NCAA Champion Women's Basketball Tabbed ACC Preseason Favorite
10/26/2006 8:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Oct. 26, 2006
GREENSBORO, N.C. - Receiving 25 of 38 first-place votes, the reigning NCAA Champion Maryland women's basketball team was the top pick in the Atlantic Coast Conference's preseason poll, determined by a vote of the media, sports information directors and head coaches, the league announced on Thursday. Junior Crystal Langhorne and sophomore Marissa Coleman were also among the five preseason All-ACC picks.
It is just the second time in the history of the program the Terps have been picked the favorites to win the league and the first time in 14 years. The polling began in 1991.
Fifth-year head coach Brenda Frese returns all five starters from last year's championship squad. The top eight scorers and rebounders are back this season, as 98 percent of the scoring and 95 percent of the rebounding return.
For the second-straight year, two Terrapins have also been voted to the preseason all-conference team. Crystal Langhorne (Willingboro, N.J./Willingboro), the program's first All-American in 17 years and the nation's field goal shooting leader (67 percent), is a preseason pick for the second-consecutive year. She was also a first team All-ACC selection at the conclusion of the 2006 regular season.
The 2006 ACC Rookie of the Year, Marissa Coleman (Cheltenham, Md./St. John's College [D.C.]) was the only freshman in the conference to be named All-ACC last year, earning a spot on the second team. Coleman had double-doubles in both games of the Final Four and was the team's second-leading scorer (13.8 ppg) and rebounder (8.6 rpg). She also ranked in the top 15 in the ACC in seven different statistical categories, including leading the conference in three-point shooting percentage (47.0).
The Terps are followed by North Carolina and Duke in the poll, teams they defeated in the Final Four en route to claiming the program's first national title. NC State was picked fourth, Florida State was fifth and Virginia is sixth. Boston College is predicted to place seventh, then Georgia Tech, Miami, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest and Clemson.
UNC's Ivory Latta and Erlana Larkins, and Duke's Lindsey Harding round out the preseason All-ACC list, with Latta garnering preseason Player of the Year honors. UVA's Monica Wright was voted the preseason Rookie of the Year.
Maryland will hold an open practice on Saturday, Oct. 28, prior to the Terrapin football game vs. Florida State. The women's basketball team's only preseason exhibition will be held on Thursday, Nov. 2 against LTL All-Stars. For ticket information, visit www.umterps.com or call the Comcast Center Ticket Office at 1-800-IM-A-TERP.
2006-07 Predicted Order of Finish
1. MARYLAND (25)
2. North Carolina (13)
3. Duke
4. NC State
5. Florida State
6. Virginia
7. Boston College
8. Georgia Tech
9. Miami
10. Virginia Tech
11. Wake Forest
12. Clemson
2006-07 Preseason All-ACC Team
Ivory Latta, North Carolina
Erlana Larkins, North Carolina
Crystal Langhorne, Maryland
Marissa Coleman, Maryland
Lindsey Harding, Duke
Preseason Player of the Year: Ivory Latta
Preseason Rookie of the Year: Monica Wright, Virginia
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