Sunday, March 2
Winston-Salem, N.C.
2 p.m.

Wake Forest University

vs

Pitt

Senior Class Women's Baksetball

Wake Forest Set to Honor Special Class on Senior & Graduates Day

2/28/2025 4:22:00 PM | Women's Basketball

In the final home game of the regular season Sunday afternoon at LJVM Coliseum, Wake Forest is set to host Pitt. Tipoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. on ACC Network Extra.

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – On Senior & Graduates Day this Sunday afternoon at Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum, the Wake Forest women's basketball team is set to host Pitt.
 
The Demon Deacons (9-19, 2-15 ACC) are looking for their third win of the conference campaign, third home win in conference play. In the loss at NC State on Thursday, senior guard Elise Williams became just the second player in program history to record over 1,250 career points, over 500 career rebounds, over 300 career assists and over 200 career steals.
 
Wake Forest's success this season has come on the backs of strong defensive play as the Deacs currently rank in the top 200 in the country and seventh in the ACC in scoring defense as teams are averaging just 65.5 points per game this season. The Demon Deacons also rank top 90 in the nation with 8.7 steals per game.
 
The Panthers (12-18, 4-13 ACC) are looking to potentially claim the last spot in the ACC Tournament as both have four wins entering Sunday. The Panthers need both a win Sunday and for Miami to lose to Cal on Sunday to be the 15th and final team in the conference tournament. A loss would eliminate them from contention as Miami holds the head-to-head tiebreaker. Pitt is led by transfer forward Khadija Faye who is averaging 18.8 points per game and 10.2 rebounds per game entering Sunday as she is one of four players in the conference to be averaging a double-double this season. As a team, the Panthers have been one of the better teams in the conference in free throws, ranking fourth in the league in both free throws attempted and free throws made.
 
Tipoff for Sunday is scheduled for 2 p.m. (ET) at LJVM Coliseum. 
 
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).
 
SENIOR & GRADUATES DAY
Help us pay tribute to an amazing senior class as we honor our five outstanding seniors on Sunday afternoon. Alyssa Andrews, Raegyn Conley, Malaya Cowles, Tamia Jones, Elise Williams and Demeara Hinds will be honored in our Senior & Graduates Day ceremony prior to the game. Please arrive early to help us recognize the special group.
 
This group has accounted for 553 combined games played, 286 combined starts, 3,481 combined points, 1,990 combined rebounds, 746 combined assists and 11,390 combined minutes played in their Wake Forest careers.
 
RYLIE RAISES HER GAME
For the 10 of the last 11 games, sophomore guard Rylie Theuerkauf reached double figures scoring and she has done so 18 times overall this season.
 
For three consecutive games between North Carolina and NC State, Theuerkauf set a new career-highs in scoring including finishing with 25 points against No. 17 NC State Wolfpack.
 
25 points is the most in a game by a Demon Deacon since Williams had 31 at Georgia Tech last season on Feb. 25, 2024. It marked her 12th game of the season with double-digit, fifth with at least 15 and second-consecutive with at least 20.
 
She tied her previous career high (21) with seven minutes remaining in the first half. She opened the game 8-of-8 from the floor and 3-of-3 from deep.
 
Last Sunday, Theuerkauf reached double figures with 20 points against the nationally-ranked Yellowjackets on Sunday on 9-of-16 shooting including a pair of threes.
 
She has 160 points over the last nine games (16.0/game) and now averages a team-high 11.6 on the season.
 
1K AND COUNTING
Williams reached 1,000 points in the regular season home finale against Clemson last season. She entered the 2024-25 season ranked 28th in program history in scoring with 1,065 in 99 career games. Williams has added to that total, scoring 255 points so far this season.
 
Williams will now look to move up the scoring list on Sunday afternoon as she is 14th and is nine points away from Jane Jackson (1977-80) in 13th place:
 
Rank Player Career Points
7. Cotelia Bond-Young (2002-06) 1,507
8. Amber Campbell (2014-18) 1,489
9. Ivana Raca (2017-21) 1,482
10. Jewel Spear (2020-23) 1,385
11. Liz Strunk (2002-06) 1,352
12. Lisa Stockton (1982-86) 1,347
13. Jane Jackson (1977-80) 1,342
14. Elise Williams (2021-Pres.) 1,333
15. Lakevia Boykin (2009-13) 1,309
16. Elisa Penna (2015-19) 1,269
 
HOME COOKING WITH COWLES 
Malaya Cowles, who led the team in shooting percentage during the 2023-24 season shot a stellar 73-of-126 (57.9 percent) from the floor while inside LJVM Coliseum.
 
She is off to a similar start in this season, shooting 49.5 percent overall at LJVM Coliseum (47-of-95 FG) including shooting 77.8 percent from the field against Queens (7-of-9 FG), 87.5 percent from the field against Gardner-Webb (7-of-8) and 88.9 percent from the field against Campbell (8-of-9).
 
In addition to shooting a great percentage at home this season, Cowles shooting percentage is at a historic rate for the season as a whole, ranking ninth in program history as she is making 56.5 percent of her shots over the course of the season.
 
Rank Player Season FG Pct.
1. Lisa Dodd (1987-88) .647
2. Ona Udoh (2020-21) .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. Malaya Cowles (2024-25) .565
10. Alice Neal (1986-87) .563
 
Additionally, Cowles career shooting percentage of 55.3 percent is on pace to have her rank third in program history by the end of her career.
 
ASSISTS ON MADE BASKETS
The Deacs have done an excellent job of moving the ball so far this season, as they have assisted on 381 of 645 made baskets this season (59.5 pct.). Additionally over the last 24 games, the Demon Deacons have assisted on 341 of 565 made baskets or 61 percent.
 
Wake Forest assisted on 21 of its 27 made baskets (78 percent) against Louisville. This marked the most assists for Wake Forest since they recorded 24 against Saint Louis on Nov. 20, 2023.
 
Additionally, the 21 assists marked the most this season by the Deacs and most against an ACC opponent since Jan. 19, 2017 in an 80-77 victory over North Carolina. It was the third time this season Wake Forest logged at least 20 assists, with the first two coming against Winthrop and Gardner-Webb (both 20).
 
Last season, the Deacs assisted 404 of 694 made field goals (58.2 percent). 
 
Senior guard Elise Williams entered the top 10 in career assists earlier this season and currently is in eighth in program history:
Rank Player Career Assists
1. Brooke Thomas (2008-12) 513
2. Gina Conti (2017-21) 494
3. Nicole Levesque (1991-94) 488
4. Cotelia Bond-Young (2003-06) 462
5. Gretchen Hollifield (1993-96) 453
6. Amy Privette (1984-87) 424
7. Cathy Wille (1987-90) 396
8. Elise Williams (2021-Pres.) 385
9. Chelsea Douglas (2010-14) 360
10. Liz Strunk (2003-06) 340
 
FORCING TURNOVERS
Forcing the Hurricanes into 18 turnovers on Sunday, led to 16 points off turnovers in the game. The Deacs have forced 10 or more takeaways 66 times in the last 70 games. The 70-game stretch goes back to January of 2022. 
 
Through 28 games this season, Wake Forest has totaled 246 steals including four on Thursday.
 
The 28 turnovers forced against Cal was the most forced in a single-game this season for the Deacs. Additionally, it was the second-highest turnover game of the season for the nationally-ranked Bears. The only game where they had more turnovers came on Thursday at No. 14 Duke when Cal turned it over 31 times. This marked the sixth time this season that Wake Forest forced 20-or-more turnovers.
 
The Deacs forced 21 turnovers against Louisville. This marked the fifth time this season that Wake Forest forced 20-or-more turnovers and the second-consecutive game doing so. The 56-game stretch goes back to January of 2022. 21 turnovers ties the most in a game this season for Louisville, with the other instance coming against UT Martin on Nov. 12. Wake Forest added 26 points off turnovers against the Cardinals.
 
Against Virginia, Wake Forest forced 20 turnovers, marking the fourth time this season the Deacs have had 20 or more turnovers forced. In total, the Deacs forced 20 turnovers against George Mason, the third time this season that the Deacs have forced 20 or more turnovers. The five games with 20-plus turnovers forced is now more the total number of games last season when the Deacs finished with four such games.
 
In total, the Deacs forced 24 turnovers against the 49ers, the second time this season that the Deacs have forced 20 or more turnovers. This marks just the second time since 2018-19 that the Demon Deacons have forced 20 or more turnovers in back-to-back games.
 
The Deacs forced 26 turnovers against the Royals to open the season on Nov. 4, the most in a game since the victory over BYU on Nov. 18, 2023. It resulted in 39 points on the offensive end of the floor.
 
In total, the Deacs forced 20 turnovers four times over the course of the 2023-24 season which were also the four highest turnover forced games in the Megan Gebbia era:
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)
 
FROM THE LINE
The Demon Deacons have shot 70 percent or from the line in 16 of the first 28 games of the 2024-25 season, including doing so in five of the last six games.
 
The Demon Deacons finished 17-of-23 (73.9 percent) from the line against the Wolfpack on Thursday night, tied for the second-most makes in a game this season, trailing just an 18 free throw make effort in a win over SMU earlier in February.
 
A key to the Demon Deacons success this season has been the massive improvement at the line from Demeara Hinds. She came into the season shooting just 37.3 percent from the stripe (38-of-102 FT) for her career and this season is nearly 30 percent better at the line, knocking down 63.1 percent (65-of-103 FT).
 
Elise Williams averaged a career-best 82.8 percent from the stripe (96-of-116) in 2023-24. Additionally, she is now ranks seventh in program history in career free throw percentage with the help of going 47-of-57 (82.1 pct.) from the line this season:
 
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. Elise Williams (2021-Present) .781
8. Porsche' Jones (2004-06) .778
9. Ivana Raca (2017-21) .765
10. Amber Campbell (2014-18) .755
 
Last season, Wake Forest saw a massive uptick in free throw shooting percentage, going from 66.0 percent (343-of-520) in 2022-23 to 73.1 percent (324-of-447) in 2023-24.
 
Not only did the Deacs have a resurgent season at the line last season but one of the best in program history. This year has been no different with the Deacs having the seventh-best free throw percentage in program history :
 
Rank Single-Season FT Percentage Year
1. .753 (461-of-612) 2004-05
2. .741 (317-of-428) 2020-21
3. .725 (324-of-447) 2023-24
4. .724 (397-of-548) 2005-06
5. .719 (323-of-449) 1993-94
6. .707 (475-of-672) 1991-92
7. .704 (281-of-399) 2024-25
8. .694 (279-of-546) 2021-22
9. .693 (392-of-566) 1985-86
10. .691 (449-of-650) 1990-91
 
SHARPSHOOTERS
The Deacs got off to a quick start from behind the arc in the 2024-25 season, knocking down 153 threes in the first 28 games (5.5 3FGM per game). Additionally, the Deacs came into the game, knocking down 30.1 percent of their threes.
 
Overall, the 2023-24 Wake Forest team knocked down 204 threes last season ranked fourth in program history:
 
Rank Single-Season Threes Made Year
1. 275 2004-05
2. 227 2022-23
3. 215 2005-06
4. 204 2023-24
5. 195 2021-22
Against Stanford, senior guard Elise Williams entered the top 10 in program history in threes made and goes into Sunday seventh in program history:
Rank Player Career Threes
1. Cotelia Bond Young (2003-06) 267
2. Chelsea Douglas (2010-14) 257
3. Jewel Spear (2020-23) 241
4. Nicole Levesque (1991-94) 193
5. Heidi Coleman (1995-99) 191
6. Lakevia Boykin (2009-13) 167
7. Elise Williams (2021-Pres.) 149
T8. Tonia Brown (2001-04) 142
T8. Ariel Stephenson (2015-19) 142
10. Liz Strunk (2003-06) 141
LAST TIME
Wake Forest vs. NC State (Feb. 27)
Result: L – 78-57
  • The Demon Deacons finished 17-of-23 (73.9 percent) from the line against the Wolfpack, tied for the second-most makes in a game this season.
  • Raleigh native and redshirt senior guard Elise Williams continued to add to her storied career. With four rebounds in the game, Williams now has 500 career rebounds. 
  • She is now just the second player in program history to record over 1,250 career points, over 500 career rebounds, over 300 career assists and over 250 career steals. The only other Demon Deacon to do this was Amy Privette (1983-87).
SERIES HISTORY
Versus Pitt

Series: Wake Forest leads 9-5
Last: February 22, 2024
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.
  • 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.
Women's Basketball Tickets
Single-Game Tickets Now On Sale
Wake Forest women's basketball single-game tickets are still on sale, starting at $10 per game.
 
The best way to get your single-game tickets is at GoDeacs.com/tickets or by calling the Wake Forest Ticket Office at 336-758-3322.
 
4-Packs are also on sale and will only be available for Sunday games.
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