Deacs Look to Road End Weekend Strong at Cal

BERKLEY, Calif. – For the first time in program history, the Wake Forest women's basketball team travels to Cal Sunday with tipoff scheduled for 5:00 p.m. (ET) at Haas Pavilion.

The Demon Deacons (12-5, 2-3 ACC) are off to their best start in 15 years and are looking to have their best start to conference play since the 2020-21 season when the Deacs started ACC play 3-3. In the first 17 games, they have been propelled by 17.9 assists per game which ranks 25th in the country and second in the ACC. The Deacs have had the emergence of sophomore forward Grace Oliver as she is averaging a team-high 13.9 points per game and also ranking ninth nationally with 62.1 percent shooting from the floor which ranks second in the ACC. Going into Sunday, the Deacs ranked 12th nationally and first in the ACC, holding opponents to just 34.4 shooting from the field and also ranking 38th in scoring defense with just 56.5 points per game allowed while also ranking 43rd with 28.4 defensive rebounds per game.

The Golden Bears (9-8, 0-4 ACC) are looking for their first win in conference play, dropping their first four games to Stanford, Duke, North Carolina and NC State. Their lone loss at home this season came on Thursday when they dropped a tightly-contested 78-74 contest to Duke. Junior guard Lulu Twidale has had the green light all season long, attempting the 14th most threes in the country with 125 so far this season. Inside, forward senior Sakima Walker ranks third in the conference with a 56.5 shooting percentage. On the defensive end of the floor, Walker ranks third in the conference with 29 blocks so far this season.

Tipoff for Sunday is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. (ET) at Haas 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 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).

Defensive Deacs
Wake Forest has remained a top competitor defensively well into the season, both nationally and in the ACC. Through 17 games, the Demon Deacons sit second in the conference, allowing 56.5 points per game and close behind the top teams.

Additionally, the Deacs rank first in the ACC and 12th in the nation with a 34.4 field goal percentage defense.

Team	Games	W-L	Pts	Avg/G
1. Clemson	16	11-5	889	55.6
2. Wake Forest	16	12-4	906	56.6
3. Syracuse	15	13-2	854	56.9
4. Stanford	16	13-3	911	56.9
5. Virginia	15	12-3	864	57.6

Assists On Made Baskets
Wake Forest tallied 10 total assists on the night on 16 made baskets (62.5 percent). In 17 games this season, the Demon Deacons have totaled 305 assists on 426 field goals (71.6 percent) which would mark the highest percentage in the Megan Gebbia era.

The Demon Deacons are averaging 17.94 assists per game, second in the ACC behind Virginia's 19.4.

The Deacs did an excellent job of moving the ball last season, as they assisted on 394 of 667 made baskets this season (59.1 pct.). This was the highest assist percentage in the Gebbia era and the assist percentage ranks in the top 70 percent in the nation according to HerHoopStats.

In 2023-24, the Deacs assisted 404 of 694 made field goals (58.2 percent).

Forcing Them Over
The Deacs forced the Orange into 14 turnovers on Thursday, and have forced 10 or more takeaways 84 times in the last 88 games, a stretch dating back to January of 2022.

Through 17 games, the Demon Deacons have forced 15.1 turnovers per game.

Owning the Paint
Against Syracuse, the Demon Deacons had another excellent game in the paint, with 42 points posted inside, while allowing the Orange to score 36 points inside, a six-point differential.

Across 17 games, the Deacs have totaled 536 points in the paint (31.5 per game).

Sharpshooting Deacs
The Deacs hit eight total threes in the game as they continue to shoot the three well over the last few games. In the last four games, Wake Forest has averaged 7.75 threes made per game including double digits in wins over Gardner-Webb and Pitt.

So far this season, the Demon Deacons have knocked down 102 threes (6.0 3FG per game).

The Deacs finished the 2024-25 season knocking down 159 threes (5.5 3FGM per game). This included seven games with eight or more threes made.

Through the first three seasons under head coach Megan Gebbia, the Demon Deacons have hit 590 threes in 95 games under her direction (6.2 3FGM per game).

This includes her first two seasons, which both rank in the top five 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

LAST TIME
Wake Forest vs. Stanford (January 4)
Result: L – 73-58

The Demon Deacons limited the Cardinal to their third-fewest points of the season with Stanford only scoring less against Washington State and nationally-ranked NC State so far this season.
Additionally, the Deacs held multi-time ACC Freshman of the Week forward Lara Somfai to a season-low two points on just 1-of-5 shooting.
Outside of the 9-point differential in the first quarter of the game, the Demon Deacons were within three points of the Cardinal the rest of the game.
On the offensive end of the floor, Wake Forest was led by a pair of double-figure scoring games from freshman guard Caitlyn Jones and junior guard-forward Mary Carter, both tying for the team lead with 11 points each.
- Jones, who made her first collegiate start, finished the night going 4-of-9 from the floor and also knocked down both of her free throw attempts. She also tied for the team lead with three assists to go along with three rebounds and a steal.

SERIES HISTORY
Versus Cal

Series: Series tied 2-2
Last: Jan. 19, 2025
Result: L, 67-55

The 28 turnovers were the most since at least the 2017-18 season, as Wake Forest (7-11, 0-7 ACC) converted those turnovers into 27 points while allowing the Golden Bears (17-3, 5-2 ACC) just five points off turnovers.
- Wake Forest forced double-digit turnovers for the 58th time in the last 59 games, with the lone game coming against Syracuse on Jan. 11, 2024. The 59-game stretch goes back to January of 2022.
- Through 18 games this season, Wake Forest has totaled 176 steals including tying the second-most this season with 13 on Sunday. The 13 swipes marks the 10th time Wake Forest has recorded 10 or more steals in a game this year.
The Demon Deacons were led by senior guard Elise Williams, who finished the contest with 15 points and added a trio of rebounds, assists and steals. Senior Demeara Hinds and sophomore Rylie Theuerkauf joined Williams in double figures with 10 points apiece.

UP NEXT
The Demon Deacons return home Thursday to face in-state rival NC State at Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

Tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. on ACC Network Extra.

Women's Basketball Tickets
Single-Game Tickets
Wake Forest women's basketball single-game tickets are now 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.

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Players Mentioned

Mary Carter

Demeara Hinds

Caitlyn Jones

Grace Oliver

Rylie Theuerkauf

Elise Williams

Wake Forest Athletics