Greensboro, N.C. - Duke received 36 of 42 first place votes and 372 total votes to finish first in the Atlantic Coast Conference women's basketball preseason poll, conducted Sunday, November 4, at the 11th annual ACC Women's Basketball Media Day.
The Blue Devils were followed in the balloting by North Carolina, which received a total of 297 points and NC State, who finished third with six first place votes for 273 points. The Maryland Terrapins finished fourth in the voting with 246 points, and the Tigers of Clemson were fifth with 213 points.
Florida State was sixth with a 198 point total, and Georgia Tech was seventh with 120 points. Virginia and Wake Forest finished eighth and ninth, with 117 and 54 points respectively.
In balloting for the 2001-02 preseason All-Conference team, Duke sophomore Alana Beard, who was last year's ACC Rookie of the Year and first team All-ACC performer, was named to the team along with last year's second team All-ACC performers Coretta Brown of North Carolina, Chrissy Floyd of Clemson and NC State's Carisse Moody. Rounding out the preseason all-conference team is North Carolina senior Nikki Teasley.
Beard, the 2001 ACC Rookie of the Year, was selected as the league's preseason Player of the Year, while Tar Heel Leah Metcalf was tabbed as the ACC preseason Rookie of the Year.
2001-02 PRESEASON POLL
1. Duke (36) - 372
2. North Carolina - 297
3. NC State (6) - 273
4. Maryland - 246
5. Clemson - 213
6. Florida State - 198
7. Georgia Tech - 120
8. Virginia - 117
9. Wake Forest - 54
2001-02 PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM
Alana Beard, So., Duke
Coretta Brown, Jr., North Carolina
Chrissy Floyd, Jr., Clemson
Carisse Moody, Jr., NC State
Nikki Teasley, Sr., North Carolina
2001-02 PRESEASON PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Alana Beard, So., Duke
2001-02 PRESEASON ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
Leah Metcalf, Fr., North Carolina