Sports > January 24, 2008

By Andrew LeRay | Staff Writer

The frustration continues for the Lady Deacons as they have yet to win their first conference game of the season. After opening the year with impressive victories in the Paradise Jam tournament and seven more wins in their next eight games, Wake Forest has fallen on hard times during conference play.

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Freshman Camille Collier dribbles the ball in the recent game against Clemson. The team lost the game 85-73. (Kelly Makepeace/Old Gold & Black)

The two most recent losses drop the Deacons’ record to 12-8 overall and 0-6 in the ACC.

The Deacons lost an 80-54 matchup with the Florida State Seminoles on Jan. 17 in Tallahassee, Fla.

Florida State junior Mara Freshour and senior Shante Williams led all players in scoring, pouring in 18 points each.

Deacon senior Christen Brown led Wake Forest in points with 12, making all four of her three-point attempts.

Turnovers plagued the Lady Deacs throughout the game, and they finished with 20 total turnovers, which led to 17 Seminole points.

The excessive Wake Forest turnovers and impressive Florida State shooting led to a disappointing 26 point road loss.

The Seminoles shot 60 percent from behind the arc in the second half, making it all but impossible for the Deacons to stage a comeback.

“We need to play better defense,” sophomore Mekia Valentine said. “Each of us needs to be individually accountable for our defensive assignment.”

Wake Forest would improve their defensive effort on Jan. 20 during a game with the Boston College Eagles.

Despite the stronger defense, it was not enough to end the Deac’s losing streak.

The Lady Deacons made a valiant effort and staged a late comeback that fell short, and they lost the contest 66-58.

With the victory, Boston College improved to 15-5 overall and 3-2 in the ACC.

Freshman Camille Collier was the leading scorer for both teams, recording 21 points, a new career high.Valentine added 10 points and pulled down11 rebounds, marking her first double-double performance of the season. At the 12 minute mark in the second half, the Boston College lead was extended to 19 points.

Despite the large deficit, the Deacons did not lie down, but instead forged an impressive comeback. With 20 seconds left in the second half, a three-point basket from Collier pulled the Deacs within four points, but they would not get any closer. The Lady Deacs shot only 22 percent from the floor in the first half, a stat which would prove costly at the end of the game. Wake Forest rebounded in the second half to the tune of 54 percent shooting, but the effort was not enough to catch the Eagles.

“Our goal is, and always has been, to make postseason play,” Valentine said. “It’s still possible if we start playing better as a team.”

The Deacons will try to snap their six game losing streak Jan. 24 when they play Savannah State at the Joel Coliseum.