The Wake Forest women’s basketball team pulled off a hard-fought 67-64 victory against SMU on Thursday night at the Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Winston-Salem, N.C. Senior guard Elise Williams led the charge with a season-high 20 points, helping the Demon Deacons (9-17, 2-13 ACC) snap their losing streak and dominate for most of the game.
Game Overview: A Wire-to-Wire Performance
The Demon Deacons led for nearly the entire game, maintaining control for all but 11 seconds. Wake Forest took the lead early in the first quarter and never looked back, holding onto it for the final 36 minutes and 59 seconds. Their defense played a significant role in this win, keeping SMU’s (10-17, 2-13 ACC) top scorer, junior guard Nya Robertson, to just six points—her second-lowest total of the season.
Wake Forest’s defensive prowess forced 16 turnovers from SMU, converting those mistakes into 23 points. The team also had a significant edge in fast-break points, outscoring the Mustangs 13-2 in that category.
Key Performances: Stars of the Game
Elise Williams Shines Bright
- Points: 20 (Season-high)
- Rebounds: 6
- Assists: 4
Williams not only led the team in scoring but was also effective on both ends of the court, contributing crucial rebounds and assists. Shooting 7-of-10 from the field and a perfect 1-of-1 from beyond the arc, Williams was efficient and composed. This game marked her seventh career 20-point performance and her first of the season.
Her achievement also helped her surpass Lakevia Boykin (2009-13) for 14th place in Wake Forest’s all-time scoring list with 1,310 career points. She is now just 32 points behind Jane Jackson (1977-80) for the 13th spot.
Rylie Theuerkauf’s Consistency Continues
- Points: 16
- Double-Digit Games: 9 in a row
The sophomore guard stayed consistent, delivering yet another double-digit scoring performance. She has now scored 136 points across her last eight games, averaging 17 points per game.
Raegyn Conley’s Three-Point Mastery
- Points: 12
- Three-Point Shooting: 3-of-6
Conley remained reliable from beyond the arc, hitting at least one three-pointer in 10 of her last 11 games. Over the last six games, she’s shooting an impressive 59.1% (13-of-22) from three-point range.
Game Highlights: How Wake Forest Secured the Win
- First Quarter:
Wake Forest jumped to an early lead with a 10-0 run to close the quarter, ending with a 26-15 advantage. The team forced nine turnovers and shot efficiently from the floor (50%). - Second Quarter:
SMU trimmed the lead to five, but Williams and Theuerkauf helped Wake Forest extend the lead back to eight (37-29) by halftime. - Third Quarter:
The Deacs held steady, maintaining their advantage and ending the quarter up 50-43. - Fourth Quarter:
SMU made a late push but back-to-back three-pointers from Williams and Conley sealed the deal. Wake Forest’s clutch free-throw shooting (12 free throws made in the final quarter) ensured the victory.
Defensive Masterclass Against SMU’s Star
A major turning point in this matchup was how effectively Wake Forest contained Nya Robertson, who usually averages 19 points per game. The Deacons held her to just six points on 3-of-12 shooting from the field and prevented her from scoring any three-pointers (0-of-5).
Notable Achievements and Records
- Wake Forest improved their all-time record against SMU to 4-1.
- The Demon Deacons shot 44% from the floor (22-of-50), marking their eighth consecutive game shooting over 40%.
- This win marked the team’s best free-throw performance of the season with 18 made free throws.
Coach Megan Gebbia’s Thoughts
“This is a great win. We did a great job on their leading scorer, holding her to just six points. Elise did a great job, and our guards overall were fantastic on offense. We valued the basketball and avoided turnovers until late in the game. Now, we need to build on this going into our road game at Miami on Sunday.”
What’s Next for Wake Forest?
With this momentum-building win, the Demon Deacons will look to continue their improved play as they prepare for a challenging road game against Miami. If key players like Elise Williams and Rylie Theuerkauf maintain their form, Wake Forest could close out their season on a high note.
