Deacons Roll To Exhibition Win Over Anderson, 65-54

Nov. 3, 2006

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Sophomore Alex Tchangoue recorded a double-double and Wake Forest shook off pesky Anderson University for a 64-54 exhibition game victory Friday night at Lawrence Joel Coliseum.

The Demon Deacons turned a five-point halftime lead into a comfortable 16-point margin midway through the second half, but the Division II Lady Trojans would not go away. Anderson, 27-5 a year ago and considered one of the top Division II teams in the south, chipped away at the lead, but could get no closer than 10 points.

"It was another step in the development of a young basketball team," Deacon coach Mike Petersen said. "We had moments where we showed the promise that I think we have and other moments where our youth and inexperience showed. I looked out there one time and we had four freshmen on the floor at the same time."

Wake Forest, which defeated Lenoir-Rhyne in its exhibition opener last Wednesday, kicks off the regular season next Friday in Lexington (Ky.) against Indiana in the Women's Sports Foundation Classic.

Tchangoue led Wake Forest with 15 points and 12 rebounds. The Forsyth Country Day product also had three steals, two assists and sank a three-point field goal for Petersen's team.

Three other Deacons scored in double figures including Yolanda Lavender (13 points), Christen Brown (12 points), who was 2-of-2 from three-point range, and Melissa Washington (10 points). Brown and Corinne Groves had eight rebounds each.

Wake Forest dominated the boards, out-boarding the smaller Lady Trojans, 45-30. Wake pulled down 23 offensive rebounds. The Deacons held Anderson to just 32.6 percent shooting, including a 26.1 percent clip in the second half.

"I thought our effort was good tonight," Petersen said. "Our execution was not as good as we would have liked."

Mikala Fogle-Wilson and Deidra Langston, who made 15-of-17 free throws, led Anderson with 19 points each.

Wake Forest led 32-27 at halftime and outscored Anderson by an identical 32-27 margin in the second stanza.

Wake Forest jumped out to an early 8-0 lead on a pair of field goals by Melissa Washington and Yolanda Lavender. The Lady Trojans finally broke the ice 3:32 into the first half on a three-point field goal by Mikala Fogle-Wilson.

Only two reserves cracked the scoring column for Wake Forest. Courteney Morris came off the bench for seven points and a game-high five steals. Mekia Valentine chipped in two points and five rebounds.

The Demon Deacons, picked to finish 11^th in the ACC this season, have no seniors on the roster.

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Christen Brown

Corinne Groves

Yolanda Lavender

Courteney Morris

Alex Tchangoue

Mekia Valentine

Melissa Washington

Wake Forest Athletics