Elissa Cunane Honored as All-American by USBWA

Sophomore Elissa Cunane of the eighth-ranked NC State women's basketball team was named a Third Team All-American by the U.S. Basketball Writers Association (USBWA) on Monday afternoon.

Cunane is the first member of the Wolfpack to garner such honors from the USBWA since Andrea Stinson was a three-time honoree from 1989 through 1991. The announcement comes days after the Summerfield, N.C., native was recognized as a Third Team Associated Press All-American.

The Wolfpack center put together a strong 2019-20 campaign en route to helping the NC State a 28-4 overall record, its first ACC Tournament title since 1991 and a program-record 14 conference victories. Cunane led the team in scoring and rebounding with 16.4 points and 9.6 rebounds per contest. She scored 20+ points in 10 outings and hit double figures in all but five games during her sophomore season.

Cunane ended the 2019-20 season as the only player in the ACC to average a double-double. She owns national top-30 marks in five categories: defensive rebounds per game (6.9), double-doubles (14), 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 this season alone ranks 10th in program history in single-season rebounds, and she is just 12 points away from becoming the 35th member of the NC State 1,000 point club. 

In addition to her All-America honors, Cunane was also named First Team All-ACC and All-ACC Tournament Second Team. She is also one of five finalists for the 2020 Lisa Leslie Award that recognizes the top center in women's NCAA Division I basketball and one of 15 players on the Women's National Ballot for the 2020 John R. Wooden Award that honors the Player of the Year.