Harding Named ACC Defensive POY; Waner Selected All-ACC Freshman

DURHAM, N.C. ? With the regular season concluded, the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) released more awards on Tuesday as Lindsey Harding was selected ACC Defensive Player of the Year and Abby Waner earned All-ACC Freshman team accolades.

By a vote of the 12 league head coaches, Harding earned All-ACC Defensive Team and Defensive Player of the Year after guiding second-ranked Duke to a 25-2 overall and 12-2 league mark. Other members of the All-ACC Defensive team include La'Tangela Atkinson (UNC), Alicia Gladden (Florida State), Ashley Key (N.C. State) and Aja Parham (Boston College).

A 5-8 junior point guard, Harding is averaging 10.6 points, 4.6 assists, 3.5 rebounds, 2.1 steals and hit 45.2 percent of her three-point field goals. Harding, a native of Houston, Texas, is often matched up against the top scorer on the opposing team, but has still managed to be a very important part of the Blue Devil offense. She has led a Duke defense that ranks No. 1 in the ACC in field goal percentage defense (35.1) and is allowing only 58.6 points a game, while ranking first nationally in blocked shots (7.7).

In the ACC stats, Harding ranks fifth in assists, second in assist/turnover ratio (2.10), tied for 10th in steals, 12th in free throw percentage (77.8) and 15th in field goal percentage (50.0).

The All-ACC Freshman team was released with Waner receiving 62 votes, which were the third-most of the five-member squad. Other members on the team include Marissa Coleman of Maryland (70), Deirdre Naughton of Wake Forest (65), Kristi Toliver of Maryland (61) and Brittany Miller of Florida State (40).

Waner, a product of Highlands Ranch, Colo., has registered a very solid freshman season so far for the Blue Devils averaging 9.0 points, 3.4 assists, 2.4 rebounds, 2.0 steals and hit 38.8 percent of her three-point field goals. The 5-11 guard has collected double-figures in 10 games this season and dished out four or more assists in 12 of Duke's 27 contests.

Her 38 three-pointers made already ranks third on the Blue Devil freshman charts and is approaching the top-five in assists and steals. Waner collected a Duke freshman record five three-pointers against Colorado State on Dec. 22, 2005 and started 15 of the first 16 contests before coming off the bench the last 11 games.

- d - u - k - e -

2005-06 ACC All-Defensive Team
La'Tangela Atkinson     North Carolina
Alicia Gladden               Florida State
Lindsey Harding            Duke
Ashley Key                   NC State
Aja Parham                  Boston College

2005-06 ACC Defensive Player of the Year
Lindsey Harding            Duke

ALL-FRESHMAN
Marissa Coleman, Maryland*........................ 70
Deirdre Naughton, Wake Forest.................... 65
Abby Waner, Duke....................................... 62
Kristi Toliver, Maryland................................. 61
Britany Miller, Florida State........................... 40
*unanimous selection

Honorable Mention All-Freshman
Lyndra Littles, Virginia.................................. 22
Rashanda McCants, North Carolina............... 18