Wake Forest Athletics
Deacons Return to the Road
6/21/1999 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
December 3, 1998
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C.- After returning home from an eight-day roadtrip through the Northeastern U.S., the Wake Forest women's basketball team hits the road again for its ACC season opener against the 15th-ranked Virginia Cavaliers. The Demon Deacons went 2-2 on their four-game road swing, winning the first two outings but dropping the last two to even out at 3-3 overall. The Cavaliers are 3-2 thus far and are coming off a loss to unranked Virginia Tech on Monday night.
Demon Deacons
vs.
No. 15 Virginia
Friday, December 4 * 7:00 pm * University Hall * Charlottesville, VA
Last Week in Review
Wake Forest began its roadtrip in Providence, RI, where the Deacs defeated Providence College, 80-73 on Nov. 24th. Wake utilized a bruising inside game, pounding the ball inside to its low post players, as well as demonstrating an up-tempo transition game. Senior forward Emon McMillian (Greensboro, NC) led the way for the Deacs with a career-high 23 points and 12 rebounds, while freshman centers LaChina Robinson (Alexandria, VA) and Elizabeth Biedrycki (Charlotte, NC) added 17 points and six boards and 12 points and eight boards, respectively. Senior guard Heidi Coleman (Edmonton, KY) and junior guard Alisha Mosley (Ellicott City, MD) each dished four assists in the win. Wake outrebounded PC, 49-40.
The Deacs moved on to Fairfield, CT, where they competed in the Fairfield University Warner's Classic on Nov. 27-28. In the opening game of the tourney, the Deacs blew out Fairleigh Dickinson, 79-45, this time relying on strong outside shooting. Sophomore forward Olivia Dardy (Norwalk, CT) put on a clinic for her hometown crowd, collecting 21 points and a career-high-tying 12 rebounds, including a career-best four three-pointers. Sophomore forward Brenda Mock Kirkpatrick (Waynesville, NC) also stepped up with a strong game, netting a career-high 15 points, while Mosley registered a career-high six assists. The Deacs hit 11 three-pointers in the win - just two shy of the school record - and outrebounded FDU, 53-41.
Wake met a familiar rival in the tourney championship game, falling to East Carolina by a 78-70 margin. The Deacs trailed by 11 at halftime, 37-26, and rallied to within four points in the game's final minute before running out of time. Kirkpatrick led the way with 15 points and eight rebounds, Mosley added 14 points and four assists, and Dardy netted 10 points and a team-best nine boards. Wake outrebounded ECU, 47-38. With 31 points and 21 rebounds in two games, Dardy earned a spot on the All-Tournament team.
The road-weary Deacs closed out the trip with a disappointing 67-57 loss to West Virginia on Nov. 30. Despite outrebounding the Mountaineers, 41-32, the Deacs shot a season-low 32 percent from the floor and committed a season-high 23 turnovers. Kirkpatrick was a bright spot in the loss, scoring 13 points and grabbing a career-high 13 rebounds. McMillian added 13 points and six boards, while sophomore guard Janae Whiteside (Charlotte, NC) dished a career-best five assists.
Furman Game Moved to Reynolds Gym
The Dec. 17 game between Wake Forest and Furman has been moved from Joel Coliseum to Reynolds Gym on campus due to scheduling conflicts with the Coliseum. Game time is still 7 p.m.
Scouting The Opposition
Virginia is currently ranked No. 15 in the AP poll and 18th by USA Today, and the Cavaliers own a 3-2 overall record. UVa has defeated West Virginia (85-62), Va. Commonwealth (99-57), and California (70-55), while falling to Arkansas State (86-77) and most recently to Virginia Tech (81-65). Leading the way for the Wahoos is ACC Preseason Player of the Year DeMya Walker, who is averaging 15.4 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks per game. Monique Foote (13.2 ppg), Lesley Brown (11.8 ppg), and Erin Stovall (10.8) are all averaging double figure scoring as well. UVa is averaging 79.2 points per game on 44 percent shooting, while outrebounding opponents by a 4.0 margin.
Series History
Virginia owns a commanding 41-1 lead in the all-time series with Wake Forest, and the Cavaliers have won the last 39 straight outings. The Deacs' lone win over UVa came on a 60-59 decision in Charlottesville in the 1977-78 season. Last year the Wahoos swept the Deacons, 65-55, and 60-51.
Looking for Leaders to Emerge
In the hopes that the leadership of the Demon Deacon team will emerge naturally, head coach Charlene Curtis has elected not to appoint team captains for the 1998-99 season. However, game captains will be selected for each contest by the coaching staff.
Fountain of Youth
The Demon Deacons feature an extremely youthful squad this season, with 10 of 14 players on the roster in only their freshman or sophomore years of eligibility. This young squad is anchored by four seasoned veterans, however, including two fifth-year players (Heidi Coleman and Emon McMillian), one true senior (Jenn Miklic), and one junior (Alisha Mosley).
Deacs Increase Offensive Production
Last season, despite a strong defensive game, the Deacons consistently struggled to put points on the board. No players finished the season averaging in double figures, and the team as a whole averaged just 57.4 points per game. This year, however, the Deacons have already shown significant improvement in the scoring department, averaging 73.7 points per game in their first six outings - an increase of over 28 percent. Three players are averaging in double figures thus far - sophomore forward Olivia Dardy (12.5 ppg), senior forward Emon McMillian (11.8 ppg), and junior guard Alisha Mosley (10.8 ppg) - and seven different players have recorded at least one double-digit scoring outing thus far (the above three plus senior guard Heidi Coleman, sophomore forward Brenda Mock Kirkpatrick, and freshman centers LaChina Robinson and Elizabeth Biedrycki).
Interior Improvements
The Deacs have also demonstrated a much-improved inside game this season with the return of some key post players and the addition of some new faces. Anchoring the frontcourt is senior power forward Emon McMillian, a fifth-year player who led the team in rebounding (6.7 rpg) last year. McMillian has averaged 11.8 points and 5.2 rebounds in the first six games, including a dazzling 23-point, 12-rebound performance at Providence. Also returning are sophomore forwards Olivia Dardy and Brenda Mock Kirkpatrick, both of whom made tremendous strides as rookies last year. Dardy is an inside-outside threat who can play the three, four, or five position, and she has averaged a team-high 12.5 points and 8.3 rebounds in the first six games. Kirkpatrick, a redshirt sophomore, consistently provided a spark off the bench last season and has emerged as a true leader on the court this year. She is averaging 9.2 points and 6.0 rebounds per game. In addition, freshman centers LaChina Robinson and Elizabeth Biedrycki have provided the size and defensive presence in the paint that Wake lacked last year. Robinson has started all six games and contributed 4.3 points and 3.7 rebounds, including a 17-point outing at Providence. Biedrycki averages 3.7 points and 2.7 rebounds per game and netted 12 points vs. the Friars.
Preseason Prognostications
The Deacons were picked to finish ninth in the Atlantic Coast Conference in the 1998-99 ACC Media Preseason Poll, released on October 26th. Duke was the favorite to finish first, collecting 207 points in the voting and 17 of 24 first-place votes. Virginia placed second in the voting, followed by 1998 champion North Carolina, NC State, Clemson, Florida State, Maryland, Georgia Tech, and Wake.
Coleman Closing in On Three-Point Shooting Records
Senior point guard Heidi Coleman already ranks as one of the top three-point shooters in school history, and she is closing in on the Wake Forest records for threes made and attempted in a career. In her career as a Deacon, Coleman owns a 35.8 three-point shooting percentage and ranks second all-time in three-pointers made (154) and attempted (430). Both career marks are held by Nicole Levesque '94, who went on to play with the WNBA's Charlotte Sting.
Coleman currently holds the school single-season records in both categories, hitting 61-of-179 treys as a sophomore in 1996-97. Last year she nearly matched those record-setting marks, posting the second-highest single-season numbers for threes made (57) and attempted (166). Coleman also ranks as the school's ninth all-time assist leader with 248 assists in her career. The all-time record of 488 is also held by Levesque.
Guards Boast Strong Assist-to-Turnover Ratio
Another area of dramatic improvement for the Deacs this year is in assist-to-turnover ratio. Last season, Wake recorded more assists than turnovers just once (a slight 13-to-12 edge in a loss to East Carolina), and only one Deacon registered a positive assist-to-turnover ratio for the season (point guard Heidi Coleman was 57-to-55). This year, however, Wake has three backcourt players ranking among the ACC's top ten in assist-to-turnover ratio. Coleman boasts the league's second best ratio at 2.86 (20-to-7), while junior guard Alisha Mosley is fifth wth a 2.33 ratio (21-to-9), and sophomore guard Janae Whiteside is seventh with a 2.17 (13-to-6). Overall, the Deacon backcourt owns a 1.86 ratio and the team as a whole checks in at 1.05 (compared to a -1.82 last year).
Kirkpatrick Emerging as Force in the Frontcourt
Sophomore forward Brenda Mock Kirkpatrick has been particularly impressive in Wake's last three games, emerging as yet another inside weapon for the Deacs. A true leader on the court with a tremendous work ethic, Kirkpatrick averaged 14.3 points and 8.3 rebounds off the bench in the Deacs' last three outings (over a four-day span). She netted a career-high 15 points in the win over Fairleigh Dickinson on Friday on 7-of-11 shooting, then repeated the feat Saturday with 15 points vs. East Carolina, hitting 4-of-9 from the floor and 7-of-8 from the line. Monday night at West Virginia, "Mocky" collected 13 points and a career-high 13 rebounds, as well as two assists and a steal. She hit 5-of-9 from the floor, including just her second career three-pointer, and six of her boards came on the offensive end. For the year, Kirkpatrick is averaging 9.2 points (fifth on the team) and 6.0 rebounds (second) per game.
Dardy Named to Warner's All-Tournament Team
Sophomore forward Olivia Dardy earned a spot on the Fairfield-Warner's Classic All-Tournament team for her strong performance in the event, and she continues to lead the Deacons in both scoring (12.5 ppg) and rebounding (8.3 rpg) through six games. At the tournament, the Connecticut native impressed her hometown crowd by racking up 31 points and 21 rebounds in two games, helping Wake to a runner-up finish. On the season, Dardy has notched two double-doubles (four double-digit scoring games and two double-figure rebound games overall). A versatile player who can play either the three, four, or five position, Dardy has the ability to score both in the paint and from three-point range. Last season, she lead the team in scoring and rebounding in ACC games (8.8 ppg, 6.7 rpg) and was named to ACC Athlete magazine's All-Freshman Team.
Mosley Dishes It Off
Sophomore guard Alisha Mosley has been one of the Deacs' top offensive weapons in the first six games, averaging 10.8 points and a team-high 3.5 assists per outing. Mosley has scored in double figures three times this year, netting a career-high 23 points in the season opener vs. Virginia Commonwealth and adding 14 points vs. both Davidson and East Carolina. More impressively, Mosley has led the team in assists in four of the first six games, and she set a new career best with six set-ups vs. Fairleigh Dickinson. She also boasts an impressive 2.33 assist-to-turnover ratio on the year. An ACC All-Freshman Team selection in 1996-97, Mosley averaged 7.6 points and 2.1 assists per game last year.
Freshman Centers Come up Big vs. Providence
Recognizing the Deacons' lack of height inside last year, head coach Charlene Curtis signed not one but three freshmen centers, all of whom tower at 6-4. Two of those centers - LaChina Robinson and Elizabeth Biedrycki - have seen significant action in the team's first six games, and both turned in huge performances in the win over Providence. Robinson, a solid defensive player and shot-blocker, has started every game at center, averaging 4.3 points, 3.7 rebounds, and one block. Robinson exploded for 17 points in the win over the Friars, hitting 6-of-9 from the floor and 5-of-9 from the line, and she also grabbed six rebounds. Biedrycki, a skilled rebounder who can also score down low, has come off the bench in all six games, averaging 3.7 points and 2.7 rebounds per outing. She tallied season highs in both points and rebounds vs. Providence with 12 and eight, respectively, all in just 15 minutes of court time. The Deacs' third freshman center, LaTisha Pearson (Birmingham, AL), has tremendous potential but has not dressed for a contest yet. She is considering redshirting the season to further develop her skills.
Rookies Bring Backcourt Depth Too
Three other talented rookies have bolstered the Deacon backcourt this season as well. True point guard Val Klopfer (Albany, NY) is a skilled ballhandler and a talented playmaker who has ably relieved Heidi Coleman of some playing time. A Street & Smith honorable mention high school All-American, Klopfer has good court vision plays with great intensity. She has played in four of the first six games, averaging 3.2 points in nine minutes of court time. Adell Harris (High Point, NC), the MVP of last year's North Carolina East-West All-Star game, is a versatile and athletic guard who has three-point range and can also penetrate for short pull-up jumpers. The strength of Harris' game, however, is her pinpoint passing. Harris has played an average of 12.5 minutes in the first six games, contributing 3.2 points and 1.7 assists per game. She contributed a season-high seven points vs. East Carolina. Swing player Liz Rogers (Raleigh, NC), a tenacious competitor and the two-time North Carolina Independent School Player of the Year, has appeared in four games and averaged just three minutes a contest. She recorded an impressive six points and five rebounds in just eight minutes vs. FDU.
Coleman Ranks Among ACC's Best
Senior point guard Heidi Coleman ranks among the ACC leaders in several categories after an impressive early season. Her 93.3 free throw percentage (14-15) is tops in the league, while her 2.86 assist-to-turnover ratio (20-to-7) and 45.8 three-point percentage (11-of-24) are second best in the ACC. She also ranks fourth in threes per game at 1.8 - a category in which she has ranked among the league's best for the past two seasons.
Other League Leaders
Sophomore forward Olivia Dardy ranks 14th in the ACC in scoring (12.5 ppg), fifth in rebounding (8.3 rpg), and fifth in offensive rebounds (3.67 per game) ...freshman center LaChina Robinson is eighth in blocks (1.0 bpg)...junior guard Alisha Mosley ranks ninth in assists (3.5 apg) and fifth in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.33).
Tip-Ins
The Deacs have outrebounded five of their first six opponents and own a +4.6 rebounding margin on the year...Wake Forest leads the ACC in three-pointers per game with 5.7 and ranks third in 3-point percentage at 34.0...the Deacs hit 11 threes in the win over FDU, just two treys short of the school record...the 10 turnovers Wake committed vs. Davidson were the lowest total by the Deacons in over a year, while the 22 assists vs. FDU were the most in over a year...the season-opening win over VCU snapped a 16-game losing streak for the Demon Deacons, the longest in school history...Wake hit an impressive 83.3 percent of its foul shots (20-24) in the win over VCU - the best team mark in the ACC this year.
PROBABLE STARTING LINEUP
Pos. No. Name Ht. Yr. GP/GS PPG RPG Other F 5 Emon McMillian 6-1 Sr. 6/6 11.8 5.2 1.3 spg F 12 Jenn Miklic 6-0 Sr. 5/4 1.0 2.2 0.8 apg C 34 LaChina Robinson 6-4 Fr. 6/6 4.3 3.7 1.0 bpg G 11 Alisha Mosley 5-6 Jr. 6/5 10.8 2.3 3.5 apg G 22 Heidi Coleman 5-6 Sr. 6/6 9.8 3.8 3.3 apgKEY RESERVES F 32 Olivia Dardy 6-1 So. 6/2 12.5 8.3 2.3 apg F 50 B. Mock Kirkpatrick 6-0 So. 6/0 9.2 6.0 1.2 apg C 33 Elizabeth Biedrycki 6-4 Fr. 6/0 3.7 2.7 0.7 bpg G 21 Janae Whiteside 5-7 So. 6/1 4.2 0.8 2.2 apg G 23 Adell Harris 5-8 Fr. 6/0 3.2 1.3 1.7 apg
