Wake Forest Falls to Irish at Home

Thursday, February 19

Winston-Salem, N.C.

6 p.m.

Wake Forest University

13-14,3-12ACC

Notre Dame

17-9,9-6ACC

Notre Dame

Wake Forest

Photo by: Sam Rinkus / Wake Forest Athletics

2/19/2026 8:51:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Graduate student Emily Johns notched a season-high 13 points during Thursday’s loss and now has 1,096 points over the course of her career at American and Wake Forest.

By: Kaitlyn Stocum and Andrew Kovar

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – The Wake Forest women's basketball team fell 78-54 Thursday night at LJVM Coliseum.

In her best game so far this season, graduate student forward Emily Johns put up 13 points in 18 minutes for the Deacs (13-14, 3-12 ACC). Over the course of her career, Johns has now scored 1,096 career points. As the lone senior on the team, Johns will get recognized for her career accomplishments on March 1 against Florida State.

Sophomore forward Grace Oliver and freshman forward Opal Bird combined for 17 points to round the Wake Forest attack. Against Notre Dame (17-9, 9-6 ACC), Bird was just two points off her season-high when she recorded 10 points against Radford.

The Demon Deacson finished with 17 assists on 19 made baskets for the contest (89.5 percent). The Deacs are on pace to have the fourth-most assists in program history and the 16.8 assists per game currently ranks fourth in program history.

The Deacs 453 assists this season is now tied for the 10th most in school history:

Rank	Total Assists	Year
1.	563	1987-88
2.	489	2004-05
3.	488	1989-90
4.	484	1988-89
5.	474	2012-13
6.	470	2011-12
7.	469	1986-87
8.	466	1995-96
9.	454	2014-15
T10.	453	2025-26
T10.	453	2010-11

How It Happened

Despite a quick start for the Fighting Irish, the Demon Deacons went on a 7-0 run to cut into the 10 point deficit.
- Two points from freshman guard Caitlyn Jones opened the Deacs' scoring.
- A steal from sophomore forward Grace Oliver created an opportunity for freshman guard Milan Brown to post a jumper.
- Oliver followed with a layup at the 5:23 mark.
With 2:50 in the quarter, Brown found graduate student Emily Johns under the basket for two.
The Demon Deacons trailed Notre Dame, 16-9 after 10.
Wake Forest held the game within three, with three consecutive layups from Oliver.
Brown went 2-for-2 at the stripe with under four minutes remaining in the half to keep the Deacs in closing distance of the Irish.
Fresh off the bench, freshman guard Grace Galbavy drained three.
Wake Forest trailed the Irish, 35-23 at the half.
Junior guard/forward Mary Carter knocked back a three at the 6:37 mark.
In the final three minutes of the quarter, Wake Forest went on an 8-0 run.
- Sophomore guard Aurora Sørbye connected with Johns for a layup.
- Johns went 2-for-2 at the stripe a minute later.
- Sørbye found the graduate student once again for a bucket.
- Freshman forward Opal Bird took a perfect trip to the line to close out the third.
The Deacs trailed the Fighting Irish, 56-35 before the fourth quarter.
Wake Forest opened the final stretch with an 8-0 run, beginning at the 8:48 mark.
- A layup from Bird started up the Deacs' offense.
- Sørbye and junior guard Madisyn Jordan then launched back-to-back threes.
Bird notched layups at the 4:41 and 3:38 mark, as the Deacs continued to cut into the Notre Dame lead.
Under the three minute mark, Galbavy knocked back three.
The Demon Deacons fell, 78-54 to the Fighting Irish.

Standout Stats

The Demon Deacons had another excellent game in the paint, with 26 points posted inside.
Wake Forest finished with 17 assists on 19 made baskets for the contest (89.5 percent). In 27 games this season, the Demon Deacons have totaled 453 assists on 673 field goals (67.3 percent) which would mark the highest percentage in a single season within the Megan Gebbia era.
- The Demon Deacons are averaging 16.8 assists, fourth in the ACC.
Leading the Demon Deacon offense, graduate student forward Emily Johns posted a season-high 13 points in 18 minutes.
- The Washington Township, N.J.-native went 5-of-8 and 3-for-4 from the stripe.
Sophomore forward Grace Oliver and freshman forward Opal Bird combined for 17 points for the Deacs. Additionally, Oliver led the squad with seven rebounds.
- The Norwell, Mass.-native leads the ACC with a 59.6 field goal percentage.

From Gebbia
"I don't have a ton to say about this one. Fast break points were 27-0 and we lost by basically that margin. This is one of our worst games we have played this year and it was surprising and not fun to be a part of today. This shouldn't happen this late in the season. We need to execute better, communicate better and compete. There were some key things that just can't happen. That is not who we are. This better change starting tomorrow going into a must win game on Sunday at Boston College." - Megan Gebbia

Up Next
Wake Forest will travel to Chestnut, Mass. for its second to last road contest to face the Boston College Eagles on Sunday, Feb. 22 at Conte Forum.
Tipoff is scheduled for noon p.m. ET on ACC Network Extra.