Monica Wright Named ACC Defensive Player of the Year

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CHARLOTTESVILLE – Virginia senior guard Monica Wright (Woodbridge, Va.) has been named the Atlantic Coast Conference’s Defensive Player of the Year, the conference announced Wednesday (March 3). Wright was selected by the league’s 12 head coaches and is the first-ever Cavalier to earn the accolade.

Wright, also a first team All-ACC selection this season, led the ACC in steals per game at 3.6. That total also ranks in the top 10 nationally. Often charged with guarding the opposing team’s top player, Wright is a repeat selection to the All-ACC Defensive Team, as she earned the honor as a sophomore in 2007-08.

Wright also leads the team in rebounding, averaging 6.3 boards per game. That ranks 11th in the ACC.

Since the ACC began giving the award in 2005, she is the first Virginia player to be named ACC Defensive Player of the Year.

To date, Wright’s all-conference honors include Rookie of the Year and ACC All-Freshman Team (2006-07), Second Team All-ACC and All-ACC Defensive Team (2007-08) and First Team All-ACC (2008-09, 2009-10).

The 2010 ACC Player of the Year will be announced on Thursday, March 4.

The Cavaliers head to the 2010 ACC Tournament as the No. 3 seed and will face the winner of sixth-seeded NC State vs. 11th-seeded Clemson in the quarterfinals. That contest will take place at the Greensboro Coliseum on Friday, March 5 at 8 p.m.

2010 All-ACC Defensive Team
Lele Hardy, Sr., G/F, Clemson
Keturah Jackson, Sr., G/F, Duke
Shenise Johnson, So., F, Miami
Jacinta Monroe, Sr., C, Florida State
* Monica Wright, Sr., G, Virginia

* denotes 2010 ACC Defensive Player of the Year