Thursday, February 29
Winston-Salem, N.C.
6:00 p.m.
Wake Forest University
6-23,2-15ACC
64
vs
68
Clemson
12-17,5-12ACC
1
2
3
4
F
Clemson
11
18
19
20
68
Wake Forest
10
12
21
21
64
Williams Joins 1,000-Career Point Club in Home Finale
2/29/2024 8:36:00 PM | Women's Basketball
The junior guard notched her second-consecutive 25-plus point performance against Clemson.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Wake Forest women's basketball junior guard Elise Williams continued to light it up with 28 points to reach a career milestone as the Deacs dropped the penultimate ACC game of the season to Clemson, 68-64, Thursday evening at Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum.
The Demon Deacons (6-23, 2-15 ACC) had the best free throw shooting performance of the season, as the team went a stellar 13-of-14 (92.9 percent) from the charity stripe. Williams led the charge with a 9-of-10 clip from the line. This season, the Deacs have posted a 72.9 free throw percentage, which would rank as the third best season percentage in program history.
With seven three pointers on 21 attempts (33.3 percent), Wake Forest has now knocked down the fifth-most triples in program history with 184.
Defensively, the Deacs forced the Tigers (12-17, 5-12 ACC) into 15 total turnovers, which resulted in 22 points on the other end. Over the last seven games, the Deacs are averaging 16.9 turnovers forced per game.
Individually, the Deacs were paced by Williams, who added 28 points and a season-high five steals. It marked the first time in her career she finished with back-to-back 20-point games. Her free throw with 23 seconds left in the third quarter was her 1,000th-career point, as she became the 31st player in program history to accomplish the feat.
On the boards, redshirt sophomore forward Malaya Cowles hauled in a career-high 12 rebounds, including six on the offensive glass. The Wilkesboro, N.C.-native also added six points and two steals.
How It Happened
From Gebbia
"I am proud of Elise. Getting to 1,000-career points isn't easy, and she has played at an All-ACC level late in this season. She has really stepped up and has led us on the offensive end. Today, we came out a little sluggish and it took a while to get into the game. We had a lot of positives here: assist to turnover ratio, high free throw percentage, but we were fighting from behind the whole game. They were up nine with 2:30 left in the game and got within one. I like how we played and we had a lot of winning plays at the end but not enough throughout the entirety of the game. We have to find a way to get ahead and score early on so we don't have to play from behind like that. We're doing a good job of moving and sharing the basketball but now we have to step up on the glass and get some timely rebounds. Our offense is taking a huge step this year and now we need to take a step up on defense to win games in this part of the year. This one stings but we need to move on quickly to get ready for a nationally-ranked NC State team on the road." - Megan Gebbia
Next Up
Wake Forest will now hit the road for the final game of the season, as it takes on NC State in a Big Four showdown on Sunday, March 3.
The 1 p.m. tipoff against the Wolfpack will also air on ACC Network Extra.
The Demon Deacons (6-23, 2-15 ACC) had the best free throw shooting performance of the season, as the team went a stellar 13-of-14 (92.9 percent) from the charity stripe. Williams led the charge with a 9-of-10 clip from the line. This season, the Deacs have posted a 72.9 free throw percentage, which would rank as the third best season percentage in program history.
With seven three pointers on 21 attempts (33.3 percent), Wake Forest has now knocked down the fifth-most triples in program history with 184.
Defensively, the Deacs forced the Tigers (12-17, 5-12 ACC) into 15 total turnovers, which resulted in 22 points on the other end. Over the last seven games, the Deacs are averaging 16.9 turnovers forced per game.
Individually, the Deacs were paced by Williams, who added 28 points and a season-high five steals. It marked the first time in her career she finished with back-to-back 20-point games. Her free throw with 23 seconds left in the third quarter was her 1,000th-career point, as she became the 31st player in program history to accomplish the feat.
On the boards, redshirt sophomore forward Malaya Cowles hauled in a career-high 12 rebounds, including six on the offensive glass. The Wilkesboro, N.C.-native also added six points and two steals.
How It Happened
- Clemson jumped out to a 6-0 lead behind back-to-back triples, before an Alexandria Scruggs layup opened the scoring for Wake Forest.
- Elise Williams then knocked down a three-pointer to bring the Deacs within one (6-5).
- After two Clemson field goals gave the Tigers a 10-5 lead, Raegyn Conley made a layup to narrow the Deacs' deficit to three.
- Madisyn Jordan drained a three to close the opening period, as the Demon Deacons trailed 11-10 after 10 minutes of action.
- The Deacs held the Tigers to just 23.1 percent shooting from the field in the first quarter.
- Clemson opened the second quarter with a bucket, before Wake Forest scored five unanswered to take a 15-13 lead.
- The two sides traded baskets for the ensuing seven minutes of play, as the Demon Deacons trailed by one (23-22) with just over two minutes remaining in the half.
- Wake Forest faced a 29-22 deficit at the halftime break.
- Offensively, the Deacs tallied eight assists on eight made baskets during the first half.
- Individually, the Demon Deacons were led by Kate Deeble, as she logged five points and two assists.
- Williams opened the third quarter on a personal 4-0 spurt, making a layup and knocking down two free throws.
- Wake Forest and Clemson exchanged baskets for the following two minutes of action.
- The Demon Deacons outscored the Tigers 10-7 to pull within four (44-40) with just over one minute left in the third period.
- After a Clemson layup, Williams converted an and-one to narrow the Deacs' deficit to three.
- The free throw marked Williams' 1,000th-career point.
- Wake Forest trailed 48-43, entering the final 10 minutes of action.
- After the two teams traded baskets to open the fourth quarter, Clemson went on a 9-3 run to take a 59-50 lead.
- Williams outscored the Tigers alone, 12-6, over the following three minutes to bring the Demon Deacons within three at the 1:48 mark.
- Scruggs made a floater with 37 seconds remaining to make it a one point game (65-64).
- Clemson knocked down three free throws down the stretch to close the contest.
- The Demon Deacons fell, 68-64, snapping the Deacs' two game winning streak.
- Elise Williams notched her fifth 20-point game of the season, as the junior finished with a team-high 28 points in addition to a season-high five steals. It marked the first time in her career she recorded back-to-back 20-point games.
- With her performance tonight, Williams became the 31st player in Wake Forest history to join the 1,000-point club.
- It also marked her 15th game this season with double-digit points, 10 in ACC play and third-consecutive game.
- Thursday, the team went 13-of-14 from the charity stripe (92.9 percent). It marked the highest free throw percentage of the season for the Deacs and second time shooting above 90 percent from the line.
- This is the 13th time in the last 15 games the Demon Deacons have shot 70 percent or better.
- Not only are the Deacs having a resurgent season at the line but one of the best in program history:
| Rank | Single-Season FT Percentage | Year |
| 1. | .753 (461-of-612) | 2004-05 |
| 2. | .741 (317-of-428) | 2020-21 |
| 3. | .729 (298-of-409) | 2023-24 |
| 4. | .724 (397-of-548) | 2005-06 |
| 5. | .719 (323-of-449) | 1993-94 |
| 6. | .707 (475-of-672) | 1991-92 |
| 7. | .694 (279-of-546) | 2021-22 |
| 8. | .693 (392-of-566) | 1985-86 |
| 9. | .691 (449-of-650) | 1990-91 |
| 10. | .686 (374-of-545) | 1992-93 |
From Gebbia
"I am proud of Elise. Getting to 1,000-career points isn't easy, and she has played at an All-ACC level late in this season. She has really stepped up and has led us on the offensive end. Today, we came out a little sluggish and it took a while to get into the game. We had a lot of positives here: assist to turnover ratio, high free throw percentage, but we were fighting from behind the whole game. They were up nine with 2:30 left in the game and got within one. I like how we played and we had a lot of winning plays at the end but not enough throughout the entirety of the game. We have to find a way to get ahead and score early on so we don't have to play from behind like that. We're doing a good job of moving and sharing the basketball but now we have to step up on the glass and get some timely rebounds. Our offense is taking a huge step this year and now we need to take a step up on defense to win games in this part of the year. This one stings but we need to move on quickly to get ready for a nationally-ranked NC State team on the road." - Megan Gebbia
Next Up
Wake Forest will now hit the road for the final game of the season, as it takes on NC State in a Big Four showdown on Sunday, March 3.
The 1 p.m. tipoff against the Wolfpack will also air on ACC Network Extra.
Team Stats
CU
WF
FG%
.462
.386
3FG%
.375
.333
FT%
.733
.929
RB
34
27
TO
15
9
STL
5
10
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
28
FGM
8
3FGM
3
FTM
9
Pts
8
FGM
3
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Pts
8
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
7
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
Guard
/ Women's Basketball
Forward
/ Women's BasketballGuard
/ Women's Basketball
Guard
/ Women's BasketballGuard
/ Women's BasketballGuard
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Matt Barrie SportsCenter on Wake Forest Campus (Arnold Palmer Complex)
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