Thursday, March 7
Greensboro, N.C.
7:30 p.m.
Wake Forest University
vs
Florida State
Deacs Set for Second Round Matchup Against Florida State
3/7/2024 1:48:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Wake Forest advanced in the tournament for the fifth consecutive season with a win over Virginia and will look to reach the ACC Quarterfinals for the fourth time in the last five years.
GREENSBORO, N.C. – The run continues in Greensboro for the fifth-straight year! The Wake Forest women's basketball team will look to continue their winning ways at the ACC Tournament, squaring up Thursday night against No. 6 seeded Florida State at Greensboro Coliseum.
The Demon Deacons (7-24, 2-16 ACC) advanced in the tournament for the fifth consecutive season with a win over Virginia and will look to reach the ACC Quarterfinals for the fourth time in the last five years. The five-year streak with at least one win in the tournament is the longest since the Deacs streak of eight-straight seasons from 2009-2016. Additionally, this marks the third consecutive year that Wake Forest has eliminated Virginia in the opening round of the ACC Tournament. The Deacs will be in search of their fourth top-100 NET win of the season and second in consecutive games after beating No. 60 Virginia on Wednesday. Wake Forest has navigated one of the most difficult schedules in the country, as the Deacs' average opponent NET now ranks eighth nationally and second in the ACC with only NC State having a more difficult schedule.
The Seminoles (21-9, 12-6 ACC) earned the No. 6 seed in the conference tournament with the help of a strong home mark. The Noles were 13-3 overall at home this season and away from home held a combined record of 8-6. Over the last 10 games, Florida State is 7-3 and are currently projected to be a No. 8 seed in the NCAA Tournament according to the latest bracketology released by ESPN. Florida State has been one of the elite teams in the country this season at protecting the basketball, currently ranking eighth in the nation with just 11.7 turnovers per game. The Noles are also one of the more high powered offenses nationally, ranking 18th and first in the ACC with 80.1 points per game. The Seminoles also do a great job of rebounding the basketball, averaging 41.0 rebounds per game which is 31st in the country. They are led by sophomore guard Ta'Niya Latson who is averaging 21.4 points per game which ranks 13th nationally and fourth in the ACC. On the block, forward Makayla Timpson is 11h in the country with 2.7 blocks per game and 40th nationally with 9.7 rebounds per game.
Tipoff for Thursday is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. (ET) at Greensboro Coliseum.
For those not at the arena, fans can tune in to ACC Network 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).
TRENDING IN GREENSBORO
Wake Forest has now advanced in the tournament for the fifth consecutive season with ACC Quarterfinal appearances in 2023, 2021 and 2020.
The Deacs during the Kaia Harrison and Alexandria Scruggs era own a 7-4 record over the past five years in ACC Tournament action.
It also marked the second-consecutive season the Demon Deacons overcame a deficit of at least 15 points to advance in the ACC Tournament. Last season, the Deacs came back from 18-points down against Florida State to win 65-54 on March 2, 2023.
This also marks the third consecutive year that Wake Forest has defeated Virginia in the opening round of the conference tournament.
ACC TOURNAMENT IN GREENSBORO
Postseason play is here. Come make the short drive over to Greensboro for the annual ACC Tournament and support your Wake Forest women's basketball team.
Hosted at the Greensboro Coliseum Complex, the tournament will run through the championship game set for noon (ET) on March 10.
Purchase your tickets today and come cheer on the Deacs in Greensboro.
WELCOME TO 1000
Junior guard Elise Williams made history Thursday night as she reached the 1,000-point mark for her career.
She went into the Clemson game with 983 career points, just 17 points away from becoming the 31st player in program history to reach the 1,000-point milestone. She finished the game with almost a new career-high, dropping 28 points on 8-of-16 shooting and 9-of-10 from the free throw line.
With a game-high 25 points win against Virginia, she moved from 30th to 28th in program history with 1,053 career points.
Williams will now look to move up the scoring list on Thursday night as she is 20 points away Tonia Brown (2000-04) in 27th and 26 points away from Ariel Stephenson (2015-19) in 26th:
MONTH OF FEBRUARY
The dynamic backcourt duo of Elise Williams and Kate Deeble have lit it up in the month of February and have been the key components of the Deacs peaking at the right time of the season.
Williams, who is averaging 12.8 points per game over the course of the entire season, has been on a blistering pace of the course of the nine games during February:
Deeble has been one of the hottest shooters in the conference lighting it up from behind the arc and from the field throughout the entire month:
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.
At Georgia Tech on Feb. 25, Williams had a career-high 31-point outing, shooting a stellar 10-of-15 from the floor and 3-of-5 from beyond the arc. This marked the first 30-point game since Jewel Spear had 34 points in a win over Louisville on Jan. 26, 2023. Williams became just the 21st player in program history to score 30 or more points in a single game.
Thursday against Clemson, 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. She finished an impressive 9-of-10 from the free throw line which were both career highs.
Sunday at No. 12 NC State, the third quarter was immaculate for Williams, finishing the 10-minute period with 15 points on 6-of-6 shooting and added 2-of-2 free throws. It marked her highest scoring quarter of her career. Williams posted a team-high 17 points while also adding a game-high six assists and grabbing four rebounds.
Against Virginia on Wednesday, Williams finished with 25 points and went an impressive 12-of-14 (85.7 percent) from the free throw line in addition to a team-high nine rebounds, two assists and two steals.
Since the start of February, Williams is averaging 18.6 points per game, 5.7 rebounds per game and 3.1 assists per game. She leads the team in all three categories during that span.
During ACC play, Williams leads the team with 14.8 points per game while also averaging 4.9 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game. In conference play, Williams was one of the best all-around players in the conference, ranking fifth in steals (1.9 steals/game), sixth in free throw percentage (83.8 pct.), 12th in assists and 17th in scoring.
SHARPSHOOTERS
Last week in wins over Pitt and Georgia Tech, the Demon Deacons lit up the three-point line, shooting a scorching 43.6 percent on 17-of-39 shooting. The 43.6 percent from behind the arc ranked 25th nationally for the week and was second in the ACC.
They followed that up by hitting seven more threes Thursday night and seven on Sunday, the 14th and 15th time the Deacs have had seven or more threes in four consecutive games they have done so.
The Deacs have now shot 40 percent or better from behind the arc in five of the last 11 games including both games last week.
Overall, the 2023-24 Wake Forest team has knocked down 197 threes this season which ranks fourth in program history:
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. 8 in the Average Opponent NET Rank metric in the country and second in the ACC. This includes 11 games against NET top-50 teams and 23 teams in the NET top-100:
NCAA Average Opponent NET Rank
1. UConn
2. Stanford
3. NC State
4. Tennessee
5. UCLA
5. Maryland
5. Colorado
8. Wake Forest
8. Duke
8. USC
Additionally since the start of conference play, all but seven teams that Wake Forest has played were either ranked or receiving votes in the AP Poll.
The strong schedule has seen Wake Forest rise 28 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 in the Deacs win over Pitt on Thursday. 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.
COWLES GETS IT GOING
Malaya Cowles finished the night against Virginia with four points, three rebounds, one assist and one block.
Additionally, she shot a stellar 73-of-126 (57.9 percent) from the floor while inside LJVM Coliseum.
Alexandria Scruggs made her 148th 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. 148
2. Kaia Harrison 2019-Pres. 144
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 31 games she ranks second on the team with 4.6 rebounds per game, her highest average of her career by nearly 1.0 rebounds per game.
Against Virginia, Scruggs posted her ninth double-digit scoring performance of the season with 12 points on 5-of-10 shooting. She also added five rebounds and three steals.
Her 230 points this season are the most she has had in her career and her 7.4 points per game is the highest average of his career. She now has 909 points during her five seasons at Wake Forest.
ASSISTS ON MADE BASKETS
The Demon Deacons recorded nine assists on 18 made baskets (50 percent) versus the Cavaliers.
This season, the Deacs have assisted 392 of 673 made field goals (58.2 percent). This matches the same percentage from last season and ranks in the 72nd percentile.
Last week in wins over Pitt and Georgia Tech, the Demon Deacons had 34 assists over the two wins which was the highest total and the 17.0 assists per game were the highest average in the conference.
Additionally, Wake Forest had a 1.48/1 assist/turnover ratio last week which ranked 35th nationally and second in the ACC. Alexandria Scruggs helped lead in the assist/turnover ratio as her 7/1 assist/turnover ratio led the ACC and ranked 11th nationally during this past week.
FORCING TURNOVERS
Defensively, the Demon Deacons forced double-digit turnovers for the 41st time in the last 42 games, with the lone game coming against Syracuse on Jan. 11. The 42-game stretch goes back to January of 2022. In total, the Deacs forced 15 turnovers against the Cavaliers.
Over the last nine games, the Deacs are averaging 16.2 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 2-of-4 from the free throw line Wednesday against Virginia. Overall this season, Harrison is 90-of-110 (81.8 pct.), ranking fifth in the ACC and 72nd nationally in free throw percentage coming into the tournament.
Junior Elise Williams is averaging a career-best 82.5 percent from the stripe (94-of-114) this season, ranking sixth in percentage in the league and 96th nationally coming into the tournament. Additionally, she is now ranked tied for eighth in program history in career free throw percentage:
Wake Forest has seen a massive uptick in free throw shooting percentage, going from 66.0 percent (343-of-520) last season to 73.1 percent (320-of-438) this season.
On Wednesday, the Deacs went 17-of-21 from the charity stripe (81.0 percent), which marked the eighth time this season they shot above 80 percent and third time in the last four games.
This was the 14th time in the last 17 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:
LAST TIME
Wake Forest vs. Virginia (March 6)
Result: W, 57-75
Versus Florida State
Series: Florida State leads 37-20
Last: Feb. 15, 2024
Result: L – 63-71
The winner of the game will face No. 3 seed Syracuse (23-6, 13-5 ACC) at 7:30 p.m. on Friday with the game being broadcasted on ACC Network.
The Demon Deacons (7-24, 2-16 ACC) advanced in the tournament for the fifth consecutive season with a win over Virginia and will look to reach the ACC Quarterfinals for the fourth time in the last five years. The five-year streak with at least one win in the tournament is the longest since the Deacs streak of eight-straight seasons from 2009-2016. Additionally, this marks the third consecutive year that Wake Forest has eliminated Virginia in the opening round of the ACC Tournament. The Deacs will be in search of their fourth top-100 NET win of the season and second in consecutive games after beating No. 60 Virginia on Wednesday. Wake Forest has navigated one of the most difficult schedules in the country, as the Deacs' average opponent NET now ranks eighth nationally and second in the ACC with only NC State having a more difficult schedule.
The Seminoles (21-9, 12-6 ACC) earned the No. 6 seed in the conference tournament with the help of a strong home mark. The Noles were 13-3 overall at home this season and away from home held a combined record of 8-6. Over the last 10 games, Florida State is 7-3 and are currently projected to be a No. 8 seed in the NCAA Tournament according to the latest bracketology released by ESPN. Florida State has been one of the elite teams in the country this season at protecting the basketball, currently ranking eighth in the nation with just 11.7 turnovers per game. The Noles are also one of the more high powered offenses nationally, ranking 18th and first in the ACC with 80.1 points per game. The Seminoles also do a great job of rebounding the basketball, averaging 41.0 rebounds per game which is 31st in the country. They are led by sophomore guard Ta'Niya Latson who is averaging 21.4 points per game which ranks 13th nationally and fourth in the ACC. On the block, forward Makayla Timpson is 11h in the country with 2.7 blocks per game and 40th nationally with 9.7 rebounds per game.
Tipoff for Thursday is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. (ET) at Greensboro Coliseum.
For those not at the arena, fans can tune in to ACC Network 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).
TRENDING IN GREENSBORO
Wake Forest has now advanced in the tournament for the fifth consecutive season with ACC Quarterfinal appearances in 2023, 2021 and 2020.
The Deacs during the Kaia Harrison and Alexandria Scruggs era own a 7-4 record over the past five years in ACC Tournament action.
It also marked the second-consecutive season the Demon Deacons overcame a deficit of at least 15 points to advance in the ACC Tournament. Last season, the Deacs came back from 18-points down against Florida State to win 65-54 on March 2, 2023.
This also marks the third consecutive year that Wake Forest has defeated Virginia in the opening round of the conference tournament.
ACC TOURNAMENT IN GREENSBORO
Postseason play is here. Come make the short drive over to Greensboro for the annual ACC Tournament and support your Wake Forest women's basketball team.
Hosted at the Greensboro Coliseum Complex, the tournament will run through the championship game set for noon (ET) on March 10.
Purchase your tickets today and come cheer on the Deacs in Greensboro.
WELCOME TO 1000
Junior guard Elise Williams made history Thursday night as she reached the 1,000-point mark for her career.
She went into the Clemson game with 983 career points, just 17 points away from becoming the 31st player in program history to reach the 1,000-point milestone. She finished the game with almost a new career-high, dropping 28 points on 8-of-16 shooting and 9-of-10 from the free throw line.
With a game-high 25 points win against Virginia, she moved from 30th to 28th in program history with 1,053 career points.
Williams will now look to move up the scoring list on Thursday night as she is 20 points away Tonia Brown (2000-04) in 27th and 26 points away from Ariel Stephenson (2015-19) in 26th:
| Rank | Player | Career Points |
| 22. | Beth Davis (1988-91) | 1,172 |
| 23. | Alex Sharp (2016-20) | 1,149 |
| 24. | Raeanna Mulholland (1993-97) | 1,110 |
| 25. | Sicily Ray (2008-12) | 1,099 |
| 26. | Ariel Stephenson (2015-19) | 1,079 |
| 27. | Tonia Brown (2000-04) | 1,073 |
| 28. | Elise Williams (2021-Pres.) | 1,053 |
| 29. | Erin Ferrell (2001-05) | 1,044 |
| 30. | Gina Conti (2017-21) | 1,037 |
| 31. | Barbara Buchanan (1980-84) | 1,023 |
MONTH OF FEBRUARY
The dynamic backcourt duo of Elise Williams and Kate Deeble have lit it up in the month of February and have been the key components of the Deacs peaking at the right time of the season.
Williams, who is averaging 12.8 points per game over the course of the entire season, has been on a blistering pace of the course of the nine games during February:
| Stat | Average/Percentage |
| Points Per Game | 18.1 PPG |
| Rebounds Per Game | 5.6 RPG |
| Steals Per Game | 2.6 SPG |
| Three-Point Percentage | 44.4 pct. |
| Free Throw Percentage | 79.5 pct. |
Deeble has been one of the hottest shooters in the conference lighting it up from behind the arc and from the field throughout the entire month:
| Stat | Average/Percentage |
| Points Per Game | 9.3 PPG |
| Field Goal Percentage | 50.0 pct. |
| Three-Point Percentage | 57.1 pct. |
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.
At Georgia Tech on Feb. 25, Williams had a career-high 31-point outing, shooting a stellar 10-of-15 from the floor and 3-of-5 from beyond the arc. This marked the first 30-point game since Jewel Spear had 34 points in a win over Louisville on Jan. 26, 2023. Williams became just the 21st player in program history to score 30 or more points in a single game.
Thursday against Clemson, 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. She finished an impressive 9-of-10 from the free throw line which were both career highs.
Sunday at No. 12 NC State, the third quarter was immaculate for Williams, finishing the 10-minute period with 15 points on 6-of-6 shooting and added 2-of-2 free throws. It marked her highest scoring quarter of her career. Williams posted a team-high 17 points while also adding a game-high six assists and grabbing four rebounds.
Against Virginia on Wednesday, Williams finished with 25 points and went an impressive 12-of-14 (85.7 percent) from the free throw line in addition to a team-high nine rebounds, two assists and two steals.
Since the start of February, Williams is averaging 18.6 points per game, 5.7 rebounds per game and 3.1 assists per game. She leads the team in all three categories during that span.
During ACC play, Williams leads the team with 14.8 points per game while also averaging 4.9 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game. In conference play, Williams was one of the best all-around players in the conference, ranking fifth in steals (1.9 steals/game), sixth in free throw percentage (83.8 pct.), 12th in assists and 17th in scoring.
SHARPSHOOTERS
Last week in wins over Pitt and Georgia Tech, the Demon Deacons lit up the three-point line, shooting a scorching 43.6 percent on 17-of-39 shooting. The 43.6 percent from behind the arc ranked 25th nationally for the week and was second in the ACC.
They followed that up by hitting seven more threes Thursday night and seven on Sunday, the 14th and 15th time the Deacs have had seven or more threes in four consecutive games they have done so.
The Deacs have now shot 40 percent or better from behind the arc in five of the last 11 games including both games last week.
Overall, the 2023-24 Wake Forest team has knocked down 197 threes this season which ranks fourth in program history:
| Rank | Single-Season Threes Made | Year |
| 1. | 275 | 2004-05 |
| 2. | 227 | 2022-23 |
| 3. | 215 | 2005-06 |
| 4. | 197 | 2023-24 |
| 5. | 195 | 2021-22 |
| 6. | 179 | 2008-09 |
| T7. | 172 | 2009-10 |
| T7. | 172 | 1998-99 |
| T9. | 167 | 2012-13 |
| T9. | 167 | 2010-11 |
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. 8 in the Average Opponent NET Rank metric in the country and second in the ACC. This includes 11 games against NET top-50 teams and 23 teams in the NET top-100:
NCAA Average Opponent NET Rank
1. UConn
2. Stanford
3. NC State
4. Tennessee
5. UCLA
5. Maryland
5. Colorado
8. Wake Forest
8. Duke
8. USC
Additionally since the start of conference play, all but seven teams that Wake Forest has played were either ranked or receiving votes in the AP Poll.
The strong schedule has seen Wake Forest rise 28 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 in the Deacs win over Pitt on Thursday. 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.
COWLES GETS IT GOING
Malaya Cowles finished the night against Virginia with four points, three rebounds, one assist and one block.
Additionally, she shot a stellar 73-of-126 (57.9 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
- 3-of-6 vs. Clemson
Alexandria Scruggs made her 148th 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. 148
2. Kaia Harrison 2019-Pres. 144
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 31 games she ranks second on the team with 4.6 rebounds per game, her highest average of her career by nearly 1.0 rebounds per game.
Against Virginia, Scruggs posted her ninth double-digit scoring performance of the season with 12 points on 5-of-10 shooting. She also added five rebounds and three steals.
Her 230 points this season are the most she has had in her career and her 7.4 points per game is the highest average of his career. She now has 909 points during her five seasons at Wake Forest.
ASSISTS ON MADE BASKETS
The Demon Deacons recorded nine assists on 18 made baskets (50 percent) versus the Cavaliers.
This season, the Deacs have assisted 392 of 673 made field goals (58.2 percent). This matches the same percentage from last season and ranks in the 72nd percentile.
Last week in wins over Pitt and Georgia Tech, the Demon Deacons had 34 assists over the two wins which was the highest total and the 17.0 assists per game were the highest average in the conference.
Additionally, Wake Forest had a 1.48/1 assist/turnover ratio last week which ranked 35th nationally and second in the ACC. Alexandria Scruggs helped lead in the assist/turnover ratio as her 7/1 assist/turnover ratio led the ACC and ranked 11th nationally during this past week.
FORCING TURNOVERS
Defensively, the Demon Deacons forced double-digit turnovers for the 41st time in the last 42 games, with the lone game coming against Syracuse on Jan. 11. The 42-game stretch goes back to January of 2022. In total, the Deacs forced 15 turnovers against the Cavaliers.
Over the last nine games, the Deacs are averaging 16.2 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 2-of-4 from the free throw line Wednesday against Virginia. Overall this season, Harrison is 90-of-110 (81.8 pct.), ranking fifth in the ACC and 72nd nationally in free throw percentage coming into the tournament.
Junior Elise Williams is averaging a career-best 82.5 percent from the stripe (94-of-114) this season, ranking sixth in percentage in the league and 96th nationally coming into the tournament. Additionally, she is now ranked tied for eighth in program history in career free throw percentage:
| Rank | Player | Career 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. | Elise Williams (2021-Present) | .771 |
| 9. | Ivana Raca (2017-21) | .765 |
| 10. | Amber Campbell (2014-18) | .755 |
Wake Forest has seen a massive uptick in free throw shooting percentage, going from 66.0 percent (343-of-520) last season to 73.1 percent (320-of-438) this season.
On Wednesday, the Deacs went 17-of-21 from the charity stripe (81.0 percent), which marked the eighth time this season they shot above 80 percent and third time in the last four games.
This was the 14th time in the last 17 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. | .731 (320-of-438) | 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 |
Wake Forest vs. Virginia (March 6)
Result: W, 57-75
- The Demon Deacons outscored the Cavaliers, 23-9, in the fourth quarter. It marked the second-consecutive season the Deacs overcame a double-digit deficit in the ACC tournament and came back to win. Last March, Wake Forest came back from 18-points down against Florida State to win 65-54 and advance to the quarterfinals.
- This also marks the third consecutive year that Wake Forest has defeated Virginia in the opening round of the conference tournament.
- The Deacs played well on the defensive end of the court for the entire 40 minutes, as they limited Virginia to its second-lowest point total of the season and fewest in a non-road game. Additionally, the Cavaliers' 23 first-half points were the fewest they have scored in a first half this season. Of note, Virginia was limited to just two second-chance points, also marking its fewest of the campaign.
- Offensively, Wake Forest was led by junior guard Elise Willaims, who recorded her sixth 20-point performance of the season and third in the last four games. She finished with 25 points and went an impressive 12-of-14 (85.7 percent) from the free throw line in addition to a team-high nine rebounds, two assists and two steals. Since the start of February, Williams is averaging 18.6 points per game, 5.7 rebounds per game and 3.1 assists per game. She leads the team in all three categories during that span.
Versus Florida State
Series: Florida State leads 37-20
Last: Feb. 15, 2024
Result: L – 63-71
- The Demon Deacons dominated inside, as they outscored the Seminoles 40-to-26 inside the paint. Wake Forest also added 21 second-chance points off of 13 offensive rebounds.
- Individually, the Deacs were led by junior guard Elise Williams, who finished with 17 points on 7-of-14 shooting (2-of-4 from three), in addition to five rebounds, five assists and three steals. It marked her 11th game of the season with double-digit points and sixth time in ACC play, including three of the last four outings. Additionally, at home in ACC play, she averages 17.0 points per game while shooting 40-92 (43.5 percent) from the floor and 15-35 (42.9 percent) from beyond the arc.
- Williams became the fifth Demon Deacon in the HerHoopsStats era (2009-10) to record that statline (17 points, five rebounds, five assists, three steals) and first since Gina Conti on Nov. 28, 2020.
The winner of the game will face No. 3 seed Syracuse (23-6, 13-5 ACC) at 7:30 p.m. on Friday with the game being broadcasted 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 BasketballFootball Media Availability (10/16/25)
Thursday, October 16
Wake Forest Field Hockey Inside the Circle: Episode Five
Wednesday, October 15
Head Coach Jake Dickert 8/25
Wednesday, October 15
Head Coach Jake Dickert 9/1
Wednesday, October 15