Oct. 27, 2004

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Head coach Brenda Frese's women's basketball squad was picked to finish third in the ACC in a preseason poll voted on by the media at the 2004 ACC Media Day in Greensboro, N.C., today. It is the highest predicted finish for the Terps since 1992 when they were selected to place second in the league. Two Terps also received preseason recognition. Sophomore Shay Doron was named to the Preseason All-ACC squad while Crystal Langhorne was tabbed Preseason Rookie of the Year.

Maryland earned two of 40 first-place votes. North Carolina was the top vote getter and was picked No. 1 with 20 first-place votes, followed by five-time ACC Champion Duke, who had 12 first-place votes. League newcomers Miami and Virginia Tech were selected fourth and fifth, respectively, to round out the top five.

The Terps are coming off one of the most successful seasons in recent history, posting 18 wins and reaching the second round of the 2004 NCAA Tournament. Its first-round upset over Miami, 86-85, was Maryland's first tournament victory in 12 years. Last season, the team was picked to finish eighth in the preseason media poll but placed in a third-place tie.

A 6-3 post player, Langhorne (Willingboro, N.J.) is one of four incoming freshmen joining the squad this season. The four were rated the No. 2 recruiting class in the nation. Langhorne was ranked one of the top post players in the nation as a senior and was a McDonald's, Parade, Street & Smith's and WBCA All-American as a senior. She is also a two-time New Jersey Gatorade Player of the Year and this summer was invited to play with the USA Junior World Championship Qualifying team. Langhorne is the first Terrapin to earn the preseason distinction.

Doron (Great Neck, N.Y./Christ the King) arrived in College Park last season as one of two highly-touted guards. A McDonald's All-American with high expectations, she led the team in scoring, averaging 13.5 points per game. Possessing a knack for scoring, she tied an NCAA record with 23 free throws in her first collegiate contest vs. Coppin State. She went on to record 18 double-digit outings, including four 20+ point performances and a 30-point showing. Doron became the first Maryland freshman to be named to the All-ACC squad as a freshman when she was selected to the third team. She was also named to the conference's All-Freshman squad and first team All-ACC Tournament.

The Terps boast a young squad heading into the 2004-05 campaign, with eight of 11 scholarship players being freshmen or sophomores. The Terps return seven letterwinners overall and three starters from last season's team.

Maryland opens the season on Nov. 19 at Appalachian State then come to Comcast Center to open the home slate on Nov. 21 when it hosts Siena at 2 p.m. The ACC season begins Jan. 2 in Blacksburg, Va., when Virginia Tech, one of two league newcomers, hosts the Terps.

2004-05 PRESEASON POLL
1. North Carolina (20)
2. Duke (18)
3. Maryland (2)
4. Miami
5. Virginia Tech
6. Virginia
7. NC State
8. Clemson
   Florida State
10.Georgia Tech
11.Wake Forest

2004-05 PRESEASON PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Monique Currie, Duke

2004-05 PRESEASON ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
Crystal Langhorne, Maryland

-TERPS-