Women's Basketball Travels to Maryland

December 10, 1998

Demon Deacons vs. Maryland
Sunday, December 13 at 2:00 pm
Cole Field House
College Park, MD

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C.-After a disappointing loss to No. 15 Virginia in its ACC season opener, the Wake Forest women's basketball team travels to Maryland in hopes of picking up its first ACC win of the year. After a 3-1 start, the Demon Deacons have dropped three straight games to fall to 3-4 overall. A young Maryland squad has struggled in the early season, however, and the Terps stood at 0-6 heading into their game at No. 20 Penn State on Thursday night. With over a week to rest and prepare for this game, the Deacs are focused on snapping their 17-game ACC losing streak this Sunday in College Park.

Last Time Out: Virginia 65, Wake Forest 45
DeMya Walker tallied 19 points, eight rebounds, six assists, six blocks, and four steals as No. 15 Virginia used a strong second half to defeat Wake Forest, 65-45. The Demon Deacons jumped out to a quick 7-2 lead, and strong defensive play allowed Wake to hold the lead throughout much of the first period. The Cavaliers rallied late in the first half to go ahead by three at the break, then pulled ahead by 18 midway through the second half. The Deacs then staged a rally of their own, closing the gap to eight points on a pair of free throws by junior guard Alisha Mosley with just under five minutes to play. Virginia put a clamp on the Deacons for the rest of the game, however, outscoring Wake 12-0 in the final 4:48. Mosley led Wake Forest with 13 points and five rebounds, while sophomore forward Brenda Mock Kirkpatrick recorded her fourth straight double-figure scoring outing with 10 points and a team-high six boards. Wake shot just 27 percent from the floor for the game, struggling against UVa's strong inside game. Accurate outside shooting kept the Deacs in the game for a while, however, as they hit 10 of their 22 three-point attempts (46 percent).

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
Maryland lost two starting forwards to graduation and is also without its two starting guards - Kelley Gibson, who tore her ACL, and Tiffany Brown, who is academically ineligible - for the fall semster. The Terps have thus been forced to field an extremely young team and have struggled to an 0-6 start (heading into Thursday's Penn State game). UM is averaging just 49.2 points per game offensively, and has turned the ball over an average of 28 times per outing. The Terps have received strong play from their lone veteran starter, junior center Branka Bogunovic, who averages 15 points and 7.7 rebounds per contest. Freshman Marche Strickland, who serves as UM's starting point guard by default, has tallied 10.3 points and 3.5 assists per game.

Series History
Maryland holds a 34-7 advantage over Wake Forest in the all-time series, and the Terps have won the past five straight meetings. Last year, UM snatched two wins from under the Deacs' noses, erasing a 12-point deficit to win 61-59 in College Park, and rallying from 16 points down to win 56-52 in overtime in Winston-Salem. Wake's last win over Maryland came on a 72-57 decision in College Park in the 1995-96 season.

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 player 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 69.6 points per game in their first seven outings - an increase of over 21 percent (prior to their season-low 45 points vs. Virginia, the team was averaging 73.7 ppg). Three players are averaging in double figures thus far - sophomore forward Olivia Dardy (11.6 ppg), junior guard Alisha Mosley (11.1 ppg), and senior forward Emon McMillian (10.1 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 10.1 points and 5.1 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 11.6 points and 7.9 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 9.3 points and 6.0 rebounds per game, and has netted four straight double-figure scoring outings. In addition, freshman centers LaChina Robinson and Elizabeth Biedrycki have provided the size and defensive presence in the paint that Wake lacked last year. The duo contributes 7.0 points and 6.0 rebounds per game, and they combined for 29 points vs. Providence (Robinson 17, Biedrycki 12).

Guards Boast Strong Assist-to-Turnover Ratio
Another area of dramatic improvement for the Deacs this year is in their 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 with strong assist-to-turnover ratios. Coleman boasts an impressive 2.75 ratio (22-to-8), while junior guard Alisha Mosley owns a 1.83 ratio (22-to-12), and sophomore guard Janae Whiteside has a 1.75 (14-to-8). Overall, the Deacon backcourt owns a 1.67 assist-to-turnover ratio, although the team as a whole checks in at -1.1 (a mark that was a +1.05 until the Virginia loss, where the Deacs recorded 27 turnovers to just nine assists).

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 (157) and attempted (438). 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 250 assists in her career. The all-time record of 488 is also held by Levesque.

Raining Threes
Wake Forest has utilized an arsenal of three-point shooters this season to rank as one of the top long-distance shooting teams in the ACC. WFU currently leads the ACC in threes per game at 6.3, and the Deacs rank second in the conference in three-point field goal percentage at 36.1. Senior point guard Heidi Coleman remains Wake's top three-point threat (see above), ranking second in the league in three-point percentage (23 of 71, 43.8) and third in threes per game (2.0). Junior shooting guard Alisha Mosley has hit 33.3 percent of her attempts (10-30), while reserve guards Janae Whiteside (3-18), Adell Harris (2-8), and Val Klopfer (2-7) have contributed threes here and there. In addition to backcourt players, however, two of the Deacs' post players can also step out and hit a big three when needed. Sophomore forward Olivia Dardy (10-20, .500) has been deadly from three-point range, while Brenda Mock Kirkpatrick (3-5, .600) has demonstrated the ability to hit a few herself when left open on the perimeter.

Kirkpatrick Emerging as Force in the Frontcourt
Sophomore forward Brenda Mock Kirkpatrick has been particularly impressive in Wake's last four games, emerging as yet another inside weapon for the Deacs. A true leader on the court with a tremendous work ethic, Kirkpatrick has averaged 13.3 points and 7.8 rebounds off the bench in the Deacs' last four outings (over an eight-day span). She netted a career-high 15 points in the win over Fairleigh Dickinson on 7-of-11 shooting, then repeated the feat the next day with 15 points vs. East Carolina, hitting 4-of-9 from the floor and 7-of-8 from the line. At West Virginia, "Mocky" collected 13 points and a career-high 13 rebounds, hitting 5-of-9 from the floor and grabbing six offensive boards. Finally, at Virginia, she scored 10 points - including two three-pointers - and pulled down six caroms. For the year, Kirkpatrick is averaging 9.3 points (fifth on the team) and 6.0 rebounds (second).

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 (11.6 ppg) and rebounding (7.9 rpg) through seven 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 seven games, averaging 11.1 points and a team-high 3.1 assists per outing. Mosley has scored in double figures four times this year, netting a career-high 23 points in the season opener vs. Virginia Commonwealth, adding 14 points vs. both Davidson and East Carolina, and scoring 13 vs. Virginia. More impressively, Mosley has led the team in assists in four of the first seven games, and she set a new career best with six set-ups vs. Fairleigh Dickinson. She also boasts an impressive 1.83 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
Two of the Deacs' three 6'4" freshman centers - LaChina Robinson and Elizabeth Biedrycki - have seen significant action in the team's first seven 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 3.9 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 0.9 blocks. 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 seven games, averaging 3.1 points and 2.9 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. Wake's third 6'4" freshman center, LaTisha Pearson, has not dressed for a contest and is considering redshirting the year to further her development as a player.

Rookies Bring Backcourt Depth Too
Three other rookies have bolstered the Deacon perimeter game as well. Val Klopfer is a skilled ballhandler and a talented playmaker who has ably relieved Heidi Coleman of some playing time. at the point guard position She has played in five games, averaging 1.2 points in just over seven minutes of court time. Adell Harris is a versatile and athletic guard with pinpoint passing skills. She has played an average of 11 minutes per game, contributing 2.7 points and 1.4 assists. Harris contributed a season-high seven points vs. East Carolina. Swing player Liz Rogers, a tenacious competitor, has appeared in five games and averaged three minutes a contest. She recorded six points and five rebounds in just eight minutes vs. FDU.

Individual League Leaders
Senior point guard Heidi Coleman ranks among the ACC leaders in several categories after an impressive early season. Her 43.8 three-point percentage (14-of-32) is second-best in the ACC, and she ranks third in threes per game at 2.0 - a category in which she has led the league for the past two seasons. Coleman's 93.3 free throw percentage (14-15) doesn't meet the ACC's statistical minimum for ranking but would place her tops in the league, while her 2.75 assist-to-turnover ratio places her among the top five in the conference as well. Sophomore forward Olivia Dardy also ranks seventh in the ACC in rebounding (7.9 rpg).

Team Rankings
Through games of Dec. 9th, Wake Forest leads the ACC in three-pointers per game (6.3) and ranks second in three-point percentage (36.1). Other league rankings: 8th in scoring (69.6 ppg), 7th in scoring defense (68.7 ppg), 7th in scoring margin (+0.9), 9th in field goal percentage (.379), 5th in field goal percentage defense (.397), 4th in free throw percentage (.678), 9th in blocks (2.4 bpg), 9th in steals (6.7 spg), 7th in turnover margin (-0.4), and 5th in rebound margin (+3.4).

Tip-Ins
The Deacs have outrebounded five of their first seven opponents and own a +3.4 rebounding margin on the year...the Deacs hit 11 threes in the win over FDU, just two treys short of the school record, and drained 10 threes vs. Virginia...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.  7/7     10.1  5.1  1.1 spg
F    12   Jenn Miklic         6-0  Sr.  6/5      1.2  1.8  0.8 apg
C    34   LaChina Robinson    6-4  Fr.  7/7      3.9  3.3  0.9 bpg
G    11   Alisha Mosley       5-6  Jr.  7/6     11.1  2.7  3.1 apg
G    22   Heidi Coleman       5-6  Sr.  7/7      9.7  4.0  3.1 apg

Key Reserves

F    32   Olivia Dardy        6-1  So.  7/2     11.6  7.9  2.0 apg
F    50   Brenda Mock         6-0  So.  7/0      9.3  6.0  1.1 apg
          Kirkpatrick 
C    33   Elizabeth Biedrycki 6-4  Fr.  7/0      3.1  2.9  0.6 bpg
G    21   Janae Whiteside     5-7  So.  7/1      3.6  0.7  2.0 apg
G    23   Adell Harris        5-8  Fr.  7/0      2.7  1.1  1.4 apg

STATISTICAL COMPARISON

Wake Forest    Statistic                        Maryland
69.6           Points Per Game                  49.2
68.7           Points Allowed Per Game          67.8
+0.9           Scoring Margin                  -18.7
37.9           Field Goal Percentage            41.0
39.7           Field Goal Pct Defense           40.1
36.1           3-Point Field Goal Percentage    16.7
 6.3           3-Point Field Goals Per Game      0.8
67.8           Free Throw Percentage            48.1
16.1           Assists                          14.3
18.0           Turnovers                        28.0
 2.4           Blocks                            3.3
 6.7           Steals                            7.8
-0.4           Turnover Margin                 -12.3
43.3           Rebounds                         41.8
+3.4           Rebound Margin                   +4.3

Wake Forest Athletics

Related News

Related Videos