995-99) | .800 |
| 6. | Beth Davis (1989-91) | .792 |
| 7. | Porsche' Jones (2004-06) | .778 |
| 8. | Ivana Raca (2017-21) | .765 |
| 9. | Elise Williams (2021-Present) | .756 |
| 10. | Amber Campbell (2014-18) | .755 |
Through 26 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 71.8 percent (273-of-380) this season.
LAST TIME
Wake Forest vs. Pitt (Feb. 22)
Result: W, 65-50
- The Demon Deacons had one of their most efficient performances from three, as the team finished 10-of-21 from deep (47.6 percent), including five Deacs with at least one triple. It marked the third time this season Wake Forest knocked down double-digit three pointers and second time in ACC play. The only other game with more threes this season came in a 94-66 win over Saint Louis in November.
- Redshirt freshman guard Kate Deeble finished a stellar 5-of-5 (100 percent) from beyond-the-arc and 7-of-9 from the floor in addition to an assist. Her five threes are the most by a Demon Deacon this season and most since Feb. 19, 2023. Of note, she is the first Wake Forest player in the HerHoopsStats era (2009-10) to knock down at least five three-pointers without a miss.
Versus Georgia Tech
Series: Georgia Tech leads 51-28
Last Time: February 4, 2023
Result: L, 55-58
- The Demon Deacons held the Yellow Jackets to just 11 points in the third quarter and closed out the frame on an 8-0 run. Early in the fourth quarter, the Deacs took the lead for the first time in the game after trailing by double digits with five minutes to go in the third.
- Defensively, Wake Forest held Georgia Tech to just one made three-pointer on 13 attempts (7.7 percent). It tied for the Yellowjackets' fewest in a game this season and fewest since Jan. 4 against Virginia. Additionally, the Deacs forced 13 turnovers. Of note, the Demon Deacons have forced double-digit turnovers in 32 of the last 33 games, dating back to January of 2022.
- Individually, the Deacs were led by Williams, whose 23 points and 11 rebounds marked the first 20/10 game by a Wake Forest player since Christina Morra Feb. 24, 2022 against Syracsue. It also marked her second 20-point performance of the season with her first coming in the 29-point outing against Virginia Tech on Jan. 4.
Wake Forest is back at home for the penultimate game of the regular season and the final home game at Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum Thursday night against Clemson.
The 6:00 p.m. Leap Day tipoff against the Tigers 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
/ Women's BasketballMatt Barrie SportsCenter at Wake Forest with Demond Claiborne
Wednesday, September 10
Matt Barrie SportsCenter on Wake Forest Campus (Arnold Palmer Complex)
Wednesday, September 10
Football Media Availability (9/9/25)
Wednesday, September 10
Wake Forest Football vs Western Carolina | Cinematic Recap
Tuesday, September 09