Cunane Featured on Pair of National Player of the Year Watch Lists
11/17/2020 11:58:00 AM | Women's Basketball
RALEIGH – Junior center Elissa Cunane of the eighth-ranked NC State women's basketball team has been named to the 2021 Jersey Mike's Naismith Trophy and 2021 Wade Trophy watch lists.
Both awards recognize a national player of the year in college women's basketball, with the Naismith Trophy presented by the Atlanta Tipoff Club and the Wade Trophy presented by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA).
Cunane adds to her list of preseason accolades after also being named to the 2021 Lisa Leslie Award watch list and the Preseason All-ACC Team. The Summerfield, N.C., native put together a stellar sophomore season in 2019-20 during which she earned All-America honors from three outlets and was a unanimous First Team All-ACC selection.
Cunane averaged a team-leading 16.4 points and 9.6 rebounds last season while shooting an impressive 174-of-318 (.547) from the field. She was ranked in the national top 30 in five individual statistical categories at the conclusion of the year: double-doubles (14), defensive rebounds per game (6.9), field-goal percentage (.547), free throws made (159) and total rebounds (308).
Halfway through her NC State career, Cunane has compiled 988 career points and 521 career rebounds. Her 308 boards during 2019-20 ranked 10th in program history in a single season, and she is just 12 points away from becoming the 35th member of the NC State 1,000 point club.
Both awards committees will announce midseason candidate lists and finalist lists before awarding their winners at the conclusion of the season.
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