Wake Forest Athletics
Wake Plays Host to No. 19 Virginia
6/21/1999 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
January 26, 1999
Wake Forest vs. No. 19 Virginia
Thursday, January 28, 1999 7:00 pm
Joel Coliseum Winston-Salem, NC
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C.-The Wake Forest women's basketball team will look to snap a four-game ACC losing skid this Thursday night as the Demon Deacons play host to the 19th-ranked Virginia Cavaliers. Tip-off is 7:00 pm at Joel Coliseum. The game marks the beginning of the second half of the conference round-robin schedule for the Deacs, who went 2-6 against ACC foes in the first half of the league slate. Virginia went 6-2 in the early part of their ACC schedule and has won five of their last six games.
Scouting Wake Forest (6-12, 2-6 ACC)
Tynesha Lewis tallied 22 points and 10 rebounds to lift visiting NC State over Wake Forest, 85-60, on Sunday afternoon. Lewis scored 10 of her 22 points in the first half as State took an 11-point lead into intermission, 33-22. Wake Forest suffered from a poor shooting touch in the first period, hitting just 25 percent of its shots from the floor (8-32). The Wolfpack increased its lead to 17 early in the second half, before the Deacons used an 11-4 run to get back into the game. Sophomore forward Olivia Dardy hit a three-pointer at the 11:32 mark to get Wake within eight, 52-44, but State responded with a 14-2 run over the next 5:22 to put the game out of reach. NC State outrebounded Wake, 51-40, including a 26-13 advantage on the boards in the second half. LySchale Jones added 13 points for the 'Pack, while Summer Erb had 12. For Wake Forest, freshman center LaChina Robinson scored 15 points, while junior guard Alisha Mosley added 10. Senior forward Emon McMillian grabbed a team-high six rebounds, and senior forward Jenn Miklic dished a career-best six assists. Through 18 games, Dardy leads the team in both scoring (10.0 ppg) and rebounding (7.2 rpg), while McMillian and Mosley average 9.2 and 9.1 points per game, respectively. Wake is averaging just 64.6 points per game on 38.4 percent shooting, and the Deacs have outrebounded opponents by a +1.6 margin. WFU averages 5.7 three-pointers per game as a team, hitting 32.4 percent from behind the three-point arc. Wake has turned the ball over 18.5 times per game, however, compared to their opponents' 16.3.
Scouting Virginia (12-5, 6-2 ACC)
Ranked No. 19 by the AP and No. 18 by USA Today, Virginia has won five of its last six games, including an 80-51 nonconference win over Baylor on Sunday. In the first round of ACC play, UVa went 6-2, losing only to No. 13 Duke (84-68) and No. 7 North Carolina (79-68). Through 18 games, Virginia is led by senior center DeMya Walker (15.6 ppg, 8.7 rpg, 3.1 bpg) and sophomore guard Erin Stovall (15.3 ppg). The Wahoos average 78.1 points per game on 44.7 percent shooting and outrebound opponents by a +1.6 margin.
Series History
Virginia owns a commanding 42-1 lead in the all-time series with Wake Forest, which dates back to the 1975-76 season. The Wahoos have won 40 straight meetings, including a 65-45 win in Charlottesville earlier this year. The Deacs' lone win over UVa was a 60-59 decision in Charlottesville in the 1977-78 season. Last season, the Cavaliers swept Wake, 65-55 and 60-51.
Earlier This Year
DeMya Walker tallied 19 points, eight rebounds, six assists, six blocks and four steals as Virginia used a strong second half to top Wake, 65-45. Solid defense helped the Deacs hold the lead through much of the first half, but Virginia rallied to take a three-point halftime advantage and pulled ahead by 18 midway through the second period. Wake closed the gap to eight with five minutes to go, but the Cavaliers outscored the Deacs 12-0 in the final 4:48 to seal the win. Alisha Mosley led Wake with 13 points, while Brenda Mock Kirkpatrick grabbed six boards.
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 (200-316). In ACC games, Wake has made just 57.1 percent of its foul shots (76-133), although the Deacs did sink 18 of 19 (94.7%) vs. North Carolina - the eighth-best single-game performance by a Division I team this year.
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).
The Search for Consistent Scoring
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 13 games and has fallen short of the 60-point mark seven times. In their last three losses, the Deacs have struggled with poor shooting, hitting just 30 percent from the floor (61-201), 14 percent from three-point range (9-63), and 53 percent from the free throw line (24-45).
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 (9.2 ppg, 5.5 rpg) and sophomores Olivia Dardy (10.0 ppg, 7.2 rpg) and Brenda Mock Kirkpatrick (7.7 ppg, 5.0 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 (6.1 ppg, 4.1 rpg) and Elizabeth Biedrycki (2.6 ppg, 2.2 rpg) have provided additional size and defensive presence in the paint.
Double Digit Deacons
Individually, sophomore forward Olivia Dardy (10.0 ppg) is the only player averaging double figures on the season, but eight other players have also 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 7 5 0 4 Adell Harris 0 0 1 0 Brenda M. Kirkpatrick 6 2 0 1 Val Klopfer 1 0 0 0 Emon McMillian 8 1 0 1 Alisha Mosley 9 0 0 0 LaChina Robinson 3 0 0 0Guards Boast Strong Assist-to-Turnover Ratio
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 third in the ACC with a +2.00 ratio (52-to-26), while Coleman owns a +1.24 ratio (41-to-33) and sophomore guard Janae Whiteside holds a +1.28 mark (23-to-18). The three own a combined +1.51 ratio on the season, while the backcourt as a whole (including rookies Adell Harris and Val Klopfer) checks in at +1.31 (164-125).
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.
Deacs "Jam Joel" to Set Attendance Record vs. Duke
Wake's "Jam Joel" promotion for the Jan. 4th game vs. Duke resulted in a school-record attendance of 3,214 fans. The previous record of 3,071 fans was set vs. Duke in Joel Coliseum on Jan. 18, 1992.
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. In her career as a Deacon, Coleman owns a 35.4 three-point shooting percentage and ranks second all-time in three-pointers made (170) and attempted (480). Those numbers rank her 12th and 11th (respectively) in the ACC career record book. 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 marks, hitting 57-of-166 threes. Coleman also ranks as the school's eighth all-time assist leader with 269, and is 16th all-time in points with 869.
Rookies Stepping it Up
Charlene Curtis' first recruiting class has started coming into its own over the past few games, highlighted by the contributions of several rookies in the team's recent win over Georgia Tech. Freshman center LaChina Robinson (6.1 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 1.0 bpg) has started all 18 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. Classmate Elizabeth Biedrycki (2.6 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. Rookie point guard Val Klopfer (3.8 ppg) has earned increased playing time lately, averaging nearly 20 minutes per game in the last seven outings. She has hit 35 percent of her three-pointers on the year (15-of-43), and she contributed a career-high 18 points vs. Tech. Guard Adell Harris (1.8 ppg, 1.7 apg) has also seen increased court time in the past few games. 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 (2.1 ppg, 1.4 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.
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 three games, however. After averaging an ACC-high 6.3 threes per game in the first 15 outings, Wake has averaged just three treys per game in the last three games, hitting only 14 percent of its attempts (9-63). Senior guard Heidi Coleman remains Wake's top three-point threat, ranking fifth in the league in three-point percentage (27-74, 36.5) and seventh in threes per game (1.5). Junior guard Alisha Mosley owns a 29.6 three-point percentage (21-71) and averages 1.2 treys per game. Reserve guards Janae Whiteside (9-41, 22.0%), Val Klopfer (15-43, 34.9%), and Adell Harris (6-17, 35.3%) have also contributed some clutch threes. In addition to guards, however, two of the Deacs' post players have the ability to step out and hit a three - sophomore forwards Olivia Dardy (19-52, 36.5%) and Brenda Mock Kirkpatrick (4-12, 33.3%).
Dardy Leads Deacs in Scoring, Rebounding
Sophomore forward Olivia Dardy continues to lead the Demon Deacons in both scoring (10.0 ppg) and rebounding (7.2 rpg). She ranks as the ACC's sixth-leading rebounder overall and is fourth with 7.8 boards in ACC games only. A versatile player who can play either 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, and boasts a 36.5 three-point shooting percentage (19-52). On the season, Dardy has notched four double-doubles (seven double-digit scoring games and five double-figure rebound games). Earlier this year, she earned All-Tournament honors at the Fairfield-Warner's Classic, racking up 31 points and 21 rebounds in two games to help WFU to a runner-up finish. She also earned ACC Co-Player of the Week honors on Dec. 13th for her 17-point, 15-rebound outing in Wake's victory 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 18 games, averaging 9.2 points and a team-high 2.9 assists per outing. Mosley has scored in double figures nine 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 (21-71, 29.6%) and ranks third in the ACC with an impressive +2.00 assist-to-turnover ratio on the year (52-to-26). 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 in grad school at Wake Forest, McMillian is in her second season as the Deacs' starting power forward. She currently ranks second on the team in both scoring (9.2 ppg) and rebounding (5.5 rpg) and she has posted eight double-figure scoring outings thus far, including four of the last six games she's played (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 guard/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 16 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 Sunday's loss to NC State, Miklic dished a career-high six assists in just 18 minutes of play.
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 11.1 minutes per game, contributing 2.6 points and 1.3 assists per contest. Whiteside owns a +1.28 assist-to-turnover ratio (23-to-18), and she set a new career high this year with five assists vs. both West Virginia and Maryland.
ACC Leaders
As of Jan. 25th, senior guard Heidi Coleman ranks as the ACC's fifth-most accurate three-point shooter (36.5%) and ranks seventh in threes per game at 1.5. Sophomore forward Olivia Dardy is sixth in rebounding (7.2 rpg) and freshman center LaChina Robinson is seventh in blocks (1.0 bpg). In ACC games only, Dardy ranks fourth in rebounding (7.8 rpg) and 8th in blocks (0.8 bpg), while Robinson is fifth in blocks (1.3 bpg).
Team Rankings
Through Jan. 25th, Wake Forest ranks second in the ACC in three-pointers per game (5.7) and is fourth in three-point percentage (32.4). Other rankings: 8th in scoring (64.6 ppg), 7th in scoring defense (70.4 ppg), 8th in scoring margin (-5.8), 9th in field goal percentage (.384), 7th in field goal percentage defense (.420), 8th in free throw percentage (.633), 7th in blocks (2.56bpg), 9th in steals (6.9 spg), 8th in turnover margin (-2.3), and 7th in rebound margin (+1.6).
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.
Tip-Ins
Wake Forest has outrebounded 12 of its first 18 opponents...the Deacs have hit 10 or more three-pointers on three occasions (FDU, Virginia, UMBC)...the seven turnovers Wake committed vs. UMBC tied the school record for fewest TOs in a game (originally set in 1982)...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...Wake hit 94.7 percent of its foul shots (18-19) vs. UNC, the eighth-best single-game percentage in NCAA Division I this year...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.
PROBABLE STARTING LINEUP
Pos. No. Name Ht. Yr. GP/GS PPG RPG Other
F 5 Emon McMillian 6-1 Sr. 17/17 9.2 5.5 1.3 apg
F 12 Jenn Miklic 6-0 Sr. 17/16 1.7 1.6 1.0 apg
C 34 LaChina Robinson 6-4 Fr. 18/18 6.1 4.1 1.0 bpg
G 11 Alisha Mosley 5-6 Jr. 18/17 9.1 2.7 2.9 apg
G 22 Heidi Coleman 5-6 Sr. 18/18 6.7 2.9 2.3 apg
Reserves
F 32 Olivia Dardy 6-1 So. 18/2 10.0 7.2 1.2 spg
F 50 Brenda Mock 6-0 So. 18/1 7.7 5.0 1.2 apg
Kirkpatrick
G 10 Val Klopfer 5-6 Fr. 16/0 3.8 0.9 1.1 apg
G 21 Janae Whiteside 5-7 So. 18/1 2.6 0.9 1.3 apg
C 33 Elizabeth Biedrycki 6-4 Fr. 18/0 2.6 2.2 0.4 bpg
G/F 20 Kristen Shaffer 5-10 So. 18/0 2.4 1.1 0.4 spg
G/F 45 Liz Rogers 5-10 Fr. 16/0 2.1 1.4 0.5 spg
G 23 Adell Harris 5-8 Fr. 18/0 1.8 1.1 1.7 apg
STATISTICAL COMPARISON
Wake Forest Statistic Virginia 64.6 Points Per Game 78.1 70.4 Points Allowed Per Game 63.7 -5.8 Scoring Margin +14.4 38.4 Field Goal Percentage 44.7 42.0 Field Goal Pct Defense 37.6 32.4 3-Point Field Goal Percentage 28.9 5.7 3-Point Field Goals Per Game 4.5 63.3 Free Throw Percentage 70.0 16.1 Assists 14.6 18.5 Turnovers 17.9 2.6 Blocks 6.4 6.9 Steals 10.8 -1.8 Turnover Margin +4.0 41.4 Rebounds 40.6 +1.6 Rebound Margin +2.4
