Feb. 16, 2009

GREENSBORO, N.C. - Maryland's Marissa Coleman was named Atlantic Coast Conference Women's Basketball Player of the Week, while Florida State's Cierra Bravard and NC State's Bonae Holston share this week's Rookie honor. Coleman picked up her league-leading (among active players) fifth career Player of the Week honor after leading the 9th-ranked Terrapins to a 3-0 week, including wins over No. 15 Virginia and Big East foe Rutgers.

Coleman averaged 24.3 points, 8.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 3.3 steals and 1.3 blocks per game in leading the Terrapins to a 3-0 mark on the week. The senior from Cheltenham, Md., attempted at least 10 free throws in three straight games for the first time in her career, sinking 88.2 percent (30-of-34), including a perfect 10-for-10 mark in Maryland's road win at Boston College. She became the second-leading scorer in Maryland history on a night in which she scored a season-high 28 points, Thursday versus Virginia, along with moving into the Top 20 in ACC history in scoring and recorded her 1,000th career rebound. The veteran shot 50 percent from the floor on the week and 42.9 percent from three-point range.

Bravard, who came off the bench, recorded her first double-double in ACC play, and second in her career, with 16 points and 10 rebounds - both team-highs - to help the Seminoles to a 77-70 win over visiting No. 7 North Carolina last Friday. Bravard shot 63 percent from the field and 75 percent from the free throw line in the game. The newcomer from Sandusky, Ohio, is averaging 8.7 points and 4.4 rebounds per game versus ranked opponents this year (FSU is 5-2 in those games). On the season, Bravard is fourth on the team in scoring at 10.1 points per game, third in rebounding at 5.0 per game and is shooting a team-high 57 percent from the field.

Holston also continued her stellar play in the ACC this past week by averaging 16.0 points (60 percent FG shooting), 5.0 rebounds and 2.5 steals in leading NC State to a 2-0 mark. The rookie from Newport News, Va., began the week with 20 points (9-for-14 FG), three boards, two steals and two blocks in a come-from-behind 59-51 win over Wake Forest on Thursday. Holston then followed that performance with a 12-point, seven-rebound effort, adding three steals, in another comeback victory over No. 17 Virginia, 60-54, on Sunday. The Wolfpack trailed by 11 points at halftime against Wake Forest and was behind by nine points with 13:47 left in the second half against Virginia.

The weekly honor marks the first weekly accolade for Holston, while it is the second for Bravard, who received the honor on Jan. 12.

ACC action resumes action later today as Boston College travels to face Miami and 4th-ranked Duke takes on No. 15 Tennessee. Both games are slated for television as the contest in Miami is scheduled for a 7 p.m. ET tip on the league's regional sports package and Duke's non-conference match-up will tip-off at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2.

Visit TheACC.com for more information, including a complete 2008-09 women's basketball schedule and information on the upcoming ACC Women's Basketball Tournament, which will be held March 5-8 at the Greensboro Coliseum.