Oct. 24, 2007

GREENSBORO, N.C. - Maryland, the recipient of 27 of the 37 first-place votes, was selected as the top preseason pick for the 2007-08 Atlantic Coast Conference Women's Basketball season, as determined by a vote of the media at the ACC Women's Basketball Media Day in addition to the votes of the league's sports information directors and head coaches.

Maryland returns four starters and eight letterwinners from last year's 28-6 squad that reached the NCAA Tournament for the fourth year in a row. Two-time All-American Crystal Langhorne and returning All-ACC selections Marissa Coleman and Kristi Toliver give the Terps a great deal of experience and talent coming into the season. In addition, head coach Brenda Frese (169-81) could reach the 200-win mark in just the eighth year of her career this season.

Langhorne, who led the ACC with a .707 field goal percentage last year and placed in the ACC's top 10 in both scoring (14.1) and rebounding (8.1) average, was named the 2007-08 Preseason Player of the Year. Joining the 6-2 senior on the preseason squad is teammate Marissa Coleman, North Carolina's Erlana Larkins, Duke's Abby Waner, and NC State's Khadijah Whittington.

Just as predicted one year ago, the North Carolina Tar Heels, who received eight first-place votes, followed the Terrapins in the balloting, while Duke is third. The Tar Heels return 10 letterwinners from last season's squad that recorded a school record 34 wins and advanced to the Final Four for the second straight season and third time in program history. Led by first-year head coach Joanne P. McCallie, Duke returns three starters from last year's NCAA "Sweet 16" squad that posted a perfect 29-0 in the regular season, becoming the first ACC team and only the 14th in NCAA history to go undefeated in the regular season.

Newcomer guard and McDonald's All-America selection Jasmine Thomas headlines the Duke 2007 recruiting class. The freshman from Fairfax, Va., was named Preseason ACC Rookie of the Year.

2007-08 Predicted Order of Finish
1. Maryland (27)
2. North Carolina (10)
3. Duke
4. Florida State
5. Georgia Tech
6. Virginia
7. NC State
8. Clemson
9. Virginia Tech
10. Miami
11. Boston College
12. Wake Forest

2007-08 Preseason All-ACC Team
Marissa Coleman, Maryland
Crystal Langhorne, Maryland
Erlana Larkins, North Carolina
Abby Waner, Duke
Khadijah Whittington, NC State

Preseason Player of the Year: Crystal Langhorne, Maryland
Preseason Rookie of the Year: Jasmine Thomas, Duke

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