Wake Forest Athletics
Demon Deacons Close Out Regular Season With Georgia Tech
2/28/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Feb. 28, 2004
| Game No. 27: Georgia Tech vs. Wake Forest | |
| Records: | Yellow Jackets (14-13, 5-10) vs. Demon Deacons (10-16, 3-12) |
| When: | Sunday, February 29, 2004 - 2:00 p.m. |
| Where: | Joel Coliseum (14,665) - Winston-Salem, N.C. |
| Coverage: | |
| Radio: | Radio |
| Game Notes: | |
DEACS HOPE TO CLOSE REGULAR SEASON ON HIGH
The Wake Forest women's basketball team closes out the regular season on Sunday afternoon against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. Tipoff is scheduled for Joel Coliseum at 2 p.m.
The Demon Deacons, 10-16 overall and 3-12 in the ACC, have dropped a season-high seven straight games. Wake Forest will open the 2004 ACC Tournament on Friday afternoon at 11 a.m., but their opponent has yet to be determined. The Demon Deacons would face Georgia Tech with a win this afternoon, but a Yellow Jacket win and a Virginia loss would mean that Wake Forest would face the Cavaliers.
Last time out, the Demon Deacons fell behind 17 points in the first-half at Virginia which was too much to overcome despite sophomore Liz Strunk's game-high 25 points, 17 of which came in the second-half.
The Yellow Jackets, 14-13 overall and 5-10 in the ACC, enter the contest following their most impressive win of the season, 76-61 over NC State this past Thursday night. Meagan Isom led three players in double figures with 20 points, while Fallon Stokes and Alex Stewart added 16 apiece.
Stokes leads the Georgia Tech offensive attack. The senior, who is third in the ACC in scoring, nets 16.4 ppg and also grabs 6.4 rpg. Isom and Stewart are each right around 10.0 ppg. Stewart is second on the team at 9.2 ppg, while Isom is third at 9.0 ppg. Stewart also leads the entire ACC with 154 assists.
A WAKE FOREST WIN WOULD ...
Make the Demon Deacons 11-16 on the season ... Improve the Deacs to 4-12 in ACC action ... Snap the Deacs season-high seven game losing streak ... Improve the Demon Deacons to 21-27 all-time against Georgia Tech ... Snap the Demon Deacons losing streak against the Yellow Jackets in Joel Coliseum at two games ... Make the Deacs 2-6 at home in ACC games ... Improve the Deacs to 8-15 all-time against Georgia Tech in Winston-Salem and 8-6 at Joel Coliseum ... Give the Deacs a sweep in the season series for the first time since 1989-90 ... Up Curtis' all-time record to 228-278 ... Give Curtis a record of 66-128 at WFU ... Improve the Deacs to 351-484 all-time.
A WAKE FOREST LOSS WOULD ...
Make the Demon Deacons 10-17 on the season ... Drop the Deacs to 3-13 in ACC action ... Extend the Deacs' losing streak to a season-high eight games ... Drop WFU to 20-28 all-time against Georgia Tech ... Extend the Demon Deacons losing streak against the Yellow Jackets in Joel Coliseum to three games ... Make the Deacs 1-7 at home in ACC games ... Drop the Deacs to 7-16 all-time against Georgia Tech in Winston-Salem and 7-7 at Joel Coliseum ... Drop Curtis' all-time record to 227-279 ... Give Curtis a record of 65-129 at WFU ... Drop the Deacs to 350-485 all-time.
LAST TIME OUT
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - Virginia raced out to a 17-point first-half lead which was enough to hold off Wake Forest and sophomore Liz Strunk's game-high 25 points, including 17 in the second-half, for a 75-61 victory in ACC women's basketball action from University Hall Thursday night.
After seeing a 17-point first-half lead dwindle to only seven points right before halftime, Virginia (13-14, 6-9 ACC) pushed the lead back out to 14-points, 46-32, with 15:06 left in regulation.
However, Struck brought the Deacs (10-16, 3-12) back. The forward scored eight consecutive points over a two minute span to narrow the gap to just six points, 46-40, with 13:15 left. The Cavaliers extended its lead back to 14 points, 54-40, with 10:20 to go, but Wake Forest would climb back in one more time.
The Demon Deacons again drew within six, 59-53, with 5:36 to go, but could not get over the hump as the Cavaliers drilled 12-of-15 from the charity stripe down the stretch to seal the victory.
Strunk went 9-for-14 from the field, including a career-best five 3-point field goals. Strunk also grabbed nine rebounds. It was the 20th time this season that the sophomore eclipsed double figures, 12th time she lead WFU in scoring and third 20+ point game.
Sophomore Cotelia Bond-Young was the only other Demon Deacon in double figures. She added 12. Wake Forest was out-rebounded 46-39, including surrendering 19 on the offensive glass.
Jocelyn Logan-Friend led the Cavaliers with 15 points and 10 rebounds, while Anna Prillaman scored 16 points.
Virginia came out of the gates on fire. The Cavaliers knocked down four 3-point field goals in the game's first 10 minutes to race out to a 27-13 lead with 8:37 remaining in the first-half. Prillaman and Brenna McGuire buried two 3-pointers apiece. Virginia extended its lead to as many as 17 points, 35-18, with 2:43 left before halftime.
The Demon Deacons climbed back into the game over the final three minutes of the half. Wake Forest answered the Cavalier explosion with an 10-0 run of its own, capped off by Strunk's 3-point field goal with 33-seconds left to narrow the Virginia lead to only seven, 35-28.
Safiya Grant-Fairley closed the half with a running one-hander from the right block to give the Cavaliers a 37-28 lead at intermission.
Virginia shot 48.5% (16-for-33) from the field, while the Demon Deacons knocked down 33.3% (11-for-33) from the floor. The Cavaliers controlled the paint in the opening 20-minutes, outscoring the Demon Deacons 20-10 in the paint.
NOTES FROM 75-61 LOSS TO VIRGINIA
... gives the Deacs a record of 10-16 on the season
... makes the Demon Deacons 3-12 in ACC action
... extends the Deacs losing streak to a season-high seven games
... drops WFU to 2-54 all-time against Virginia
... extends the Demon Deacons losing streak in Charlottesville to 23 games
... makes the Deacs 2-6 on the road in ACC games
... drops the Deacs to 1-24 all-time against the Cavaliers in in Charlottesville
... gives Virginia a sweep in the regular season series
... drops Curtis' all-time record to 227-278
... gives Curtis a record of 65-128 at WFU
... drops the Deacs to 350-484 all-time
... Wake Forest registered a season-low 13 attempts from the free-throw line
... Virginia collected 19 offensive rebounds and hoisted 65 shots; both highs for any Demon Deacon opponent this season
... Sophomore Liz Strunk scored 25 points; one shy of season and career-high
... Strunk led Wake Forest in scoring for the 12th time this season
... Strunk reached double figures for the 20th time this season and 21st of career
... Strunk scored 20+ points for the third time this season
... Strunk grabbed nine rebounds; one shy of career-high of 10 (nine defensive rebounds tied a single-game high for the Deacs)
... Strunk also set new career-highs for 3-point field goals (5) and 3-point field goals attempted
... Wake Forest reached the 60 point plateau for the first time in five games
... The Demon Deacons failed to shoot 40 percent for the fifth straight game
... Wake Forest was out-rebounded for the fifth consecutive game and eighth in the last nine outings
LAST MEETING WITH GEORGIA TECH
ATLANTA, Ga. - Cotelia Bond-Young hit a three-pointer to make the score 55-53 with 1:10 on the clock in overtime and then put the game out of reach with a pair of free throws with nine seconds remaining to give Wake Forest (10-9, 3-5 ACC) a 57-55 victory over Georgia Tech (11-9, 2-6) Thursday at Alexander Memorial Coliseum.
The Jackets pulled within two on a fast-break lay-up by Alex Stewart with five seconds left in overtime and was fouled on the play, giving Tech a chance to pull within one. Stewart missed the free throw to give the Jackets a chance to win the game, but Georgia Tech missed a pair of lay-ups, giving the Demon Deacons their first back-to-back conference victories since the 2001-02 season.
Georgia Tech missed four of five free throws in overtime, and made only 4-of-11 in the game, while the Demon Deacons converted on 10-of-15 from the charity stripe.
The Demon Deacons tied the contest 30-30 with 16:17 remaining in regulation before the Jackets went on a 9-0 run with a pair of buckets by Megan Isom, including a three-pointer to make the score 39-31 at 13:55. Wake Forest remained close, however, and eventually tied the game, 46-46, with 2:32 remaining in the contest. Bond-Young's pass was stolen by Fallon Stokes with 1:42 remaining on the clock, and she took the ball to the hoop for a lay-up to put the Jackets ahead by two. A pair of free throws by Liz Strunk again tied the game at 48-48 with 1:21. The Jackets had a couple of chances to win the game with less than a minute remaining, but neither a three-pointer by Isom or a jumper by Williams would fall in.
Williams led the Jackets with career-highs in points (21) and rebounds (14) while recording the first double-double of her career. Stewart followed Williams in the scoring column, with 13 points, while pulling down nine rebounds and dishing out six assists.
The Jackets shot 44.6 percent from the field, including scoring 40 points in the paint, but Wake Forest hit nine three-pointers and held the Jackets to just one in the entire game.
Georgia Tech took a 26-19 lead into the locker room after going on a 10-3 run with a little over nine minutes remaining in the frame to pull ahead 24-15 at 1:46. This marked the largest lead the Jackets would own in the half, as Tonia Brown capped the Demon Deacons' scoring with a free throw and a three-pointer before Stewart concluding the half with a driving lay-up with 18 seconds remaining. Stewart led all scorers in the frame with 10 points while Williams added eight points and seven rebounds for the Jackets.
The Demon Deacons had four players score in double-figures, led by Liz Strunk with 14 and Tonia Brown who had 13, including four from beyond the three-point arc. Bond-Young and Bianca Brown added 11 and 10 points, respectively.
Liz Strunk, MOST IMPROVED PLAYER IN THE ACC?
Sophomore Liz Strunk is without a doubt the most improved player in the entire ACC, if not the entire country. Strunk averaged 4.0 ppg and 2.5 rpg in 26 games a season ago, but she has doubled her scoring and rebounding this season. Strunk averages 13.7 ppg and 5.2 rpg. She ranks third in 3-point field goal percentage (.429), eighth in the conference in scoring, 12th in field goal percentage (.488), 14th in free-throw percentage (.708), 15th in 3-point field goals (27) and 15th in steals (1.44). Strunk is also third in ACC games only scoring 15.4 ppg.
GETTING HURT ON THE BOARDS
Wake Forest has been hurt on the glass most of the season, but the Deacs' struggles have been magnified the past five games. Not only have the Demon Deacons been out-rebounded in each game, but Wake Forest has allowed 73 offensive rebounds. Wake Forest is getting out-rebounded by an average of 43.6 to 35.2. The Demon Deacons have gotten out-rebounded in eight of the last nine games.
Cotelia Bond-Young ICE COLD
After averaging 14.1 ppg in the Deacs first 10 ACC games - including nine in double figures - the sophomore guard went ice cold for the Demon Deacons in three games against Duke, Florida State and Clemson. Bond-Young scored only 4.0 ppg. She shot just 11.1% (3-for-27) from the field and 0% (0-for-12) from 3-point land. Bond-Young was even held scoreless against #4/4 Duke on Feb. 12. It was only her second career scoreless game.
DEMON DEACONS NOT ON ALL CYLINDERS
Wake Forest failed to reach the 60-point plateau in four straight games, ending against Virginia on Feb. 26. The Deacs - averaging 55.0 ppg in that stretch - shot 32.5% (77-for-237) from the field and 21.1% (16-for-76) from 3-point land. In fact, the Demon Deacons have not reached the 40 percent mark from the field in their last five games.
WAKE FOREST UNABLE TO TURNOVER FLORIDA STATE
Wake Forest have forced six of their opponents into 20 or more turnovers in a single game. However, Florida State (2.16) committed only nine turnovers on Feb. 16 - a single-game low for a Demon Deacon opponent.
THREE AMONG TOP-16 OF ACC SCORING
Wake Forest is just one of two schools (Duke being the other) that can claim it has three players among the ACC's top-20 in scoring. Sophomore Liz Strunk leads the way for the Deacs and is eighth overall in the league at 13.7 ppg, while junior Erin Ferrell is 14th at 11.0 ppg and sophomore Cotelia Bond-Young is 16th at 10.4 ppg. The Blue Devils have senior Alana Beard leading the league at 20.4, sophomore Monique Currie is 10th at 12.2 ppg and senior Iciss Tillis is 11th at 12.0 ppg.
ALMOST FOUR IN DOUBLE FIGURES
The Deacs have had four players averaging double figures on numerous occasions this season. Sophomore Liz Strunk scores 13.7 ppg, junior Erin Ferrell nets 11.0 ppg, sophomore Cotelia Bond-Young pours in 10.4 ppg and senior Tonia Brown has teetered back and forth around 10.0 ppg (now at 9.4 ppg). If the Demon Deacons were to finish the season with those four in double figures, it would be the first season the Deacs have had four in double figures since 2000-01. That season, WFU posted Eafton Hill (11.4), Olivia Dardy (11.0), Kristen Shaffer (10.1) and Brenda Mock-Kirpatrick (10.0) in double figures.
TOUGH THREE-GAME ROAD SWING
Wake Forest wrapped up its three consecutive ACC games Monday night at Florida State. The Deacs dropped all three games. Wake Forest is the only ACC school that has been faced with three straight ACC road contests. The Deacs had a similar fate during the 1997-98 season and dropped all three.
STRUNK/FERRELL CONTINUE TO LEAD DESPITE UNDERSIZE
Sophomore Liz Strunk and junior Erin Ferrell have continued to make names for themselves, despite playing out of position all year. Strunk, a natural small forward, has been forced to play much of her time at the power forward spot, while Ferrell, a natural off forward, has spent a lot of her time at center. Nonetheless, the two are 1-2 on the Deacs in scoring and rebounding. In fact, the two have led the Deacs in scoring 16 times and rebounding 14 times.
Tonia Brown MOVES UP IN CAREER STEALS CATEGORY
Senior guard Tonia Brown not only became the 12th player in Wake Forest women's basketball history to eclipse 1,000 points earlier this year, but Brown moved past Jenny Mitchell for seventh place in career steals. Brown has 172 steals and needs only 10 to tie Tracy Connor in sixth place. She also ranks ninth with 281 career assists - needing six to vault Heidi Coleman for eighth place.
Liz Strunk FAILS TO REACH DOUBLE FIGURES
Sophomore Liz Strunk had put together one of the more impressive scoring streaks in recent Wake Forest women's basketball history. Strunk had eclipsed double figures in 11 straight games, before falling short against Maryland on Feb. 9. She was the first Demon Deacon to reach double figures in 11 consecutive games since Tracy Connor during the 1995-96 season. Connor eclipsed double figures in 11 consecutive games as well.
Over the 11-game streak ...
The forward not only reached double figures in all those games, but led the Demon Deacons in scoring for six straight games (streak ended against NC State on Feb. 5). Over the streak, Strunk averaged 16.5 ppg - including 19.0 ppg in the six games in which she led the Deacs in scoring. Strunk set a career-high of 26 points against Florida State on Jan. 15, besting previous career-high of 23 set against Maryland on Jan. 9. It was Strunk's second straight game with 20 or more points. She became the first Demon Deacon to register back-to-back 20 point games since Olivia Dardy on Feb. 25 and Mar. 2 of 2001. Her 49 points over two games are the most in any two-game span since Olivia Dardy netted 57 points in consecutive outings on Feb. 25 and Mar. 2 of 2001. Strunk also grabbed a career-best 10 rebounds against the Seminoles becoming the only Demon Deacon to record a double-double this season and first since Tiffani Listenbee at NC State on Feb. 23, 2003.
NO DEMON DEACONS IN DOUBLE FIGURES
Wake Forest failed to register a single player in double figures in the loss at Maryland on Feb. 9. The last time the Demon Deacons failed to register a player in double figures occurred during the 2000-01 season. LaChina Robinson led the Deacs with seven points on Feb. 8, 2001 in a 69-35 loss to NC State.
Keila Evans ENDS SCORELESS STREAK
Wake Forest sophomore Keila Evans, who started the Deacs first 10 games this season, scored six points in the loss to Maryland on Feb. 9. Evans, who had not scored in her previous six games, went 3-for-3 from the field and grabbed two rebounds in seven minutes of action. It was the most points for Evans since she netted nine at NC State on Jan. 5.
RIGHT DOWN TO THE WIRE
The Wake Forest women's basketball team is quite accustomed to close games. Last season, the Demon Deacons had seven games decided by five points or less and Wake was 1-6 in those contests. This season, the Deacs have already had seven games decided by five points or less (3-4), including five straight over a span from Jan 21-Feb. 5. It was the first time in program history that five straight games were decided by five points or less.
Tonia Brown ECLIPSES 1,000 POINTS FOR CAREER
Senior Tonia Brown needed just 11 points last Thursday night to become the 12th player in Wake Forest women's basketball history to eclipse the 1,000 point barrier. Brown reached the mark early in the second-half of the Deacs' 70-66 loss to NC State.
Erin Ferrell MAKING THE MOST IN THE POST
Junior Erin Ferrell has started 15 of the last 16 games for Wake Forest. The natural forward has been forced to play much of her time at the center spot. Despite standing 6-0, Ferrell has continued to play well. In those starts, she is scoring 11.5 ppg and grabbing 5.2 rpg. Ferrell has reached the double-figure plateau nine times in that stretch, including a career-high 22 points against UNC on Jan. 2. After her 17-point effort in the loss at #4/4 Duke on Feb. 12, she had registered double figures for the 16th time this season and 30th in career. Ferrell also grabbed a season-high nine rebounds against the Cavaliers. She recorded a career-high five steals in the upset of #10 UNC on Jan. 26.
Chris Paul NOT ONLY HOMETOWN POINT GUARD AT WFU
Redshirt freshman Porsche' Jones' string of 18 consecutive starts at point guard for the Deacs ended Feb. 22 against Clemson. Jones scored 10 points, jut two off her career-high, in the defeat at Florida State on Feb. 16. While Jones is averaging only 5.0 ppg, the Carver H.S. product leads the Deacs in steals with 39 and ranks second on the squad with 72 assists. Jones has registered nearly two assists to every turnover. Jones went a stretch of 95 minutes earlier this season without a single turnover. Jones has really been a steady ball handler in ACC play ranking second in ACC games only with nearly a 3-to-1 assist to turnover ratio.
Bond-Young PASSES 500
With her seven points against Virginia on Feb. 1, sophomore guard Cotelia Bond-Young eclipsed 500 for her career. Bond-Young was the second Deac to eclipse the 500-point barrier this season. Erin Ferrell surpassed 500 points against UNC on Jan. 2.
NEARLY THREE STRAIGHT ACC WINS
With its victory over Georgia Tech on Jan. 29, Wake Forest put together back-to-back ACC wins for the first time since the 2001-02 season. In fact, the Demon Deacons had the opportunity to accomplish something that has not been done in over 16 years. The Deacs were one win shy of their first three-game winning streak in the ACC since the 1987-88 season. That year, the Deacs had five consecutive wins over Duke, Clemson, North Carolina, Georgia Tech and NC State.
THE DEACS REALLY STRUGGLE ON SUPER BOWL SUNDAY
Wake Forest has played on seven of the past eight Super Bowl Sundays. The Deacs are 1-6 in those contests. The Deacs' lone victory came on Feb. 3, 2002 against Georgia Tech, 69-61.
RALEIGH AND ATLANTA NOT FRIENDLY?
Wake Forest entered this season with a combined record of 6-43 at NC State and Georgia Tech. In fact, the Demon Deacons had lost 13 of the last 14 games in both Reynolds Coliseum and Alexander Memorial Coliseum. But, the Deacs walked out of both arenas this season with wins.
ACC REGULAR SEASON HALFWAY OVER
With half of the 2003-04 ACC season complete, the Demon Deacons stand with a respectable 3-5 mark. The three victories are the most for a Wake Forest squad through the first eight league games since 2001-02.
DEMON DEACONS BREAK TREND AGAINST GEORGIA TECH
Entering the contest with Georgia Tech on Jan. 29, Wake Forest had not won a single game when trailing with five minutes left. The Deacs found themselves down 44-40 with five minutes left, but sent the game into overtime before holding on for the win.
DEACS CONNECTED FROM LONG DISTANCE
Wake Forest caught fire from 3-point territory in the four game stretch between Jan. 15-29. The Demon Deacons connected on 36-for-89, good for just over 40-percent. The Deacs drained a season-best 10 three-point field goals in the 81-73 loss to Florida State on Jan. 15. Wake Forest drilled eight against Clemson (1.21) and nine against both UNC (1.26) and Georgia Tech (1.29). The Demon Deacons had launched at least 20 3-pointers over the span.
Liz Strunk CAREER NIGHT AGAINST FSU
... career-high 26 points, besting previous career-high of 23 set against Maryland on Jan. 9
... second straight 20+ point game; first Deac to register back-to-back 20 point games since Olivia Dardy on Feb. 25 and Mar. 2 of 2001
... 49 points over two games are the most in any two-game span since Olivia Dardy (57) on Feb. 25 and Mar. 2 of 2001
... only Deac to record a double-double this season and first since Tiffani Listenbee (18pts/12 reb) at NC State on Feb. 23, 2003
... sixth straight game in double figures; 12th double-figure game of the season and 13th of career
... 20 field goal attempts were not only a career-high for Strunk, but was a season-high for the Demon Deacons as a team
... dished out a season-high four assists
... grabbed a career-high 10 rebounds
Tonia Brown NOT IN STARTING LINEUP
Tonia Brown has not started the past three outings. She failed to start against Florida State on Jan. 15. It snapped a streak of 28 consecutive starts for the senior. Prior to the game with the Seminoles, the last game that Tonia Brown had not started was on Jan. 16, 2003 against Duke.
BOND-YOUNG GOES OFF AGAINST NC STATE
Sophomore Cotelia Bond-Young exploded for 27 points, including 21 in the second-half, to lead the Demon Deacons past the Wolfpack, 70-66, on Jan. 5. The game was a career-high for Bond-Young, but it also marked the first time since Jan. 10, 2002 that a Demon Deacon eclipsed the 25-point mark. Tonia Brown totalled a career-high 28 against FSU.
THE STREAK IS OVER
Wake Forest picked up its first ACC victory of the season on Jan. 5 at NC State, but it came in an arena in which the Demon Deacons have had very little success. The Deacs held off a late charging NC State, 70-66. The victory not only snapped a 14-game losing streak to the Wolfpack, but it was Wake's first win in Raleigh over the Wolfpack since Feb. 25, 1996 - a span of seven consecutive road losses. In fact, the triumph was only the Deacs second victory in 28 games in Raleigh.
Erin Ferrell GOES OFF AGAINST TAR HEELS
Junior Erin Ferrell scored a career-high 22 points, surpassing 500 points for her career, in the losing effort against #14 North Carolina on Jan. 2. It marked the second time in the previous four games that Ferrell had bested her previous career-high. Ferrell was not only the first Demon Deacons to eclipse the 20 point barrier this season, but the first since Tiffani Listenbee's 21 against NC A&T on Feb. 19 of last year.
DEACS LET ONE GET AWAY
Entering the game with #15/16 Virginia Tech on Dec. 29, Wake Forest had gone 7-0 when leading with less than 10 minutes to go, but the Hokies snapped that streak when they rallied from a seven-point, second-half deficit for a 70-59 victory.
FREE THROW LINE UNKIND TO WAKE FOREST
The Demon Deacons are shooting just .650 from the free throw line, second worst in the ACC. The struggles from the charity stripe haunted the Deacs in their 70-59 loss at #15/16 Virginia Tech on Dec. 29. Wake Forest had a pair of seven-point, second half leads, but a 4-of-14 effort from the free throw line in the second-half allowed the Hokies to rally.
DEACS TORRID AGAINST HOLY CROSS
Wake Forest not only shot 55.6% in the first half against Holy Cross on Dec. 28, but finished the afternoon 55.9% from the floor for the game. It is a season best for the Deacs.
TREMENDOUS CONTRIBUTIONS OFF THE BENCH
Wake Forest out-scored Holy Cross, 41-13, off the bench on Dec. 28. The 41 points were the most for the non-starters in any game this season. In fact, the Deacs got 75 points from its bench against East Carolina and Holy Cross.
JUNIOR Erin Ferrell's STREAK ENDS
Heading into the contest with Holy Cross, Erin Ferrell had registered double figures in five consecutive games, but the junior tallied only six points against the Crusaders.
GOT THE BEST OF ECU ON THE GLASS
East Carolina entered the game among the nation's best with a +10.3 rebounding advantage, but the Deacs out-rebounded the Pirates, 35-34, including 18-10 on the offensive glass.
GRAND LARCENY
Wake Forest forced a season high 32 turnovers in the victory over Florida A&M on Dec. 15. The Demon Deacons also registered 21 steals, falling just four shy of the single-game school record set on Jan. 2, 1988 against Delaware State.
STILL GETTING NICE BALANCE
Wake Forest had four and five players in double figures, respectively, in their wins over NC A&T and Florida A&M. It was the seventh time in the Deacs' previous eight games that they had registered at least three players in double digits.
DEACS IN GIVING MOOD
Wake Forest dished out a season high 20 assists in the 87-29 victory over NC A&T on Dec. 14. The Deacs then recorded 18 more assists in the 87-57 rout of Florida A&M on Dec. 15. The two game total of 38 assists is the most assists in consecutive games since WFU dished out 45 in back-to-back wins over High Point and IUPUI last season.
FIVE IN DOUBLE FIGURES
In the 87-29 victory over NC A&T on Dec. 14, the Demon Deacons had five players in double figures. Not only was it the first time this season that the Deacs accomplished such a feat, but it was the first time since Dec. 16, 2001 at High Point.
DEMON DEACONS ROLL OVER NC A&T
In the 87-29 victory over NC A&T on Dec. 14, the 58 point margin of victory was the largest winning margin since Nov. 26, 1990 when Wake Forest routed Morgan State, 90-29.
DEACS KEEP LADY AGGIES BELOW FREEZING POINT
In the 87-29 victory over NC A&T on Dec. 14, the 29 points allowed is not only season low, but nearly eclipsed the school record. The school record for fewest points allowed in a single game is 21 set on Feb. 10, 1972 when the Deacs defeated Guilford, 55-21. Wake Forest last held an opponent under 30 points on Nov. 26, 1990 in a 90-29 rout of Morgan State.
DEACS CLAMP DOWN ON NORTH CAROLINA A&T
Wake Forest limited the Lady Aggies to just 21.2% (11-for-52), including 16.1% (5-for-31) in the second half. The Deacs have now limited five of their eight opponents this season under 40 percent shooting. In fact, Loyola and NC A&T could not even manage 30 percent.
MARSHALL HURTS DEACS ON GLASS
After outrebounding its two previous opponents (Nicholls State and Purdue), Wake Forest was outrebounded, 49-34, at Marshall on Dec. 2. The Herd also corralled 14 on the offensive glass, while the Deacs grabbed only seven.
DEACS LOSE AT FREE THROW LINE
Marshall took advantage of a major differential from the free throw line in the victory over the Deacs on Dec. 2. While Wake Forest went to line the line 14 times overall and seven in the second half, the Herd went to the line 39 times overall and 30 after halftime.
BROWN NEEDED MORE HELP
After registering at least three players in double figures over the first four games, Tonia Brown was the lone Demon Deacon in double figures in the loss at Marshall. Brown scored 15 points, while Erin Ferrell added nine and Liz Strunk chipped in seven.
BOND-YOUNG ON FIRE AGAINST PURDUE EARLY
Cotelia Bond-Young torched the Boilermakers in the first half for 13 points, but the sophomore did not register a field goal in the second half and finished with 14 for the afternoon.
FREE THROW STRUGGLES
Wake Forest continued its struggled from the free throw line against Purdue on Nov. 29. The Deacs finished 17-of-26 (65.4%) from the line. WFU shot only 58.9% (63-107) from the charity stripe in the season's first four outings.
TURNOVERS, THE STORY
The Deacs committed a season high 25 turnovers against the Boilermakers. In fact, 19 of the turnovers happened in the second half.
FERRELL STEPPING OUTSIDE
Junior Erin Ferrell drilled a career best three 3-pointers, all in the second half, against Purdue on Nov. 29. They are the only 3-pointers from the forward this season.
NICHOLLS STATE SNAPS STREAK
After holding its first two opponents (Loyola and Hampton) under 30% shooting from the field, Nicholls State managed to eclipse the 30% mark. The Lady Colonels hit a 3-pointer in the waning seconds to finish the night at 30.4% (17-for-56).
DEACS FINALLY WIN BATTLE OF BOARDS
After losing the battle of the boards in their first two games, WFU outrebounded Nicholls State, 40-36, and #8 Purdue, 36-34, in their two games at the 2003 UCF Golden Knight Classic.
BROWN LEADS WFU OVER LOYOLA
Tonia Brown recorded game highs in points (16), rebounds (9) and assists (5) in the Deacs?? 66-51 victory over Loyola College on Nov. 21. It was the first time one player led Wake Forest in those three categories since Olyvia Dardy had 30 points, eight rebounds and five assists against Duke on Mar. 2, 2001.
FOUR STRAIGHT SEASON OPENERS
The victory over Loyola on Nov. 21 was the fourth straight season opening win for the Demon Deacons.
WAKE FOREST SIGNS A PAIR
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. --- Wake Forest women's basketball coach Charlene Curtis announced Thursday that Christen Brown and Tara Tate have signed national letters of intent to play women's basketball for the Demon Deacons in 2004-05.
Brown, a 6-2 native of Dalton, Ga., can play either the guard or forward positions. Brown averaged 12.1 ppg and 10.0 rpg last season. She was selected to the 2002-03 Atlanta Journal Constitution Preseason All-Area squad. Brown was also chosen as a Gatorade Will to Win Athlete. This past summer, Brown competed at the adidas Top Ten Camp and was listed as the 47th best center in the most recent All-Star Girls Report.
Tate, a 5-6 guard, attends Freedom H.S. in Morganton, N.C. Tate averaged 17.2 ppg, 5.6 rpg and 5.1 apg last season. She has been awarded all-tournament team selections in her conference each of the past two seasons. This summer, Tate participated in the Youth Basketball of America Tournament and helped her team capture the National Championship. She was named the Most Valuable Player. "
