Deacs Return Home to Face In-State NC State

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – In the first of two games against the Wolfpack this season, the Wake Forest women's basketball team hosts NC State Thursday with tipoff scheduled for 6:00 p.m. (ET) at Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

The Demon Deacons (12-6, 2-4 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 3-4. In the first 18 games, they have been propelled by 17.6 assists per game which ranks 27th 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 10th nationally with 60.9 percent shooting from the floor which ranks first in the ACC. Going into Thursday, the Deacs ranked 13th nationally and first in the ACC, holding opponents to just 34.7 shooting from the field and also ranking 36th in scoring defense with just 56.8 points per game allowed while also ranking 45th with 28.2 defensive rebounds per game.

The Wolfpack (12-5, 5-1 ACC) have only lost twice since the start of December, dropping a 103-98 overtime shootout at No. 9 Oklahoma and falling last week at Clemson, 75-65. The Wolfpack have been an elite rebounding team this season, ranking sixth nationally with 45.9 rebounds per game. Additionally they rank second in the country with 32.9 defensive rebounds per game. They are led on the glass by junior transfer forward Khamil Pierre who is fourth nationally and leads the ACC with 11.9 rebounds per game. She also ranks sixth in the country with 10 double-doubles so far this season. NC State has also done a good job of limiting their turnovers, turning it over just 12.0 times per game which is 13th in the country.

Tipoff for Thursday is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. (ET) at LJVM Coliseum.

For those not at the arena, fans can tune in to ACC Network Extra 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).

Defensive Deacs
Wake Forest has remained a top competitor defensively well into the season, both nationally and in the ACC. Through 18 games, the Demon Deacons sit third in the conference, allowing 56.8 points per game and close behind the top teams.

Additionally, the Deacs rank first in the ACC and 13th in the nation with a 34.7 field goal percentage defense.

Team	Games	W-L	Pts	Avg/G
1. Clemson	18	12-6	1,012	56.2
2. Stanford	18	14-4	1,021	56.7
3. Wake Forest	18	12-6	1,022	56.8
4. Louisville	19	16-3	1,106	58.2
5. Syracuse	17	14-3	991	58.3

Assists On Made Baskets
Wake Forest tallied 12 total assists on the night on 22 made baskets (54.5 percent). In 18 games this season, the Demon Deacons have totaled 317 assists on 448 field goals (70.8 percent) which would mark the highest percentage in the Megan Gebbia era.

The Demon Deacons are averaging 17.6 assists per game, second in the ACC behind Virginia's 19.2.

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 Golden Bears into 14 turnovers on Sunday, and have forced 10 or more takeaways 85 times in the last 87 games, a stretch dating back to January of 2022.

Through 18 games, the Demon Deacons have forced 15.5 turnovers per game.

Owning the Paint
Against Cal, the Demon Deacons had another excellent game in the paint, with 32 points posted inside, while allowing the Bears to score 22 points inside, a 10-point differential.

Across 18 games, the Deacs have totaled 568 points in the paint (31.6 per game).

Sharpshooting Deacs
In the last five games, Wake Forest has averaged 6.4 threes made per game including double digits in wins over Gardner-Webb and Pitt.

So far this season, the Demon Deacons have knocked down 103 threes (5.7 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. Cal (January 11)
Result: L – 61-52

The Demon Deacons had another excellent game in the paint, with 32 points posted inside, while allowing Cal to score just 22, a 10-point deficit. Across 18 games, the Deacs have totaled 558 points in the paint (31.6 per game).
The Deacs in the second half especially were strong in the paint, scoring 24 of the 32 points in the paint in the final 20 minutes of the game.
With a team-high 14 points, junior guard/forward Mary Carter spearheaded the Wake Forest offense. Additionally, the Rocklin, Calif.-native tied sophomore guard Grace Oliver with seven rebounds. Oliver finished with nine points in the game.
Freshmen guards Milan Brown and Caitlyn Jones tallied double-digit performances for the Deacs. Brown went 6-for-14 from the field, while Jones posted a career-best seven assists.

SERIES HISTORY
Versus NC State

Series: NC State leads 80-15
Last: Feb. 27, 2025
Result: L, 57-78

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).
- In addition to her rebounding total, Williams pitched in 13 points while also leading the team with six assists in the game.
Redshirt junior forward Malaya Cowles recorded her 14th double-figure scoring game of the season, posting a team-high 14 points on 7-of-9 shooting from the field.
For the second time in her career, senior guard Raegyn Conley pulled down double-digit rebounds, tying her career high with 12 boards in the road loss. Conley also finished the night with eight points and a pair of threes. The senior has made at least one three in 12 of her last 13 outings.

UP NEXT
The Demon Deacons are back on the road Sunday, making the short road trip down to South Carolina to play against Clemson at Littlejohn Coliseum.
Tipoff is scheduled for Noon on ACC Network.

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

Milan Brown

Mary Carter

Raegyn Conley

Malaya Cowles

Caitlyn Jones

Grace Oliver

Elise Williams

Wake Forest Athletics