March 2, 2005

All-ACC Selections | ACC Tournament Central | Live Webcasts

2004-05 ACC All-Defensive Team
Alison Bales, Duke
Nikita Bell, North Carolina
LaTonya Blue, Virginia
Alicia Gladden, Florida State
Ashley Key, NC State

2004-05 ACC Defensive Player of the Year
Nikita Bell, North Carolina

GREENSBORO, N.C. - North Carolina senior Nikita Bell was tabbed the 2005 ACC Defensive Player of the Year, while Duke's Alison Bales, Virginia's LaTonya Blue, Florida State's Alicia Gladden and NC State's Ashley Key were also honored as members of the All-Defensive team. The ACC All-Defensive team and Defensive Player of the Year are selected by the eleven ACC women's basketball head coaches.

Bell currently stands second in the league in with 3.07 steals per game. The ACC Defensive Player of the Year is also climbing the ACC career charts with 295 steals, placing her 13th in conference history. Bell is the anchor of the Tar Heel defense that is holding opponents to 57.7 points per game this season.

Duke sophomore Alison Bales leads the league in blocks this season, averaging 3.86 per game and currently ranks fifth in the ACC in defensive rebounds, averaging 4.93 per contest. Entering this year's ACC Tournament, Bales stands 21st in ACC history with 141 career blocks and is on pace to break the ACC season record for blocks.

Virginia's LaTonya Blue currently ranks 10th in the conference this season averaging 2.21 steals per outing. The senior is also among league leaders in defensive rebounds, averaging 3.93 defensive boards per game. This is her second-straight ACC All-Defensive team honor.

Florida State sophomore Alicia Gladden leads the league in steals this year with 95 for a 3.28 per game average. Gladden also ranks among league leaders in blocks (0.76) and defensive rebounds (4.07).

Ashley Key, a sophomore guard from NC State, is a part of the Wolfpack defense that is holding opponents to 38-percent from the floor and 27-percent from the three-point arc. Key has recorded 34 steals and five blocks this season.

The 28th annual ACC Women's Basketball Tournament will take place at the Greensboro Coliseum this weekend, beginning on Friday, March 4 and concluding on Monday, March 7.