CHARLOTTESVILLE – Returning four starters from last year’s team that finished with a 24-10 overall record, the Virginia women’s basketball team appears in several national publications’ 2008-09 preseason rankings.
The Cavaliers are ranked No. 13 by
The Sporting News, No. 15 by
Lindy’s College Basketball Annual and No. 18 by
Athlon’s Sports College Basketball Annual. In addition, UVa appears in
USA Today’s College Basketball Preseason Sweet 16.
Virginia advanced to the second round of the 2008 NCAA Tournament and finished tied for third place in the Atlantic Coast Conference standings. Four starters (Paulisha Kellum, Lyndra Littles, Aisha Mohammed and Monica Wright) return from that team, in addition to Jayna Hartig, Kelly Hartig, Kristen London, Britnee Millner and Enongé Stovall. The Cavaliers welcome four newcomers in Britny Edwards, Whitny Edwards, Ariana Moorer and Chelsea Shine.
Wright, a 2007-08 honorable mention
Associated Press All-American, is poised for another standout season at the top of a deep roster for UVa. The Woodbridge, Va., native averaged 17.6 points per game en route to second team All-ACC honors and a spot on the ACC’s all-defensive team.
Littles and Mohammed, meanwhile, return as one of the most dynamic frontcourts in the nation. Littles averaged 16.8 points and 7.3 rebounds per game, while Mohammed nearly averaged a double-double with 13.1 points and 9.2 rebounds per game.
Kellum, who started 31 games in 2007-08, averaged 9.0 points and 3.2 rebounds per game from her guard position.
Virginia begins practice Friday (Oct. 17). The Cavaliers tip-off the 2008-09 season with a Nov. 7 exhibition in John Paul Jones Arena, followed by the season-opener at home Nov. 14 vs. High Point.
Season tickets for Virginia women’s basketball are on sale now. Tickets can be purchased online
here, by calling (800) 542-8821 or in person at the Virginia Athletics Ticket Office in Bryant Hall during regular business hours, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
2008-09 SPORTING NEWS PRESEASON TOP 25 POLL 1. Connecticut
2. Maryland
3. Oklahoma
4. Stanford
5. Rutgers
6. North Carolina
7. Tennessee
8. Duke
9. Louisville
10. California
11. Texas A&M
12. Oklahoma State
13. Virginia 14. Notre Dame
15. Vanderbilt
16. Texas
17. Arizona State
18. Baylor
19. Ohio State
20. Florida State
21. Marist
22. Xavier
23. Auburn
24. Syracuse
25. Marquette
2008-09 LINDY'S PRESEASON TOP 25 POLL 1. Connecticut
2. Stanford
3. Maryland
4. Tennessee
5. Rutgers
6. North Carolina
7. Duke
8. California
9. Louisville
10. Oklahoma
11. Texas A&M
12. Oklahoma State
13. LSU
14. Texas
15. Virginia 16. Baylor
17. Ohio State
18. Vanderbilt
19. Auburn
20. Notre Dame
21. Arizona State
22. Florida State
23. USC
24. Pittsburgh
25. Marquette
2008-09 ATHLON'S PRESEASON TOP 25 POLL 1. Connecticut
2. California
3. Stanford
4. Texas A&M
5. Duke
6. Maryland
7. Oklahoma
8. Arizona State
9. Tennessee
10. Louisville
11. Rutgers
12. North Carolina
13. Ohio State
14. Texas
15. Old Dominion
16. Vanderbilt
17. Oklahoma State
18. Virginia 19. Kansas State
20. Florida State
21. Xavier
22. Auburn
23. Michigan State
24. Utah
25. Pittsburgh
2008-09 USA TODAY COLLEGE BASKETBALL PRESEASON SWEET 16 (listed alphabetically)
Arizona State
Baylor
California
Connecticut
Duke
Louisville
Maryland
North Carolina
Notre Dame
Oklahoma
Rutgers
Stanford
Tennessee
Texas A&M
Virginia Xavier
Full Scoreboard
Courtesy: Jim Daves/UVa Media Relations
