GREENSBORO, N.C. - University of North Carolina senior Coretta Brown was named to the preseason all-conference team and Tar Heel freshman La'Tangela Atkinson was voted the preseason Rookie of the Year Sunday afternoon at Atlantic Coast Conference Women's Basketball Media Day.
Brown's spot on the preseason team is her second in a row. She also was named to the squad last year and went on to earn All-ACC and All-ACC Tournament honors for 2001-02. She was joined on this year's preseason team by Duke's Alana Beard and Iciss Tillis, Clemson's Chrissy Floyd and Virginia's Brandi Teamer.
Atkinson's selection marks the second consecutive year that a Tar Heel has been the top vote-getter in that category. Sophomore guard Leah Metcalf was the 2001-02 preseason ACC Rookie of the Year and went on to earn a spot on the ACC All-Freshmen team. Atkinson, a versatile 6-1 player from Bishopville, S.C., was a high school All-America selection and a two-time state champion at Lee Central High School. She and 5-11 guard Jessica Sell are the only freshmen on UNC's 2002-03 roster.
Beard, the Blue Devil junior, was a unanimous selection for preseason ACC Player of the Year. She also was the preseason pick for 2001-02 and went on to earn 2002 Player of the Year honors.
Duke was predicted to win the league crown in 2002-03, drawing all 48 first-place votes from the media in attendance. North Carolina finished second in the voting for the second year. The Tar Heels, 26-9 in 2001-02, return four starters and 12 letterwinners from a team that finished as the ACC runner-up and reached the NCAA Sweet 16.
UNC will take the court for the first time this Sunday, Nov. 3, for an exhibition game against Premier Players. Tipoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. at Carmichael Auditorium. The Tar Heels will play another exhibition game on Nov. 6 at 7 p.m. then open the season on Nov. 22 with a home game against Davidson.
2002-03 ACC Preaseason Poll
1. Duke
2. North Carolina
3. Virginia
4. NC State
5. Clemson
6. Georgia Tech
7. Maryland
8. (tie) Florida State
8. (tie) Wake Forest