March 30, 2006

BLACKSBURG, Va. - Virginia Tech head women's basketball coach Beth Dunkenberger has been selected as one of the head coaches in the 2006 Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) All-Star Challenge. The game will be held on Mon., Apr. 3 at 6:30 p.m., in Boston, Mass., at the TD Banknorth Garden, site of the 2006 NCAA Women's Final Four.

The WBCA All-Star Challenge will be played as part of the "WBCA Night of All-Stars." The All-Star Challenge teams feature the best female college basketball seniors in the nation with 17 players from Division I, as well as the top senior from NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III, and NAIA. The evening will also include the WBCA High School All-America Game presented by Nike at 4:30 p.m. as well as a three-point shootout.

In keeping with the Boston theme, Dunkenberger will serve as the head coach of Team Chowder and will be assisted by Glenn Wilkes, Jr. (Rollins College) and Seth Goodman (Monroe College). Team Chowder's roster includes Shanna Zolman (Tennessee), Sherill Baker (Georgia), Megan Duffy (Notre Dame), Nikki Blue (UCLA), Jennifer Harris (Washburn), Mariam Sy (Oklahoma City), Alexis Kendrick (Georgia), Barbara Turner (Connecticut) and Elizabeth Shimek (Michigan State). The team also included Duke's Monique Currie but she will be unavailable since the Blue Devils advanced to the Final Four. Curry's replacement will be announced later.

"I am excited about the opportunity to coach the player selected as the most talented seniors in the country," said Dunkenberger. "We expect an action-packed contest that will impress fans and WNBA scouts alike."

The Tech head coach will face a familiar foe as Team Bisque will be led by Old Dominion head coach Wendy Larry. Team Bisque's roster includes Candice Dupree (Temple), Erin Grant (Texas Tech), Megan Silva (Randolph-Macon), Lindsay Bowen (Michigan State), Cappie Pondexter (Rutgers), Sophia Young (Baylor), and Ann Strother (Connecticut).

Dunkenberger led the Hokies to a 21-10 season and a fourth straight appearance in the NCAA tournament.