March 4, 2009

GREENSBORO, N.C. - Maryland center Lynetta Kizer has been named ACC Freshman of the Year after helping the Terps (25-4, 12-2) to the ACC regular season title and a No. 1 seed in the ACC Tournament.

Kizer, a 6-foot-4 center from Woodbridge, Va., contributed to Maryland's championship by averaging 11.7 points and 7.4 rebounds, both third-best marks on the team, while shooting nearly 50 percent. She also ranked in the top-10 in the ACC in rebounds per game and field goal percentage. Kizer has started 28 of Maryland's 29 games, averaging over 26 minutes played per contest.

"I'm honored," Kizer, the ACC Preseason Freshman of the Year, said. "This award wouldn't have been possible without my teammates and the confidence they have in me.

"I'd just really like to thank my coaches and teammates for helping me elevate my game coming out of high school and coming into the ACC."

Kizer is the third Terp in the last five years to win the award as Marissa Coleman and Crystal Langhorne did so in 2006 and 2005, respectively. She is the sixth player to win the award in the program's history.

The ACC Freshman of the Year was selected via balloting by 45 members of the league's Blue Ribbon Panel.

The 32nd annual ACC Women's Basketball Tournament will take place at the Greensboro Coliseum, beginning on Thursday, March 5 and will conclude on Sunday, March 8 with the championship contest slated for 1 p.m. ET. The Terps open up play in Friday's quarterfinals against the winner of the NC State-Wake Forest tilt.