Wake Forest Athletics
Women's Basketball Visits Georgia Tech
6/21/1999 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
February 2, 1999
Wake Forest at Georgia Tech
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C.- The Wake Forest women's basketball team looks to snap a six-game losing streak this week as the Demon Deacons travel to Atlanta to face Georgia Tech on Wednesday, February 3rd at 7:00 p.m. The Deacs have not won a game since Jan. 4th, when they defeated Georgia Tech 77-72 at home, and they are coming off an 88-66 loss to No. 14 North Carolina on Sunday. The loss to Wake began a five-game losing streak for Tech, who has since rebounded to win three of its last four, including an 86-78 win at Florida State on Sunday.
Scouting Wake Forest (6-14, 2-8 ACC)
UNC's Juana Brown scored 29 points and grabbed 12 rebounds to lift the Tar Heels to an 88-66 victory over visiting Wake Forest on Sunday afternoon. Despite the deceptive final margin, the Deacs turned in a solid performance and gave 14th-ranked Carolina a good scare. Trailing 47-32 at halftime, Wake fell behind by 18 early in the second half before staging a dramatic rally. WFU held UNC without a field goal for a stretch of 7:11, outscoring the Tar Heels 16-1 to close the deficit to three points. Carolina pulled ahead by six before Emon McMillian's three-point play cut it to three again at 59-56 with 8:45 to go. That was as close as the Deacons would get, however, as UNC regrouped to outscore Wake 29-10 down the stretch. Wake outrebounded Carolina 39-37 but committed 25 turnovers in the loss. LaQuanda Barksdale also tallied a double-double for UNC with 24 points and 10 rebounds. McMillian led the Deacons with 17 points, shooting 7-of-9 from the floor and 3-of-3 from the line. Alisha Mosley added 16 points, while Olivia Dardy notched her fifth double-double of the year with 11 points and 10 rebounds.
Through 20 games, no Demon Deacon player is averaging in double figures. Dardy leads the team in both scoring (9.8 ppg) and rebounding (7.4 rpg), while McMillian and Mosley average 9.4 and 9.3 points per game. Wake Forest is averaging 64 points per game on 37.9 percent shooting, and the Deacons have outrebounded opponents by a slight +1.1 margin. WFU averages 5.5 three-pointers per game as a team, hitting 31.1 percent from behind the three-point arc. In ACC games only, the Deacs average just 59.2 points per outing on 35.7 percent shooting, are outrebounded by a 2.3 margin, and commit 21.3 turnovers per contest.
Scouting Georgia Tech (12-9, 5-6 ACC)
After suffering a five-game ACC losing streak (beginning with the loss to Wake Forest on Jan. 4th), Georgia Tech has rebounded to win three of its last four. Included in that run was an 84-81 upset of then-No. 7 North Carolina, as well as wins over Maryland (72-56) and Florida State (86-78). The Yellow Jackets are led by freshman guard Niesha Butler, who averages 18.5 points per game and a conference-best 21.5 points per ACC outing. Also averaging in double figures are senior forward Kenya Williams (16.6 ppg, 6.1 rpg), junior guard Danielle Donehew (11.8 ppg) and sophomore Regina Tate (10.3 ppg). Tech averages 77.3 points per game on 43.9 percent shooting, and the Jackets outrebound their foes by a 4.1 margin.
Series History
Georgia Tech holds a slight 20-17 advantage in the all-time series with Wake Forest. The Yellow Jackets had won six straight over the Demon Deacons until Wake's 77-72 win earlier this year. Prior to that, WFU had not defeated GT since the 1995-96 season. Last year, the Jackets swept Wake in three games, winning 80-60 in Winston-Salem, 58-53 in Atlanta, and 78-67 in the ACC Tournament first round.
Earlier This Year
The freshman trio of LaChina Robinson, Val Klopfer, and Adell Harris keyed a thrilling second-half run to lift Wake Forest to a 77-72 upset of visiting Georgia Tech on Jan. 4th. WFU trailed 35-30 at the half and fell behind by 12 early in the second period before exploding on a 28-7 run to take the lead. Robinson scored 12 of her career-high 22 points during that run, and Klopfer netted eight of her career-high 18. Harris was the true key to the comeback, however, dishing 10 assists and making three steals in the game's final 10 minutes. Tech rallied to get within one, 73-72, with 18.4 seconds to go, but Liz Rogers' fast-break layup and Emon McMillian's two free throws sealed the win for Wake.
Free Throw Woes
Wake Forest has struggled from the free throw line this season, with the Deacs hitting just 63.3 of their shots from the charity stripe (233-368). In ACC games, Wake has made just 58.9 percent of its foul shots (109-185), although the Deacs did sink 18 of 19 free throws vs. North Carolina on Jan. 2nd - a school single-game record of 94.7 percent.
Fountain of Youth
The Deacs feature an extremely youthful squad this season, with 10 of 14 players only their freshman or sophomore years of eligibility. This young squad is anchored by four veterans, however, including two fifth-year players (Heidi Coleman and Emon McMillian), one true senior (Jenn Miklic), and one junior (Alisha Mosley).
Scoring Drought Continues
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 season, the Deacs showed visible improvement in the scoring department early on, averaging 77 points per game in their first five games. Since then, however, the team has topped 70 points just three times in the last 15 games and has tallied less than 60 points eight times. In the last five losses, the Deacs have struggled with poor shooting, hitting just 32 percent from the floor (99-314), 16 percent from three-point range (16-99), and 59 percent from the free throw line (57-97).
Interior Improvements
The Deacs have benefitted from a stronger inside game this season with the return of some key players and the addition of some new faces. Three returning forwards - senior Emon McMillian (9.4 ppg, 5.4 rpg) and sophomores Olivia Dardy (9.8 ppg, 7.4 rpg) and Brenda Mock Kirkpatrick (7.5 ppg, 4.7 rpg) - have demonstrated much-improved inside games this year, ranking as the team's top three rebounders and three of the top four scorers. All three have posted at least one double-double on the year. In addition, 6-4 freshman centers LaChina Robinson (6.2 ppg, 4.2 rpg) and Elizabeth Biedrycki (2.5 ppg, 2.2 rpg) have provided additional size and defensive presence in the paint.
Double-Digit Deacons
Although the Deacons have no players averaging in double figures on the season, nine players have recorded double digits in either points, rebounds, or assists during the year. A look at the Deacons' double-digit performances:
Name Pts Rebs Ast D-D's
Elizabeth Biedrycki 1 0 0 0
Heidi Coleman 3 0 0 0
Olivia Dardy 8 6 0 5
Adell Harris 0 0 1 0
Brenda M. Kirkpatrick 6 2 0 1
Val Klopfer 2 0 0 0
Emon McMillian 9 1 0 1
Alisha Mosley 10 0 0 0
LaChina Robinson 3 0 0 0
Guards Boast Improved Assist-to-Turnover Ratios Another area of dramatic improvement this year is in the Deacon guards' assist-to-turnover ratio. Last season, only one Deacon registered a positive ratio for the season (Heidi Coleman was 57-to-55) and the backcourt as a whole stood at -1.13. This year, every guard but one boasts a positive assist-to-turnover ratio. Junior guard Alisha Mosley ranks among the best in the ACC with a +1.69 ratio (54-to-32), while Coleman owns a +1.17 ratio (41-to-35) and sophomore guard Janae Whiteside stands at +1.22 (28-to-23). The three own a combined +1.37 ratio on the season, while the backcourt as a whole (including rookies Adell Harris and Val Klopfer) checks in at +1.18 (173-147).
Dardy, Robinson Earn ACC Weekly Honors
Sophomore forward Olivia Dardy and freshman center LaChina Robinson have both earned weekly honors from the ACC this season. Dardy was the ACC Co-Player of the Week on Dec. 14 after posting 17 points and 15 rebounds to lift WFU to a win over Maryland, snapping a 17-game ACC losing streak. Robinson was the ACC Rookie of the Week on Jan. 11th after collecting 22 points, eight rebounds, three blocks, and two steals - all career highs - to help Wake to a win over Georgia Tech.
Coleman Chasing 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. Coleman owns a 35.3 career three-point shooting percentage and ranks second all-time at WFU in three-pointers made (171) and attempted (485). Those numbers rank her 12th and 11th (respectively) in the ACC career record book. Coleman also holds the school single-season records in both categories, hitting 61-of-179 treys in 1996-97. Last year she nearly matched those marks, hitting 57-of-166. Coleman also ranks as the school's eighth all-time assist leader with 269, and is 16th all-time in points with 873.
Raining Threes
Wake Forest has utilized an arsenal of three-point shooters this season to rank as one of the top long-distance teams in the ACC. The Deacs have been uncharacteristically dry from behind the arc in the last five games, however. After averaging an ACC-high 6.3 threes per game in the first 15 outings, Wake has sunk just 3.2 treys per game in the last four games, hitting only 16 percent of its attempts (16-99). Senior Heidi Coleman remains Wake's top three-point threat, shooting 35.4 percent (28-79), while junior Alisha Mosley hits 29.9 percent of her threes (23-77). Reserve guards Janae Whiteside (11-49, 22.4%), Val Klopfer (17-48, 35.4%), and Adell Harris (6-19, 31.6%) have also contributed some clutch threes. In addition to guards, two of the Deacs' post players have the ability to step out and hit a three - sophomore forwards Olivia Dardy (19-58, 32.8%) and Brenda Mock Kirkpatrick (4-14, 28.6%).
Rookies Stepping it Up
Charlene Curtis' first recruiting class has started coming into its own recently, highlighted by the contributions of several rookies in the team's win over Georgia Tech on Jan. 4th. Center LaChina Robinson (6.2 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 0.9 bpg) has started all 20 contests and has been a solid addition to the Deacons' inside game with her rebounding and shot-blocking ability. She has proven to be a scoring threat as well, netting 17 points vs. Providence, 15 vs. NC State, and exploding for a career-best 22 points, eight rebounds, and three blocks vs. Georgia Tech to earn ACC Rookie of the Week honors. Elizabeth Biedrycki (2.5 ppg, 2.2 rpg) continues to share time with Robinson at center, and has been a steady contributor off the bench. She posted a career-best 12 points vs. Providence.
Point guard Val Klopfer (3.9 ppg) has seen her playing time steadily increase, and she now nearly splits time at the point with starter Heidi Coleman. She has hit 35 percent of her threes on the year (17-of-48), scoring a career-high 18 points vs. Georgia Tech and netting 10 points vs. Virginia. Guard Adell Harris (2.0 ppg, 1.7 apg) has also seen increased court time in the new year. She put on a show-stopping performance in the final 10 minutes of the Georgia Tech game, dishing 10 assists and making three steals to key the Deacs' come-from-behind win. Swing player Liz Rogers (2.0 ppg, 1.3 rpg) has consistently provided a spark off the bench with her hustle and determination. Although averaging just 4.6 minutes per game, Rogers has been one of the most productive Deacons this season in terms of points, rebounds, and steals per minute. She had a season-high eight points in the win over GT. The sixth member of the freshman class, 6-4 center LaTisha Pearson, has not yet dressed for a game but continues to practice with the team and work on further developing her skills. She will likely redshirt the 1998-99 season.
Dardy Leads Deacs in Scoring, Rebounding
Sophomore forward Olivia Dardy continues to lead the Deacons in both scoring (9.8 ppg) and rebounding (7.4 rpg). She ranks as the ACC's sixth-leading rebounder overall and is fourth with 7.9 boards per ACC game. A versatile player who can play the three, four, or five position, Dardy can score both in the paint and from three-point range. She has played primarily small forward this season after playing mostly center as a rookie. She holds a 32.8 three-point shooting percentage (19-54) and has notched five double-doubles on the year. Earlier this year, she earned All-Tournament honors at the Fairfield-Warner's Classic, racking up 31 points and 21 rebounds in two games. She earned ACC Co-Player of the Week honors on Dec. 13th for her 17-point, 15-rebound outing in the win over Maryland. Last season, Dardy led the team in scoring and rebounding in ACC games (8.8 ppg, 6.7 rpg) and was named to ACC Athlete's All-Freshman Team.
Mosley Dishes it Off
Junior guard Alisha Mosley has been one of the Deacs' top offensive weapons in the first 20 games, averaging 9.3 points and a team-high 2.7 assists per outing. Mosley has scored in double figures 10 times this year (including a career-high 23 points vs. VCU) and has led the team in scoring four times. She has led the team in assists in eight games, dishing a career-high six set-ups vs. both FDU and UNC. Mosley also ranks among the team's top three-point shooters (23-77, 29.9%) and boasts a +1.69 assist-to-turnover ratio (54-to-32). She was named to the California-Oakland Tribune Classic All-Tournament Team after totalling 31 points and seven assists in two games. An ACC All-Freshman pick in 1996-97, Mosley averaged 7.6 points and 2.1 assists per game last year.
McMillian Anchors the Post
Senior forward Emon McMillian serves as one of the Deacs' primary anchors this season, bringing veteran experience to a young frontcourt. A fifth-year player, McMillian is in her second season as the Deacs' starting power forward. She currently ranks second on the team in both scoring (9.4 ppg) and rebounding (5.4 rpg) and she has posted nine double-figure scoring outings, including five of the last eight games she's played in (she missed the FSU game due to a shoulder sprain). McMillian's best outing of the season came in the Deacs' win over Providence, where she netted the fourth double-double of her career with a career-high 23 points and 12 rebounds. McMillian's father, Jim, played in the NBA and was a member of the Lakers' 1972 championship team.
Miklic a Defensive Stopper
Senior forward Jenn Miklic continues to serve as one of the team's top defensive players, often receiving the assignment of covering an opponent's top offensive threat. An aggressive player and a strong athlete, Miklic has started the past 18 games at small forward and averages just under 11 minutes per game. Her best offensive game of the year came vs. Pittsburgh in the California-Oakland Tribune Classic, where she netted eight points and five rebounds. In the loss to NC State, Miklic dished a career-high six assists in just 18 minutes of play.
Kirkpatrick a Key Contributor
Sophomore forward Brenda Mock Kirkpatrick continues to provide a spark for the Deacons off the bench with her strong play and tremendous hustle on the court. Kirkpatrick averages just over 17 minutes per game but consistently makes the most of her time on the court, ranking as the team's fourth-leading scorer (7.5 ppg) and third-leading rebounder (4.7 rpg). She has tallied six double-figure scoring outings on the year and grabbed double-figure rebounds twice, netting her first career double-double vs. West Virginia (13 pts, career-high 13 rebs). She netted a career-best 15 points in back-to-back games at the Fairfield Warner's Classic (vs. FDU and ECU) earlier this year.
Shaffer, Whiteside Contribute Off the Bench
Sophomores Kristen Shaffer and Janae Whiteside continue to serve as valuable reserves on the perimeter for the Demon Deacons. Shaffer, a versatile swing player who excels in the open court game, has averaged just under nine minutes a game, contributing 2.4 points per outing. She netted a season-high eight points at FSU. Whiteside can play point or shooting guard and has shown dramatic improvement in her ballhandling skills since last year. She has averaged 11.2 minutes per game, contributing 2.7 points and 1.4 assists per contest. Whiteside owns a +1.22 assist-to-turnover ratio (28-to-23), and she set a new career high this year with five assists vs. both West Virginia and Maryland.
ACC Leaders
As of Feb. 2nd, sophomore forward Olivia Dardy ranks sixth in the ACC in rebounding (7.4 rpg) while freshman center LaChina Robinson is eighth in blocks (0.9 bpg). In ACC games only, Dardy ranks fourth in rebounding (7.9 rpg) and eighth in blocks (0.7 bpg), while Robinson is fifth in blocks (1.0 bpg).
Team Rankings
Through Feb. 2nd, Wake Forest ranks second in the ACC in three-pointers per game (5.5) and is fifth in three-point percentage (31.1). Other rankings: 8th in scoring (64.0 ppg), 8th in scoring defense (71.8 ppg), 8th in scoring margin (-7.9), 9th in field goal percentage (.379), 8th in field goal percentage defense (.423), 8th in free throw percentage (.633), 8th in blocks (2.4 bpg), 9th in steals (7.1 spg), 8th in turnover margin (-2.7), and 7th in rebound margin (+1.1).
Honors and Accolades
Olivia Dardy (So, F) - Fairfield-Warner's Classic All-Tournament Team, 11/28; ACC Co-Player of the Week, 12/14.
Alisha Mosley (Jr, G) - California-Oakland Tribune Classic All-Tournament Team, 12/21.
LaChina Robinson (Fr, C) - ACC Rookie of the Week, 1/11.
School Records
The seven turnovers Wake committed vs. UMBC tied the school record for fewest TOs in a game (originally set in 1982)...Wake hit a school-record 94.7 percent of its foul shots (18-19) vs. UNC on Jan. 2nd....the Deacs drew a school-record 3,214 fans to the Jan. 11th game vs. Duke.
Tip-Ins
Wake Forest won the battle of the boards in 13 of its first 20 games...the Deacs are 5-8 when they outrebound opponents and 1-6 when they don't...the Deacs have hit 10 or more three-pointers on three occasions this year (vs. FDU, Virginia, UMBC)...the season-opening win over VCU snapped a 16-game losing streak, the longest in school history...the Dec. 13th win over Maryland broke a 17-game drought vs. ACC foes...Adell Harris' 10-assist performance vs. Georgia Tech marked the first double-figure assist game for a Deacon since Gretchen Hollifield dished 11 vs. Maryland on Jan. 31, 1996...Wake's 38 points vs. Clemson were the fewest by a Deacon team since a 78-35 loss to Virginia on Jan. 2, 1980...Wake is 4-1 when leading at halftime...the Deacs have not shot 50 percent or better from the floor this year (their best was 48.3 vs. Colorado State, also the only team to shoot 50% or better vs. Wake at 55.0).
PROBABLE STARTING LINEUP
Pos. No. Name Ht. Yr. GP/GS PPG RPG Other F 5 Emon McMillian 6-1 Sr. 19/19 9.4 5.4 1.3 apg F 12 Jenn Miklic 6-0 Sr. 19/18 1.5 1.7 0.9 apg C 34 LaChina Robinson 6-4 Fr. 20/20 6.2 4.2 0.9 bpg G 11 Alisha Mosley 5-6 Jr. 20/19 9.3 2.6 2.7 apg G 22 Heidi Coleman 5-6 Sr. 20/20 6.3 2.8 2.1 apgReserves
F 32 Olivia Dardy 6-1 So. 20/2 9.8 7.4 1.3 spg F 50 Brenda Mock Kirkpatrick 6-0 So. 20/1 7.5 4.7 1.1 apg G 10 Val Klopfer 5-6 Fr. 18/0 3.9 1.1 1.0 apg G 21 Janae Whiteside 5-7 So. 20/1 2.7 1.0 1.4 apg C 33 Elizabeth Biedrycki 6-4 Fr. 20/0 2.5 2.2 0.4 bpg G/F 20 Kristen Shaffer 5-10 So. 20/0 2.4 1.3 0.4 spg G/F 45 Liz Rogers 5-10 Fr. 17/0 2.0 1.3 0.5 spg G 23 Adell Harris 5-8 Fr. 20/0 2.0 1.0 1.6 apgSTATISTICAL COMPARISON
Wake Forest Statistic Georgia Tech1998-99 SCHEDULE64.0 Points Per Game 77.3 71.8 Points Allowed Per Game 71.3 -7.8 Scoring Margin +6.0 37.9 Field Goal Percentage 43.9 42.3 Field Goal Pct Defense 40.5 31.1 3-Point Field Goal Percentage 37.7 5.5 3-Point Field Goals Per Game 4.8 63.3 Free Throw Percentage 66.8 15.3 Assists 14.5 19.1 Turnovers 20.1 2.4 Blocks 2.4 7.1 Steals 9.4 -2.6 Turnover Margin +0.9 41.2 Rebounds 43.3 +1.1 Rebound Margin +4.1
(6-14 overall, 2-8 ACC)
November Sat. 14 at Virginia C'wealth 81-71 W Tue. 17 DAVIDSON 75-82 L Tue. 24 at Providence 80-73 W (Fairfield-Warner's Classic) Fri. 27 vs. Fairl. Dickinson 79-45 W Sat. 28 vs. East Carolina 70-78 L Mon. 30 at West Virginia 57-67 LDecember Fri. 4 at Virginia* (15/18) 45-65 L Sun. 13 at Maryland* 65-47 W Thu. 17 FURMAN (rg) 59-72 L (Cal-Oakland Tribune Classic) Sun. 20 vs Colorado St. (9/9) 69-84 L Mon. 21 vs Pittsburgh 46-53 L Tue. 29 UMBC (rg) 71-41 W
January Sat. 2 N. CAROLINA* (6/6) 75-100 L Mon. 4 GEORGIA TECH* 77-72 W Mon. 11 DUKE* (12/16) 54-79 L Thu. 14 at Florida State* 57-80 L Sun. 17 at Clemson* (16/12) tv 38-78 L Sun. 24 NC STATE* tv 60-85 L Thu. 28 VIRGINIA* (19/18) 50-81 L Sun. 31 at N. Carolina* (14/10) 66-88 L
February Wed. 3 at Georgia Tech* 7:00 Sat. 6 MARYLAND* (rg) 2:00 Thu. 11 Duke* 7:00 Mon. 15 FLORIDA STATE* 7:00 Thu. 18 CLEMSON* 7:00 Sat. 20 at NC State* 2:00 F26-M1 ACC Tournament @ Charlotte
* ACC games (x/x) - Opponent's AP/USA Today ranking rg - Home game at Reynolds Gym tv - Broadcast on the ACC Regional Sports Network (HTS, Fox Sports South, Sunshine)
