Feb. 24, 1998
1998 ACC Tournament: February 26-March 1, Independence Arena, Charlotte, NC
Deacs to Face Georgia Tech in ACC First Round
The Wake Forest women's basketball team heads into the postseason this weekend at the 1998 Atlantic Coast Conference Women's Basketball Tournament, held February 26-March 1 at Independence Arena in Charlotte, N.C. The Demon Deacons, who finished the season at 4-22 overall and 0-16 in the ACC, earned the tournament's ninth seed and will face eighth-seeded Georgia Tech in the first round on Thursday, February 26 at 4 p.m. The winner of that game advances to face top-seeded Duke in the quarterfinals on Friday at 2:30 p.m. Wake has not tasted victory since Dec. 22, having dropped its last 15 contests, and is looking to end the season on a high note. WFU fell to Georgia Tech twice in the regular season, 80-60 and 58-53, but the Deacs are hoping the third time's a charm when the teams face off this week.
Virginia Holds Off Wake in Season Finale
DeMya Walker had 23 points, seven rebounds, and four blocks as No. 15 Virginia held off host Wake Forest, 60-51, last Wednesday in the Deacs' regular-season finale. UVa jumped to an early 22-12 lead, as Walker scored 12 points in the game's first 15 minutes. Wake cut the deficit to five by halftime, 27-22, and went on an 11-4 run early in the second half to get as close as 36-34. Virginia scored the next eight straight points, however, and built a 15-point lead with 3:39 to go. The Deacs made another run late in the game, cutting the lead to five on an Olivia Dardy three-pointer. UVa's Erin Stovall hit six free throws in the final 44 seconds, however, sealing the win. The Deacs held UVa to 35 percent shooting but hit just 28 percent from the floor themselves. Dardy netted a career-high 17 points, while Alisha Mosley had 14 points and eight rebounds. Walker was the only Cavalier in double figures.
Regular-Season Wrap-Up
The Demon Deacons' first season under new head Coach Charlene Curtis has certainly been a bumpy one, but don't let the 4-22 record deceive you into taking Wake Forest too lightly. Anyone who has followed the Deacs this season can attest to the dramatic improvement in the team's play over the course of the year as the players have become more comfortable in Curtis' new offensive and defensive schemes.
Defensively, the Deacs have turned in some outstanding performances, demonstrating the ability to contain some of the conference's top offenses and players with their solid match-up zone. Wake has also shown significant improvement in its rebounding work, one of the team's biggest problem areas early on. Offensively, however, Wake has struggled visibly. Turnovers, poor shooting, and the lack of a consistent go-to scorer have prevented the Deacs from putting enough points on the board. And while the team has played extremely good halves against every team in the conference, they continue to work toward maintaining a high level of intensity for the full 40 minutes. Having come so close to victory so many times this season, the Deacons' frustrations have continued to mount. The team is hungry for a win before the season is out, and they will look to take the year's frustrations out on Thursday vs. Georgia Tech.
The ACC Tournament
Duke earned the top seed in this year's tourney outright with a 13-3 league record. Clemson (12-4) took the No. 2 spot via tiebreaker with NC State (12-4), who earned the third seed. Nos. 4 through 9 are as follows: North Carolina (11-5), Virginia (9-7), Maryland (7-9), Florida State (5-11), Georgia Tech (3-13), and Wake Forest (0-16).
The Deacs hold a 5-20 overall record in ACC Tournament play in their 20 appearances since 1978. This year marks the second time that Wake has been the ninth seed in the tourney since the field expanded to nine teams in 1992. Wake was also seeded ninth in 1993 and fell to No. 8 Duke in the opening round. Prior to 1992, Wake was the eighth (and last) seed four times (1981, 1982, 1983, 1987). The highest Wake Forest has ever been seeded in an ACC Tournament is third (1988). Wake has advanced to the tournament semifinals twice (1986, 1988), but has never appeared in a title game. Last year, the eighth-seeded Deacs defeated No. 9 Florida State in the opening round, then fell to top-seeded and eventual champion North Carolina in the quarterfinals. Wake and Georgia Tech have never met in the ACC Tournament.
Scouting Georgia Tech
After jumping out to 7-3 start on the season, Georgia Tech dropped 10 of its last 13 games to finish out at 10-16 overall and 3-13 in the ACC. Two of Tech's three wins in that span came over the Demon Deacons, while the third was a nonconference victory over Belmont on Jan. 24. The Yellow Jackets' only other conference win came against Virginia back on Dec. 6th. Tech closed out the regular season with an 89-58 loss to Clemson on Sunday. The Jackets only trailed by four at the half, 36-32, before Clemson exploded for 53 second-half points on 73 percent shooting from the floor. Joannah Kauffman, Carla Munnion, and Regina Tate each had 13 points for GT. Kenya Williams leads the Yellow Jackets in scoring through 26 regular-season games (11.5 ppg), while Munnion has added 10.5 points per outing. Williams and Kauffman lead Tech on the boards with 7.1 boards per game apiece, and Kauffman ranks third in the ACC with 2.3 blocks per game. The Yellow Jackets are averaging 63.3 points per game on 38 percent shooting, and commit an average of 21 turnovers per game. Yhey have outrebounded opponents by a slight 1.6 margin.
Series History
Georgia Tech holds a 19-16 edge in the all-time series with Wake Forest, and Tech has won the last five straight meetings, including two this season. Wake's last win over the Jackets came in the 1995-96 season, when the Deacs won 81-67 in Winston-Salem. The teams have never met in the ACC Tourney.
Wake vs. Georgia Tech This Season
The Yellow Jackets topped Wake twice in the regular season, winning 80-60 in Winston-Salem on Jan. 11 and edging the Deacs 58-53 in Atlanta on Feb. 13. In the first meeting, Kenya Williams scored 21 points as Georgia Tech blew a close game open in the second half. The Deacs went into halftime only down six, 36-30, but shot just 29 percent from the field in the second period. Williams recorded a double-double, also pulling down 10 rebounds, while Danielle Donehew tallied 19 points and Joannah Kauffman added 16. Wake's Emon McMillian also recorded a double-double with 15 points and a game-high 14 rebounds. In February, Carla Munnion scored 21 points to lift Tech to the win in Atlanta. Wake outrebounded Tech 35-26 and shot 46 percent from the floor, but the Deacs committed 28 turnovers. The Deacs held a 25-22 edge at halftime before Tech pulled ahead by seven early in the second half. Wake tied the game midway through the period then made another run late in the game but came up short. Alisha Mosley scored a career-high 18 points for the Deacs, while McMillian added 11 points and seven rebounds. Tech's Kauffman had 14 points and 13 rebounds.
Looking Ahead to Duke
Should the Deacs defeat Georgia Tech on Thursday, they would face regular-season conference champion and top-seeded Duke in the quarterfinals on Friday at 2:30 pm. Duke closed out the regular season with a 20-6 overall record and a 13-3 ACC mark for their first-ever league title. The Blue Devils finished pn a strong note, winning their last six straight games and 10 of their last 11. Duke's only conference losses this year have come to Clemson (72-61), North Carolina (83-74) and Maryland (54-53), all on the road. Duke features a strong all-around team that can score both inside the paint and from beyond the three-point arc. Four Devils average in double figures - guard Nicole Erickson (12.4 ppg) and forwards Michele VanGorp (10.9 ppg), Payton Black (10.5 ppg), and Peppi Browne (10.5 ppg). Point guard Hilary Howard averages 9.8 points and 4.4 assists per game, while Browne leads the team in rebounding (6.0 rpg) and steals (2.0 spg). Duke averages 75.7 points on 46 percent shooting, including 35 percent from behind the arc. The Blue Devils have outrebounded opponents by a 4.1 margin.
Too Many Heartbreakers
Despite their 0-16 conference record, the Deacons have been just a step away from victory several times this season, with five of their ACC losses decided by five points or less. In each game, WFU held the lead in the second half, only to fall in the end. Wake led Maryland by 12 with 4:26 to go before falling 61-59 on Jan. 4. The Deacs were up on Florida State by eight early in the second half before losing, 64-63, on Jan. 8. Wake led No. 23 Clemson by seven with 6:01 left before the Tigers rallied to win, 61-60, on Jan. 15. On Feb. 4, the Deacs led the Terps by 16 in the second half before falling in OT, 56-52. And at Georgia Tech on Feb 13, the Deacons led by three at halftime and rallied late in the game to within three points before falling, 58-53.
Deacon Depth
Coach Curtis has utilized every active player on the roster this season, and all of the Deacs' reserves have provided some solid minutes off the bench. Only one player averages over 30 minutes per game - point guard Heidi Coleman - while Emon McMillian, Cynthia Kelley and Alisha Mosley average 25-30 minutes a game. After those four, however, Wake has six players averaging over 10 minutes per game, with different players stepping up at different times during the year. This great depth serves as both a blessing and a curse for Curtis; while she has a multitude of capable reserves to keep her players fresh on the floor, it is difficult to know who will be "on" on any given night.
Searching for a Consistent Scorer
Despite some strong defensive efforts, the Deacs have consistently struggled to put points on the board this season, averaging just 57.1 ppg and scoring less than 60 points in the past nine games. While six different players have led the team in scoring at least once, no Deac averages in double figures. Junior point guard Heidi Coleman (9.3 ppg), a deadly three-point shooter and the team's top ballhandler, leads the team in scoring but is often the target of double-teams and tight man-to-man coverage, thus limiting her scoring opportunities. Junior forward Emon McMillian (8.2 ppg) has hit double figures 10 times this season, but only once in the last nine games. Two up-and-coming offensive weapons are freshmen forwards Olivia Dardy (7.5 ppg) and Kristen Shaffer (5.6 ppg), who have stepped up their scoring of late. Dardy averages a team-high 8.8 points in ACC play and has hit double figures in six of the last 10 games, while Shaffer (6.0 ppg ACC) has five double-figure outings in conference play.
Battle of the Boards
Rebounding has been a key focus for the Deacs this season after losing their top two board-getters to graduation last year. Junior Emon McMillian has been a consistent force under the glass for Wake, pulling down nearly seven caroms per game (6.6) and leading the team in rebounding 15 times. Freshman Olivia Dardy has also emerged as a force on the boards, with five double-figure rebounding games in the past 13 outings and a team-high 6.7 rpg average in ACC play. Beyond those two however, no Deac grabs more than 3.4 boards per game. Overall, Wake has been outrebounded by a 1.9 average margin.
Head Coach Charlene Curtis
Charlene Curtis is in her first season at Wake Forest, bringing a wealth of experience, a commitment to excellence, and a drive to bring the program to new heights. Curtis came to WFU from Connecticut, where she was an assistant for two seasons and helped the Huskies to a 67-5 record, two Big East titles, and an NCAA Final Four appearance. Prior to UConn, Curtis was head coach at Temple (1991-95), where she compiled a 41-97 record and coached four Atlantic 10 All-Rookie players, and Radford (1985-90), where she was Big South Coach of the Year twice and compiled a 121-53 record. Curtis was also an assistant at Georgetown (1984) and Virginia (1982-83), an assistant coach with USA Basketball, and a floor coach for the Olympic Trials. A 1976 Radford graduate, Curtis was the school's first 1,000-point scorer and a two-time MVP. She was inducted as a charter member of the Radford Sports Hall of Fame in 1995. She earned her master's degree from Virginia in 1982. Curtis is currently 4-22 at Wake Forest (.154) and 166-172 overall (.491) as a head coach.
Dardy Slated to Start in ACC Tourney
Freshman forward Olivia Dardy, who has asserted herself as one of the top rookies in the ACC this season, has earned herself a spot in the Deacon starting lineup for the ACC Tournament. Dardy's play has continually improved this season, and she has emerged as the Deacs' top scorer and rebounder in conference play (8.8 ppg, 6.7 rpg in ACC games) from off the bench. In conference games only, she ranks as the ACC's eighth-leading rebounder. She has led the team in scoring in four of the last seven games and been the Deacs' top rebounder in six of the past 13 outings. Dardy has scored in double figures in eight conference games (nine times overall), including a career-high 17-point performance vs. Virginia last week. She has netted three double-doubles on the year, all of them in ACC games. Dardy came to Wake Forest as primarily a perimeter player, but the Deacs have used her in the post where they need the most help. As a result, she has developed a strong inside game to complement her outside shooting, making her a more versatile player who is difficult to defend. Through 26 games, Dardy is Wake's fourth-leading scorer (7.5 ppg) and second-leading rebounder (5.2 rpg).
McMillian a Consistent Force Inside
Junior forward Emon McMillian has been the Deacs' most consistent player inside, starting 24 games at power forward and averaging 8.2 points and a team-high 6.6 rebounds per contest. The daughter of former NBA player Jim McMillian, Emon is currently the ninth-leading rebounder in the ACC. She has scored in double figures 10 times and recorded three double-doubles, two of which came in ACC games. McMillian contributed a career-high 20 points and pulled down 10 boards vs. UNC on Dec. 4, including seven offensive rebounds, and she tallied 15 points and a career-high 14 rebounds vs. Georgia Tech on Jan. 11. She has led the team in rebounding in 14 games and also shoots 68 percent from the free throw line - the eighth-best percentage in the ACC. After missing the 1995-96 season for shoulder surgery, McMillian averaged 3.3 ppg and 3.9 rpg as a reserve last year.
Coleman Climbs the Career Charts
Junior point guard Heidi Coleman already ranks as one of the top three-point shooters in school history with still a year of eligibility remaining. She has connected on 34 percent of her attempts this season (53-156) and averages 2.0 threes per game, second-highest in the ACC. For her career, Coleman owns a 35.1 three-point shooting percentage. She currently ranks second all-time in three-pointers made (139) and attempted (396). Both career marks are held by Nicole Levesque '94, now a member of the WNBA's Charlotte Sting. Coleman currently holds the school single-season records in both categories, hitting 61-of-179 treys last year, and could top marks again this season, depending on how far the team goes in the tournament.
Coleman also ranks as the school's ninth all-time assist leader with 224 assists in her career. The all-time record of 488 is also held by Levesque.
Mosley Regains Her Scoring Touch
Sophomore guard Alisha Mosley, who has suffered from her share of shooting woes in the 1997-98 season, has regained her shooting touch in the last few weeks, just in time for the ACC Tourney. Mosley has scored in double-digits in five of the Deacs' last six outings, including a career-high 18 points at Georgia Tech on Feb. 13. Mosley also tallied 10 points at Duke on Feb. 2, then added 13 vs. Maryland on Feb. 4 and 10 vs. FSU on Feb. 8. She closed out the season with a 14-point effort vs. Virginia. Mosley has also demonstrated the ability to hit shots in the clutch, with two buzzer-beaters to her credit this year. On Nov. 26, she hit a 12-foot jumper at the buzzer to lift Wake to a thrilling win over Appalachian State, and on Feb 4, she hit a three-pointer at the horn vs. Maryland which tied the game and forced overtime. After hitting double figures in four of the Deacs' first six games, Mosley hit a shooting slump which saw her break double digits just once in the next 14 outings. She shot just 22 percent from the floor during that stretch, though she continued to contribute in other ways. In the past six games, however, she has been shooting at an improved 35 percent clip. Mosley currently leads the team in assists (2.1 apg) and is second in steals (1.3 spg). She averaged 20.6 minutes per game in 1996-97, contributing 7.0 ppg and earning ACC All-Rookie honors.
Kelley Brings a Physical Edge
Junior forward Cynthia Kelley brings a physical edge to the Deacon perimeter game with her slashing style and tenacious play. Kelley, who started 22 games last year and averaged 8.2 points and 4.0 rebounds per game, currently ranks third on the team in scoring (7.9 ppg) and fifth in rebounding (2.8 rpg) and brings added intensity to the floor. She has scored in double figures seven times this year and four times in conference play. She recorded a season-high 16 points in the loss to Clemson on Jan. 15 and was instrumental in the double-OT win at James Madison, scoring 12 points and dishing five assists. She also led the team in scoring vs. NC State on Dec. 30, tallying 12 points, and contributed 10 points vs. UNC on Jan. 25.
Shaffer Gives an Offensive Boost
Freshman guard/forward Kristen Shaffer has stepped up with several strong performances in ACC games. She scored in double figures in three straight conference games last month, netting 10 points in the loss to UNC, 11 points vs. NC State, and a career-high 15 points at Duke. In those three outings, Shaffer shot a combined 57 percent from the floor (13-23) and 90 percent from the line (9-10). She also netted 10 points and three assists in the loss to Duke back on Jan. 2, and hit 6-of-7 shots from the floor to score a team-high-tying 12 points vs. Maryland two days later. Shaffer has been particulary impressive in her rookie season with the Deacs, logging nearly 15 minutes per game and contributing 5.6 points and 2.0 rebounds per contest. She earned one start this year vs. West Virginia and has scored in double figures in seven games. Shaffer also came up with a critical steal in the waning seconds of the App State game to set up Alisha Mosley's buzzer-beating shot.
Miklic's Defense Paces Wake
Junior guard/forward Jenn Miklic, who broke into the starting lineup in late December, has stepped up as one of the Deacs' top defensive players on the court. She turned in a stellar defensive performance in the Clemson game on Jan. 15, shadowing Amy Geren, the ACC's top three-point shooter, all night. On Jan. 25 she covered the ACC's leading scorer, Tracy Reid of UNC, and her solid defense helped put Reid on the bench with four fouls and just three points early in the second half. After averaging just five minutes per game off the bench in WF's first four games, Miklic playing time has steadily increased. She has started the last 16 games and averages nearly 15 minutes per contest, contributing 2.3 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game. Miklic played in all 28 games last year, starting six and averaging 5.3 ppg and 3.5 rpg.
Nelson Anchors the Low Post
After appearing in only 10 games over the past two years, redshirt junior center Liz Nelson has started 24 games at center for the Deacs this year, providing much-needed size and wingspan in the middle of Wake's match-up zone defense. She logs just over 10 minutes per game, averaging 1.8 points and 1.8 rebounds per outing. Nelson also leads the team in blocks with 11. She had the best performance of her career in the loss to Tennessee State, tallying six points and six rebounds in just 17 minutes of action. She also added six points and five rebounds vs. Duke, and she blocked a career-high four shots in the loss to Campbell, all in the first half. Nelson will graduate from WFU this spring and will not return for her final season of eligibility.
Walker a Key Frontcourt Reserve
Senior forward Carri Walker, the Deacs' only true senior, has been a key reserve in the Deacon frontcourt all season, playing in all 26 games and starting four. Her best performance of the season came in the loss to Duke on Jan 2, when she led the team in both scoring (10 pts) and rebounding (6 rebs). Walker has been a top reserve for the Deacs at forward for four years, and is consistently one of the first two post players off the bench. In 25 games, she is averaging 2.7 points and 2.3 rebounds per contest.
Kirkpatrick Provides a Spark off the Bench
In her first season of collegiate action, redshirt freshman forward Brenda Mock Kirkpatrick has consistently provided a spark off the bench for the Deacs this season. A smart, intense player who makes the most of her time on the floor, Kirkpatrick has contributed 3.6 points and 3.0 rebounds per game in Wake's 26 contests, including career-highs of 14 points and eight rebounds vs. Appalachian State. She led the team in rebounding once, grabbing five boards at Florida State on Jan. 8. A two-time honorable mention high school All-American, Kirkpatrick redshirted the 1996-97 year due to a knee injury.
Whiteside a Solid Backcourt Reserve
Rookie guard Janae Whiteside has been a valuable backcourt reserve this season, backing up the Deacon starters at both point guard and shooting guard. Logging just under 10 minutes per game, Whiteside has added 1.6 points and 1.0 rebounds per appearance. She had her best performance of the year vs. James Madison, contributing five points and a team-high-tying five rebounds in just 12 minutes of play. Primarily a shooting guard in high school, Whiteside helped her Charlotte Latin team to two North Carolina state titles.
Anderson to Redshirt 97-98 Season
Freshman forward Megan Anderson has yet to hit the hardwood as a collegiate player, and it now looks likely that she'll redshirt the 1997-98 season. Anderson suffered two ACL tears in the past year and is recovering from offseason surgery, but her progress was slower than the Deacs had hoped.
Preseason Prognostications
The Deacs were picked to finish eighth in the conference in the 1997-98 ACC Preseason Media Poll, right where they finished last year. North Carolina was the unanimous first-place choice with 153 votes, followed by Virginia (119), Duke (112), NC State (107), Clemson (83), Maryland (81), Georgia Tech (57), Wake (27), and Florida State (26).
Probable Deacon Lineup
PROBABLE STARTERS
Pos.No. Name Ht. Yr. GP/GS PPG RPG Notable
F 5 Emon McMillian 6-1 r-Jr.25/24 8.2 6.6 Wake's top rebounder in 15 games; career-high 14 boards vs. Ga.Tech
F 12 Jenn Miklic 6-1 Jr. 24/16 2.3 1.9 One of team's top defensive players; has started the last 16 games
C 32 Olivia Dardy 6-1 Fr. 26/0 7.5 5.2 Team's leading scorer and rebounder in ACC games (8.8 ppg, 6.7 rpg)
G 11 Alisha Mosley 5-6 So. 26/17 7.7 2.9 Double figures in 5 of the last 6 games, including career-high 18 at GT
G 22 Heidi Coleman 5-6 r-Jr.26/26 9.3 3.4 Career-high 27 pts. vs. Campbell; hits 34% of her three-point shots
RESERVES
G/F 14 Cynthia Kelley 5-10 Jr.25/18 7.9 2.8 Led Wake vs. Clemson with season-high 16 points on Jan. 15
G/F 20 Kristen Shaffer 5-10 Fr.26/1 5.6 2.0 Has scored in double figures seven times
G 21 Janae Whiteside 5-7 Fr. 25/0 1.6 1.0 Reserve at point and two-guard; has hit 29 percent of her threes (9-31)
F/C 23 Carri Walker 6-1 Sr. 26/4 2.6 2.3 Led team with 10 points and six rebounds vs. Duke on Jan. 2
C 44 Liz Nelson 6-4 r-Jr.24/24 1.8 1.8 Will not return for her final season of eligibility next year
F/C 50 Brenda Mock Kirkpatrick 6-0 r-Fr.26/0 3.6 3.0 Career-high 14 points and eight rebounds vs. App State on Nov. 26
Statistical Comparison
WAKE Statistic TECH
57.1 Points Per Game 63.3
66.9 Points Allowed Per Game 72.3
-9.8 Scoring Margin -9.0
36.6 Rebounds Per Game 41.2
38.5 Opponent Rebounds Per Game 39.5
-1.9 Rebound Margin +1.7
.383 FG Percentage .385
.420 FG % Defense .430
.304 3-Pt FG Percentage .293
4.0 3-Pt FG Per Game 3.5
.631 Free Throw Percentage .642
11.6 Assists Per Game 11.7
21.6 Turnovers Per Game 21.0
1.6 Blocks Per Game 2.9
6.8 Steals Per Game 6.8
-4.2 Turnover Margin -3.8
