Wake Forest University
The Demon Deacons (9-17, 2-13 ACC) are looking for their third win of the conference campaign and second consecutive after beating SMU Thursday night at LJVM Coliseum. Senior guard Elise Williams netted a season-high 20 points and 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.
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 65.1 points per game this season. The Demon Deacons also rank top 90 in the nation with 9.0 steals per game.
The Hurricanes (13-13, 3-12 ACC) have dropped their last five games and sit just one spot ahead of the Demon Deacons in the conference standings, heading into the final week and a half of the season. Miami’s last five games have all come against ranked opponents including most recently a loss to No. 1 Notre Dame Thursday night, 82-42. The Hurricanes have been one of the better teams in the country at the free throw line this season, ranking 24th nationally and second in the conference, shooting 77.0 percent from the charity stripe. Graduate student guard Haley Cavinder is fifth in the ACC in scoring, producing 18.4 points per game this season while also ranking in the top 25 nationally in both field goals and field goal attempts.
Tipoff for Sunday is scheduled for Noon (ET) at Watsco Center.
For those not at the arena, fans can tune in to ACC Network 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).
RYLIE RAISES HER GAME
For the ninth-consecutive game, sophomore guard Rylie Theuerkauf reached double figures with 16 points against the Mustangs on 6-of-13 shooting and five rebounds Thursday night. It marked her 17th game of the season with double-digit points.
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 136 points over the last eight games (17.0/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 245 points so far this season.
Williams will now look to move up the scoring list on Sunday afternoon as she is 14th and is 32 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.) | 1,310 |
| 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 in the top 10 in program history as she is making 55.9 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. | Alice Neal (1986-87) | .563 |
| 10. | Malaya Cowles (2024-25) | .559 |
Additionally, Cowles career shooting percentage of 55.0 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 358 of 603 made baskets this season (59.4 pct.). Additionally over the last 22 games, the Demon Deacons have assisted on 318 of 523 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.) | 377 |
| 9. | Chelsea Douglas (2010-14) | 360 |
| 10. | Liz Strunk (2003-06) | 340 |
FORCING TURNOVERS
Forcing the Mustangs into just 16 turnovers on Thursday, led to 23 points off turnovers in the game. The Deacs have forced 10 or more takeaways 65 times in the last 68 games. The 68-game stretch goes back to January of 2022. Through 26 games this season, Wake Forest has totaled 235 steals including eight 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 75 percent or from the line in 13 of the first 26 games of the 2024-25 season, including a season-high against No. 17 NC State at 100.0 percent (11-of-11).
The Demon Deacons went 18-of-25 (72.0 percent) from the charity stripe Thursday night, marking the most free throws they had taken since playing Davidson in November and the 18 free throws made were the most by the Deacs in a game this season.
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 64.4 percent (56-of-87 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 42-of-51 (82.4 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) | .780 |
| 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 (257-of-365) | 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 have gotten off to a quick start from behind the arc in the 2024-25 season, knocking down 144 threes in the first 26 games (5.5 3FGM per game). Additionally, the Deacs came into the game, knocking down 30.6 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.) | 147 |
| T8. | Tonia Brown (2001-04) | 142 |
| T8. | Ariel Stephenson (2015-19) | 142 |
| 10. | Liz Strunk (2003-06) | 141 |
LAST TIME
Wake Forest vs. SMU (Feb. 20)
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.
- 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.
SERIES HISTORY
Versus Miami
Series: Miami leads 18-13
Last: February 1, 2024
Result: L, 72-54
- The Demon Deacons shot 8-of-20 (40 percent) from beyond the arc, tied for the second-most made triples by the Deacs last season as well as the second-highest percentage from deep. Five separate Deacs knocked down at least one three-pointer, with redshirt freshman Kate Deeble (3-of-5) and freshman Madisyn Jordan (2-for-2) leading the way.
- Individually, the Deacs were led by Deeble, who recorded 15 points on 6-of-10 shooting in addition to a career-high six assists and a pair of rebounds. It marked the third double-digit scoring performance of her career and second in ACC play. Additionally, her three three-point makes tied a career best.
UP NEXT
The Demon Deacons play their final road game of the season Sunday when they travel to nationally-ranked NC State on Thursday night.
Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. on ACC Network Extra.
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.
