Wake Forest Athletics
Women's Basketball Presents Annual Awards
4/23/2002 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
April 23, 2002
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - The Wake Forest women??s basketball program honored several members of the squad and support staff during the annual postseason awards banquet on Sunday, April 21 at Bermuda Run Country Club.
Deacon sophomore Tonia Brown (Roanoke, Va.) was named the team??s Most Valuable Player. Brown, a 5-10 shooting guard, led WFU in scoring (13.9 ppg), minutes (30.2 mpg), steals (62) and set a new single-season record with 62 three-pointers during the year. She was also a third-team All-ACC selection.
For the second year in a row, sophomore Tracy Alston (Raleigh, N.C.) was named the team??s Best Defensive Player. Alston, who was usually assigned to defend the opponent??s top player, usually held those players under their scoring average. Alston also ranked among the team??s top rebounders (4.8 rpg).
Another sophomore, Bianca Brown (Montclair, N.J.) was honored with the team??s Most Improved Player award. Brown??s point production and shooting percentage increased dramatically over the course of the season, as she finished the year averaging 4.8 points per game and shooting over 44 percent from three-point range.
The Team MVP, Best Defensive and Most Improved Player awards were selected by a vote of the team and coaching staff.
Academic Advisor Jane Caldwell honored seniors Val Klopfer (Albany, N.Y.) and LaChina Robinson (Alexandria, Va.) with the Academic Award. Both Klopfer and Robinson will graduate from WFU this spring having made several appearances on the WFU Dean??s List and ACC Honor Roll.
Klopfer was also presented the ??Iron Deac?? Award. Given by assistant strength and conditioning coach Matt Jennings, the award honors a player who has shown the most dedication in the weight room.
Head coach Charlene Curtis presented assistant athletic trainer Roni Wyss and junior Heather Miller (Bassett, Va.) with the Stacy Cox Coach??s Award. The award, given to those who have shown selfless service to the women??s basketball program, is in honor of Cox, a former WFU assistant who was killed in an automobile accident in 1999. Wyss just completed her fifth season with the women??s basketball team, taking care of the team??s medical needs on a daily basis. Miller, although sidelined for the season due to injury, provided encouragement and support to her teammates throughout the year.
The team also recognized the four members of its senior class, including Adell Harris (High Point, N.C.) and LaTisha Pearson (Birmingham, Ala.) in addition to Klopfer and Robinson.
The Wake Forest women??s basketball team posted a 12-16 record in 2001-02 , including a 5-11 ACC mark. It was the highest number of total wins in five seasons and best ACC regular-season record since 1996. The Demon Deacons will return nine letterwinners and three starters for the 2002-03 campaign.
