Monica Wright Named ACC Rookie of the Year

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Monica Wright Video Feature

Feb. 27, 2007

GREENSBORO, N.C. – Virginia freshman Monica Wright (Woodbridge, Va.) has been unanimously selected as the Atlantic Coast Conference Rookie of the Year, the Atlantic Coast Sports Media Association (ACSMA) announced on Tuesday. Wright was also an unanimous selection to the ACC All-Freshman Team.

Wright is the fifth Cavalier in school history to earn the Conference’s Rookie of the Year honor. She joins former UVa standouts Dawn Staley (1989), Tora Suber (1994), Schuye LaRue (2000), and Brandi Teamer (2002).

“Monica has been everything to us,” head coach Debbie Ryan said. “She’s had to take on a tremendous amount of responsibility. We are very proud and pleased that she has received this honor.”

Wright has had an outstanding inaugural season with the Cavaliers. A starter in all 29 contests, she is the most decorated rookie in Virginia school history. This season Wright earned ACC Rookie of the Week honors eight times, the most of any Cavalier.

“A lot of freshmen had been doing really well this year, and putting up really big numbers,” Wright said. “I was kind of iffy about it at first, but (winning the award) hadn’t really crossed my mind a lot until just recently when I realized how many rookie-of-the-week (awards) I’ve gotten.”

After 29 games, Wright stands second in team scoring with 14.9 ppg while leading all Conference freshmen in scoring. Wright leads the ‘Hoos in steals with 67 and stands second is assists with 65.

The No. 8 seeded Virginia Cavaliers (16-13) face No. 9 seed Clemson (12-17) in the first round of the 2007 ACC Women’s Basketball Tournament on Thursday, March 1 at 3 p.m. at the Greensboro (N.C.) Coliseum. The Regional Sports Network will televise the game live. Charlottesville’s WINA Radio (1070 AM) and XM Radio 193 will also broadcast all of UVa’s games live.

2007 ACC ALL-FRESHMAN TEAM
Monica Wright, Virginia* 55
LeLe Hardy, Clemson 50
Jacinta Monroe, Florida State 49
Christy Brown, Clemson 24
Mekia Valentine, Wake Forest 17

Honorable Mention All-Freshman
Ayla Brown, Boston College 16
Bridgette Mitchell, Duke 16
Joy Cheek, Duke 15

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
Monica Wright, Virginia

2006-07 ACC ALL-DEFENSIVE TEAM
Alison Bales, Sr., C, Duke
Alicia Gladden, Sr., G, Florida State
Lindsey Harding, Sr., G, Duke
Ashley Key, Sr., G, NC State
Camille Little, Sr., F/G, North Carolina

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Lindsey Harding, Duke

*unanimous selection

The Rookie of the Year and All-Freshman Team were determined by a vote of 55 members of the Atlantic Coast Sports Media Association, while the Defensive Player of the Year and the All-Defensive Team were selected by the ACC’s 12 coaches.