Oct. 26, 2006

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - The Wake Forest women's basketball team was picked to finish 11th in the 2006-07 Atlantic Coast Conference season, as announced by the league office on Thursday. The preseason poll was determined by a vote of media, sports information directors and head coaches.

Defending national champion Maryland was tabbed as the preseason favorite to win the conference. The Terrapins, who return all five of their starters, received 25 of the possible 38 votes.

North Carolina received the other 13 first-place votes to finish second in the poll. Duke followed UNC in third, followed by NC State and Florida State.

Rounding out the poll were Virginia, Boston College, Georgia Tech, Miami, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest and Clemson.

Wake Forest is coming off a 2005-06 season where it finished 12-16 overall and 3-13 in the ACC. The Demon Deacons finished 10th in the conference standings.

The Deacs return six players from last year's squad, including two starters and a redshirt. Wake has added five freshmen to the mix for 2006-07.

North Carolina's Ivory Latta, who was named the 2005-06 ACC Player of the Year, garnered Preseason Player of the Year honors.

Latta joined four others on the Preseason All-ACC team: Crystal Langhorne and Marissa Coleman of Maryland, Lindsey Harding of Duke and Erlana Larkins of UNC.

Virginia freshman Monica Wright was named the Preseason Rookie of the Year.

Wake Forest begins its exhibition season next week when it hosts Lenoir-Rhyne on Wednesday, Nov. 1, at 7 p.m. The Deacons will host Anderson University two days later to wrap up their slate of exhibition games.

Wake opens the regular season on Nov. 10 against Indiana at the Women's Sports Foundation Classic in Lexington, Ky.

2006-07 ACC Preseason Poll
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
Ivory Latta, North Carolina
Erlana Larkins, North Carolina
Crystal Langhorne, Maryland
Marissa Coleman, Maryland
Lindsey Harding, Duke

Preseason Player of the Year: Ivory Latta, North Carolina
Preseason Rookie of the Year: Monica Wright, Virginia