North Carolina State University Athletics
Elissa Cunane Named Top 10 Finalist for Lisa Leslie Award
2/11/2022 1:01:00 PM | Women's Basketball
LINK TO FAN VOTING
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – NC State women's basketball senior Elissa Cunane was selected as one of 10 finalists for the 2022 Lisa Leslie Award, which is an annual honor that recognizes the top center in women's NCAA Division I basketball.
Wolfpack fans are encouraged to participate in this year's Fan Voting. The top five player selections based on the fan vote will receive an additional vote towards making the next round. In early March, five finalists will be presented to Ms. Leslie and the Hall of Fame's selection committee.
Cunane makes the top 10 list for the third season in a row. She is also in consideration for multiple other National Player of the Year Awards as she's helped lead a stacked Wolfpack squad that has been ranked in the national top five for the entirety of the season and compiled a 21-3 (12-1 ACC) record.
The Summerfield, N.C., native averages a team-leading 13.2 points and 7.8 rebounds per game while operating at a 50.6 percent clip (121-of-239) from the field. As the centerpiece of the Wolfpack's four-out, one-in system, Cunane also has the ability to step out and hit the three, and she has dished out 29 assists to her teammates on the year, with 14 of those coming on three pointers.
The multi-time All-American has scored 10+ points in a team-leading 18 outings this season, highlighted by three 20+ point games against No. 2 Maryland, No. 17 Georgia and No. 16 Duke. Her 23-point performance against the Blue Devils marked her highest scoring output of the season, and she has also posted six double-doubles on the year.
Cunane became the 18th member of NC State's 1,500+ point club on Dec. 12 in what was her 100th career game, and she currently ranks seventh in program history with her 1,691 points. She also notably set the program record for career free throws made in the Pack's season opener against Pitt, surpassing the previous mark of 428 while ranking just fifth in team history in free throws attempted.
On her career, Cunane averages 14.8 points (currently good for ninth in NC State history) and 8.0 rebounds, and she has shot above 50 percent from the field every season for a career average of 53.6 percent.
The winner of this season's Lisa Leslie Award will be presented in April alongside the other four members of the Women's Starting Five. For more information on the award and to vote, visit HoopHallAwards.com.
#GoPack | @PackWomensBball
