March 11, 2008

GREENSBORO, N.C. - ACC Player of the Year Crystal Langhorne, Sports Illustrated First Team All American Kristi Toliver, and ACC Tournament MVP Erlana Larkins are among 17 finalists for the John R. Wooden Award, presented annually to the nation's top collegiate player. Maryland is one of only two schools - along with Connecticut - to have more than one player named to the ballot.

Willingboro, N.J., native Crystal Langhorne was the ACC's Player of the Year and was voted to the All-ACC team for the fourth consecutive year, the first women's player in Maryland history to garner all-conference honors every year. She is one of only 10 players in the history of the ACC to be named to the first team three times.

Langhorne is second on the team with 16.7 points per game, while leading the team with 9.2 rebounds per game. She is ranked in the top five in the ACC in both categories. She currently leads the nation in field goal percentage, knocking down 64.6 percent of her attempts. The only men's or women's player in school history with 2,000 points and 1,000 rebounds, she is the program's scoring and rebounding leader.

Harrisonburg, Va., product Kristi Toliver is having a career-season to date. She is leading the team with 16.8 points per game, which ranks fourth in the ACC, and leads the conference with 7.5 assists per game. Dishing out 248 assists on the season, she is one assist from tying the ACC's single-season mark, which has stood since 1978. Toliver was named first team All-ACC, making her second straight appearance on the all-conference list. She is a finalist for the Nancy Lieberman Award, which is presented annually to the top point guard in the nation.

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Riviera Beach, Fla., native and ACC Tournament MVP Erlana Larkins has been a stalwart on a North Carolina team that won the ACC championship each of her four years. Larkins, a four-time All-ACC selection, is scoring at a clip of 13.8 points per game. She leads the Tar Heels and is second in the ACC in rebounding with 9.4 per game. Her 4.35 offensive rebounds per game leads all ACC players. This marks the second straight year that Larkins was named a finalist for the Wooden Award.

The winner will be announced on Saturday, April 12, at the Los Angeles Athletic Club.