Wake Forest Athletics
Thursday, February 5
Dallas, TX
7:30 p.m.
Wake Forest University
at
SMU
Deacs Travel to Dallas to Face SMU
2/3/2026 6:17:00 PM | Women's Basketball
The Demon Deacons will be in search of their third ACC win of the season and second conference road victory of the year Thursday at SMU with tipoff scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET.
DALLAS, Texas – Flying down to Dallas for a midweek conference game, the Wake Forest women's basketball team is scheduled to play at SMU Thursday with tipoff scheduled for 7:30 p.m. (ET) at Moody Coliseum.
The Demon Deacons (12-11, 2-9 ACC) are off to their best start in the Megan Gebbia era and are looking to earn their third conference win of the season and the third-highest NET win so far this season. In the first 23 games, they have been propelled by 17.0 assists per game which ranks 33rd in the country and third in the ACC. The Deacs have had the emergence of sophomore forward Grace Oliver as she is averaging a team-high 13.8 points per game and also ranking 13th nationally with 59.9 percent shooting from the floor which ranks first in the ACC. Going into Thursday, the Deacs ranked 49th nationally and third in the ACC, holding opponents to just 37.1 shooting from the field and also ranking nationally in scoring defense with just 63.9 points per game allowed while also ranking 50th with 27.7 defensive rebounds per game.
The Mustangs (8-14, 1-9 ACC) are in the midst of a three-game losing streak and have lost eight of their last nine games dating back to the end of December. The Mustangs lone win in that stretch came at Pitt, winning 83-76 on Jan. 18. SMU is led by their strong defensive presence, ranking 39th nationally with 4.6 blocks per game while their 10.7 steals per game is 45th in the country. Senior forwards Anaya Brown and Grace Hall both rank in the top 10 in the ACC in blocks per game and account for nearly two-thirds of the SMU blocked shots this season.
Tipoff for Thursday is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. (ET) at Moody 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).
ACC Rookie of the Week
Wake Forest women's basketball freshman guard Milan Brown was named the ACC Rookie of the Week, as announced by the league office on Monday afternoon.
This marks the second Demon Deacon this season to earn a weekly ACC honor as sophomore forward Grace Olvier was named the ACC Player of the Week on Dec. 29.
In the two games this week, Brown averaged 21.5 points and 14 rebounds. Thursday against Virginia, she recorded a career-high 30 points to go along with 11 rebounds.
Recording a career-high 30 points, Brown went 11-for-20 from the field, 3-for-4 from three and a perfect 5-of-7 at the stripe to lead the Wake Forest offense. Additionally, Brown recorded the third double-double of the season with 11 rebounds, and second of her career.
Her 30-point effort also helped pace the Deacs to their highest ACC scoring game in program history as Wake Forest netted 103 points in the narrow loss to the Cavaliers.
Her game-tying three as the clock expired in regulation also was tabbed as the No. 9 play on the SportsCenter Top 10.
For the second consecutive game and the third time this season, freshman guard Milan Brown finished the game with a double-double, leading the Demon Deacons in scoring and on the glass.
She posted a career-high 17 rebounds in the game while also ending the afternoon with 13 points in the loss. Brown's big day on the boards marked the most by any player in the Megan Gebbia era and the most by a Wake Forest player since Ivana Raca pulled down 19 rebounds in a victory at Virginia Tech on Jan. 17, 2021.
Defensive Deacs
Wake Forest has remained a top competitor defensively well into the season, both nationally and in the ACC. Through 23 games, the Demon Deacons sit ninth in the conference, allowing 63.9 points per game and close behind the top teams.
Additionally, the Deacs are tied for first in the ACC and 49th in the nation with a 37.1 field goal percentage defense.
Assists On Made Baskets
Wake Forest tallied eight total assists on the night on 17 made baskets (47.1 percent). In 23 games this season, the Demon Deacons have totaled 391 assists on 582 field goals (67.2 percent) which would mark the highest percentage in the Megan Gebbia era.
The Demon Deacons are averaging 17.0 assists per game, third in the ACC behind Virginia's 18.8 and Duke's 17.8 assists. Additionally, the Deacs are on pace to have the fourth-most assists in program history and the 17.0 assists per game currently ranks fourth in program history:
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 Blue Devils into 12 turnovers on Sunday, and have forced 10 or more takeaways 89 times in the last 92 games, a stretch dating back to January of 2022.
Through 23 games, the Demon Deacons have forced 14.4 turnovers per game.
Owning the Paint
The Demon Deacons had another excellent game in the paint, with 48 points posted inside against Virginia.
Across 23 games, the Deacs have totaled 734 points in the paint (31.9 per game).
Sharpshooting Deacs
Against Virginia, Wake Forest had another fantastic performance from three, going 10-for-23, its fifth double-digit three game this season. So far this season, the Demon Deacons have knocked down 150 threes (6.5 3FG per game).
Over the last 10 games, the Demon Deacons have five double-digit three-point performances coming against Gardner-Webb, Pitt, NC State, Clemson and Virginia. During that stretch, Wake Forest is averaging 7.6 threes made per game and the 76 threes made have accounted for 49.0 percent of the threes made for the entire season. Additionally, the Deacs are shooting at a high clip during that 10-game stretch, knocking down 76-of-174 3FG (43.7 pct.).
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:
Grace is Historically Efficient
So far this season, sophomore forward Grace Oliver has been one of the most efficient players in the country, leading the ACC in field goal percentage and ranking 13th nationally, shooting 59.9 percent from the field:
Additionally, she has had one of the best seasons in program history as her 59.9 percent ranks sixth in Wake Forest history.
In a win over Gardner-Webb in December, Oliver finished the night going a perfect 14-for-14 from the floor, setting the ACC and Wake Forest record for field goal attempts without a miss. The previous ACC record was 12-of -12 from the floor by four players and was last done by Kalista Walters (Pittsburgh) against Chicago State on Dec. 31, 2017.
Additionally, this is just the ninth known occurrence in NCAA history of a player making 14 or more shots without a miss and first since Tinara Moore (CMU) on Jan. 9, 2016.
Since the turn of the century, only four players in Division-I have had 14 or more field goal attempts without a miss:
Additionally, she recorded a new career-high with 30 points, breaking her previous high of 21 points against Mercer on Nov. 13. It also marks the first 30-plus point game by a Wake Forest forward since Dearica Hamby tallied 32 points against Georgia Tech on Feb. 28, 2015.
LAST TIME
Wake Forest vs. Duke (February 1)
Result: L – 80-44
Versus SMU
Series: Wake Forest leads 4-1
Last: Feb. 20, 2025
Result: W, 67-64
The Demon Deacons return home Sunday for a Big-4 matchup against North Carolina. This game will also be the Play 4 Kay Pink Game as well as honoring National Girls and Women in Sports Day.
Tipoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. ET 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.
The Demon Deacons (12-11, 2-9 ACC) are off to their best start in the Megan Gebbia era and are looking to earn their third conference win of the season and the third-highest NET win so far this season. In the first 23 games, they have been propelled by 17.0 assists per game which ranks 33rd in the country and third in the ACC. The Deacs have had the emergence of sophomore forward Grace Oliver as she is averaging a team-high 13.8 points per game and also ranking 13th nationally with 59.9 percent shooting from the floor which ranks first in the ACC. Going into Thursday, the Deacs ranked 49th nationally and third in the ACC, holding opponents to just 37.1 shooting from the field and also ranking nationally in scoring defense with just 63.9 points per game allowed while also ranking 50th with 27.7 defensive rebounds per game.
The Mustangs (8-14, 1-9 ACC) are in the midst of a three-game losing streak and have lost eight of their last nine games dating back to the end of December. The Mustangs lone win in that stretch came at Pitt, winning 83-76 on Jan. 18. SMU is led by their strong defensive presence, ranking 39th nationally with 4.6 blocks per game while their 10.7 steals per game is 45th in the country. Senior forwards Anaya Brown and Grace Hall both rank in the top 10 in the ACC in blocks per game and account for nearly two-thirds of the SMU blocked shots this season.
Tipoff for Thursday is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. (ET) at Moody 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).
ACC Rookie of the Week
Wake Forest women's basketball freshman guard Milan Brown was named the ACC Rookie of the Week, as announced by the league office on Monday afternoon.
This marks the second Demon Deacon this season to earn a weekly ACC honor as sophomore forward Grace Olvier was named the ACC Player of the Week on Dec. 29.
In the two games this week, Brown averaged 21.5 points and 14 rebounds. Thursday against Virginia, she recorded a career-high 30 points to go along with 11 rebounds.
Recording a career-high 30 points, Brown went 11-for-20 from the field, 3-for-4 from three and a perfect 5-of-7 at the stripe to lead the Wake Forest offense. Additionally, Brown recorded the third double-double of the season with 11 rebounds, and second of her career.
Her 30-point effort also helped pace the Deacs to their highest ACC scoring game in program history as Wake Forest netted 103 points in the narrow loss to the Cavaliers.
Her game-tying three as the clock expired in regulation also was tabbed as the No. 9 play on the SportsCenter Top 10.
For the second consecutive game and the third time this season, freshman guard Milan Brown finished the game with a double-double, leading the Demon Deacons in scoring and on the glass.
She posted a career-high 17 rebounds in the game while also ending the afternoon with 13 points in the loss. Brown's big day on the boards marked the most by any player in the Megan Gebbia era and the most by a Wake Forest player since Ivana Raca pulled down 19 rebounds in a victory at Virginia Tech on Jan. 17, 2021.
Defensive Deacs
Wake Forest has remained a top competitor defensively well into the season, both nationally and in the ACC. Through 23 games, the Demon Deacons sit ninth in the conference, allowing 63.9 points per game and close behind the top teams.
Additionally, the Deacs are tied for first in the ACC and 49th in the nation with a 37.1 field goal percentage defense.
| Team | Games | W-L | Opp. FGM | Opp. FGA | Opp. FG% |
| T1. Virginia Tech | 23 | 18-5 | 482 | 1,313 | 36.7 |
| T1. Virginia | 22 | 15-7 | 479 | 1,304 | 36.7 |
| 3. Wake Forest | 23 | 12-11 | 551 | 1,485 | 37.1 |
| 4. North Carolina | 23 | 18-5 | 490 | 1,310 | 37.4 |
| 5. Duke | 22 | 16-6 | 494 | 1,306 | 37.8 |
Assists On Made Baskets
Wake Forest tallied eight total assists on the night on 17 made baskets (47.1 percent). In 23 games this season, the Demon Deacons have totaled 391 assists on 582 field goals (67.2 percent) which would mark the highest percentage in the Megan Gebbia era.
The Demon Deacons are averaging 17.0 assists per game, third in the ACC behind Virginia's 18.8 and Duke's 17.8 assists. Additionally, the Deacs are on pace to have the fourth-most assists in program history and the 17.0 assists per game currently ranks fourth in program history:
| Season | Total Assists | Total Games | Assists/G |
| 1987-88 | 563 | 31 | 18.2 |
| 1988-89 | 484 | 28 | 17.3 |
| 1986-87 | 466 | 27 | 17.3 |
| 2025-26 | 391 | 23 | 17.0 |
| 1989-90 | 469 | 28 | 16.8 |
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 Blue Devils into 12 turnovers on Sunday, and have forced 10 or more takeaways 89 times in the last 92 games, a stretch dating back to January of 2022.
Through 23 games, the Demon Deacons have forced 14.4 turnovers per game.
Owning the Paint
The Demon Deacons had another excellent game in the paint, with 48 points posted inside against Virginia.
Across 23 games, the Deacs have totaled 734 points in the paint (31.9 per game).
Sharpshooting Deacs
Against Virginia, Wake Forest had another fantastic performance from three, going 10-for-23, its fifth double-digit three game this season. So far this season, the Demon Deacons have knocked down 150 threes (6.5 3FG per game).
Over the last 10 games, the Demon Deacons have five double-digit three-point performances coming against Gardner-Webb, Pitt, NC State, Clemson and Virginia. During that stretch, Wake Forest is averaging 7.6 threes made per game and the 76 threes made have accounted for 49.0 percent of the threes made for the entire season. Additionally, the Deacs are shooting at a high clip during that 10-game stretch, knocking down 76-of-174 3FG (43.7 pct.).
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 |
So far this season, sophomore forward Grace Oliver has been one of the most efficient players in the country, leading the ACC in field goal percentage and ranking 13th nationally, shooting 59.9 percent from the field:
| Rank | Field Goal Percentage |
| 1. Grace Oliver (Wake Forest) | 59.9 pct. |
| 2. Sakima Walker (Cal) | 56.5 pct. |
| 3. Ra Shayna Kyle (Miami) | 55.6 pct. |
| 4. Toby Fournier (Duke) | 54.3 pct. |
| 5. Uche Izoje (Syracuse) | 54.1 pct. |
Additionally, she has had one of the best seasons in program history as her 59.9 percent ranks sixth in Wake Forest history.
In a win over Gardner-Webb in December, Oliver finished the night going a perfect 14-for-14 from the floor, setting the ACC and Wake Forest record for field goal attempts without a miss. The previous ACC record was 12-of -12 from the floor by four players and was last done by Kalista Walters (Pittsburgh) against Chicago State on Dec. 31, 2017.
Additionally, this is just the ninth known occurrence in NCAA history of a player making 14 or more shots without a miss and first since Tinara Moore (CMU) on Jan. 9, 2016.
Since the turn of the century, only four players in Division-I have had 14 or more field goal attempts without a miss:
| Player (School) | Date | Opponent | Field Goals | Points |
| Grace Oliver (Wake Forest) | Dec. 22, 2025 | Gardner-Webb | 14-of-14 | 30 |
| Tinara Moore (CMU) | Jan. 9, 2016 | Akron | 16-of-16 | 35 |
| Dyana Pierre (SIU) | Dec. 16, 2014 | Murray State | 14-of-14 | 31 |
| Gwen Jackson (Tennessee) | Nov. 29, 2002 | PR-May | 14-of-14 | 28 |
Additionally, she recorded a new career-high with 30 points, breaking her previous high of 21 points against Mercer on Nov. 13. It also marks the first 30-plus point game by a Wake Forest forward since Dearica Hamby tallied 32 points against Georgia Tech on Feb. 28, 2015.
LAST TIME
Wake Forest vs. Duke (February 1)
Result: L – 80-44
- For the second consecutive game, the Demon Deacons were led by freshman guard Milan Brown who finished the game with a career-high 17 rebounds to go along with 13 points. This comes on the heels of a career-high 30 points and 11 rebounds on Thursday night against Virginia.
- Against the Blue Devils (16-6, 11-0 ACC), Brown had eight rebounds by the halftime break and came out of the locker room playing her best basketball of the afternoon, recording nine points and seven rebounds in the third quarter alone to achieve her third double-double of the season and her second of the week.
- Brown's big day on the boards marked the most by any player in the Megan Gebbia era and the most by a Wake Forest player since Ivana Raca pulled down 19 rebounds in a victory at Virginia Tech on Jan. 17, 2021.
Versus SMU
Series: Wake Forest leads 4-1
Last: Feb. 20, 2025
Result: W, 67-64
- The Demon Deacons led for all but 11 seconds in the game as they took an early first quarter lead and went on to lead for the final 36:59 of the game.
- The Deacs held the Mustangs leading scorer in junior guard Nya Robertson to just six points in the game, her second-lowest scoring output of the season and just the second time all season she had finished with single-digit points. Robertson was just 3-of-12 from the field and 0-of-5 from behind the arc.
- The Demon Deacons held SMU to just 3-of-15 shooting from behind the arc while also forcing them to turn it over 16 times in the game. Those turnovers led to 23 points on the other end for Wake Forest and the Deacs were also +11 in fast break points, scoring 13 in the victory.
- In addition to Williams' game-high 20 points, she also led the team with six rebounds and four assists. It marked the senior's seventh-career game with 20-or-more points and first of the season. She was efficient, shooting 7-of-10 from the field, going 1-of-1 from three and 5-of-6 from the line.
The Demon Deacons return home Sunday for a Big-4 matchup against North Carolina. This game will also be the Play 4 Kay Pink Game as well as honoring National Girls and Women in Sports Day.
Tipoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. ET 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.
Players Mentioned
Guard
/ Women's Basketball
Forward
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