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#13 Lorela Cubaj

Lorela Cubaj - Women's Basketball - Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
Hometown Terni, Italy
Last School Istituto Paritario G. Parini
Height 6-4
Position Forward
Lorela Cubaj - Women's Basketball - Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

Follow Lorela on Twitter: @LorelaCubaj

Follow Lorela on Instagram: @lorelacubaj

2019-20 ACC Academic Honor Roll
2021 ACC Co-Defensive Player of the Year
2021 All-ACC First Team (Blue Ribbon Panel and head coaches)
2021 ACC All-Defensive Team
2021 All-ACC Tournament Team (second)
Atlanta Tipoff Club’s 2021 Women’s College Player of the Year
2021 WBCA NCAA Division I Coaches’ All-America honorable mention
2022 ACC Defensive Player of the Year
2022 All-ACC First Team (Blue Ribbon Panel and head coaches)
2022 ACC All-Defensive Team
2022 Naismith Women’s Defensive Player of the Year Award finalist
2022 Katrina McClain Semifinalist Watch List

2021-22 (Fifth Year): 2022 ACC Defensive Player of the Year for the second consecutive season…2022 All-ACC First Team honoree by both the Blue Ribbon Panel and league’s head coaches…2022 ACC All-Defensive Team…Surpassed Georgia Tech’s all-time rebounding record to become sole owner of the record…Named one of four finalists for the 2022 Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Award…Named one of 10 semifinalists to the Katrina McClain Award watch list…Appeared on midseason “Wade Watch” list for the prestigious 2022 Wade Trophy…Appeared as one of 20 players on the Naismith Trophy Women’s Player of the Year Award midseason team…Recorded 12 double-doubles on the season…Finished fourth on the team in scoring, averaging 10.0 points per game to average a double-double on the season…Shot 42.0 percent (129-307) from the field…Finished at 67.0 percent (59-88) at the free throw line…Led team in steals (44) and blocks (41)…Posted 18 games with double-figure scoring numbers…Secured double-figure rebounds in 22 games…Led team in rebounding, averaging 11.1 rebounds per game…Led team in assists with 136 for a 4.3 assists per game average…Led Jackets in rebounding in 25 games, assists in 16 and scoring in four…Posted a team-high nine rebounds in season-opener at Central Michigan (11/9) and dished out five assists…Posted first double-double of the season with 12 points and 15 rebounds against Kennesaw State (11/11)…Recorded second-straight double-double with 15 points and 14 rebounds against Belmont (11/14)…Also crossed 1,000-career point mark against the Bruins…Nearly missed a double-double at ETSU (11/17) with 12 points and nine rebounds…Finished with 10 points and team-high 11 rebounds in win against Hofstra (11/24) for her third double-double of the season…Also matched her career-high in steals with five and dished out a team-best five assists against the Pride…Matched her career-high in rebounds with 20 at Purdue (12/1) in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge, while also recording five assists…Posted double-double in win at Georgia (12/5) behind 11 points and game-high 15 rebounds…Posted 13 rebounds and matched her career-high with seven assists in win against No. 3/2 UConn (12/9)…Pulled down 12 rebounds in win against Wake Forest (12/19) to become the program’s all-time leading rebounder…Saw double-double against Boston University (12/21) with 12 points and 14 rebounds… Posted sixth double-double against No. 3/2 Louisville (1/2) with game-high 16 rebounds and 12 points…Collected third-straight double-double against Virginia (1/9) with 17 points and 11 rebounds…Scored career-high 24 points against Florida State (1/13), shooting 10-for-18 from the field…Led Tech with 10 rebounds at Miami (1/16)… Nearly missed a double-double with 10 rebounds and nine points against North Carolina (1/23)…Pulled down a game-high 15 rebounds against Boston College (1/27)… Finished with a double-double at Clemson (1/30) with 12 points and 10 rebounds…Scored 15 points in win at Duke (2/1), hitting seven field goals, while finishing with two steals and a block…Notched second double-double in three games at NC State (2/7) with 12 points and team-high 10 rebounds…Recorded second-straight double-double and third in four games at Virginia Tech (Feb. 10) with 14 rebounds and 11 points…Dropped 22 points in overtime win against Clemson (2/13), fueling the Jackets with 11 points in the extra period…Added double-double against Notre Dame (2/17) with 15 rebounds and 10 points…Led Tech with 12 rebounds against Miami (2/20)… Dished out team-high six assists at Florida State (2/24) and led Jackets with nine rebounds…Recorded double-double at Wake Forest (2/27) with 18 points, 16 rebounds and seven assists…Played only 10 minutes in ACC Tournament second round game against Wake Forest (3/3), being sidelined in second quarter due to injury…Returned to action in the quarterfinals against Notre Dame (3/4) and pulled down game-high 11 rebounds in 37 minutes…Played nearly 36 minutes in Tech’s NCAA Tournament game against Kansas (3/18) and finished with a game-high 11 rebounds…Added eight points to the scoreboard on four made field goals and finished with three assists and a block.

2020-21 (Senior):
2021 WBCA NCAA Division I Coaches’ All-America honorable mention…ACC Co-Defensive Player of the Year…All-ACC First Team selection by both Blue Ribbon Panel and head coaches…ACC All-Defensive Team…Named to All-ACC Tournament second team…Tabbed Atlanta Tipooff Club’s 2021 Georgia Women’s College Player of the Year…Started all 26 games for the Yellow Jackets…Averaged a double-double behind 12.5 points and 11.5 rebounds per game…Recorded 14 double-doubles on the season to lead Tech and rank second in the ACC…Posted 17 games with double-figure rebounds…Scored in double-figures in 19 outings…Blocked four shots and pulled down 14 rebounds in season-opener against Georgia State (11/25)…Led Tech with a double-double against Georgia (11/29), finishing with a team-best 20 points and 13 rebounds…Hit eight field goals against the Lady Bulldogs…Recorded second-straight double-double against Tulane (12/3) with 18 points and 16 rebounds…Pulled down double-figure rebounds in first three games and led the Jackets on the glass in each…Dropped 16 points and hit career-high six free throws in ACC win over Boston College (12/9)…Posted a double-double at Notre Dame (12/13) with 16 points and 13 rebounds to help GT to its first-ever win over the Fighting Irish…Scored 15 points against No. 3 NC State (12/31) with 13 coming in the second half…Added six points and a team-high eight rebounds in second meeting at Notre Dame (1/3) to go along with three assists and two steals…Became the first Yellow Jacket since 1996 to record 20 or more rebounds in a game when she pulled down 20 at Clemson (1/7)…Finished with five blocks, two steals, two assists and 14 points against the Tigers for a double-double….Posted second consecutive game with a double-double against Virginia Tech (1/10)…Hit four free throws in the final 34 seconds against the Hokies, including the game-winners with 2.6 seconds left, to lift the Jackets over the Hokies…Recorded third straight double-double in win at Wake Forest (1/21) behind 15 rebounds and 11 points…Also dished out five assists against the Demon Deacons…Posted her seventh double-double of the season, leading Tech at Miami (1/28) with 14 points and 14 rebounds… Tied her career-high in scoring, posting 21 points against Syracuse (2/2), hitting a personal-best nine field goals in the win…Grabbed a double-double in Tech’s win over Clemson (2/4) with 12 points and a team-high 12 rebounds…Recorded double-double against Wake Forest (2/7), leading Tech on the glass with 14 rebounds…Finished with 11 points, four assists, two blocks and two steals against the Demon Deacons…Contributed 14 points, seven rebounds and three assists against Miami (2/16)… Recorded 10th double-double of the season at Florida State (2/18) behind a team-high 14 points and 10 rebounds…Went 7-for-9 from the field in the win against the Seminoles, while posting three assists and two steals…Secured a team-best 15 rebounds at Boston College (2/21)… Secured a team-high 17 rebounds against Pitt (2/28), while dishing out three assists and a steal in the regular season finale… Led Tech on the glass with 18 rebounds against Clemson (3/5) in the ACC Tournament quarterfinals…Added 12 points to post a double-double in the win…Recorded double-double against NC State (3/6) in ACC Tournament semifinals with 17 points and 11 rebounds…Opened NCAA Tournament action with a double-double against Stephen F. Austin (3/21), helping Tech erase a 17-point halftime deficit to record the win…Finished with 14 points, 10 rebounds, four assists and four blocks against SFA…Followed with another double-double in second round action against West Virginia (3/23), tying her career-high in scoring with 21 points, and added 12 rebounds…Shot 10-for-17 from the field to lift Tech to the Sweet 16…Contributed 15 points against top-seeded South Carolina (3/28) in Sweet 16 action…Finished with team-high seven rebounds and hit a three-pointer against the Gamecocks.

2019-20 (Junior): Played in all 31 games, starting 30…Finished season averaging 10.0 points and team-best 7.7 rebounds…Led team with five double-doubles…Recorded nine games in double-figure rebounds and 15 double-figure scoring games…Had two games with 20+ points…Led team with nine rebounds in season-opener against Houston (11/5)…Chipped in 14 points in Tech’s win over Grambling State (11/10), hitting five field goals and four free throws…Tied for team-best with eight rebounds against the Tigers…Had a strong outing at Georgia (11/17), finishing with nine points, eight rebounds and three blocks as Tech defeated Georgia in Athens for the first time in program history…Notched first double-double of the season against Georgia State (11/20) with 12 points and 12 rebounds, while also season-best four steals…Recorded second consecutive double-double against Seton Hall in the Junkanoo Jam (11/28), while matching her career-high in assists with seven…Pulled down team-best 12 rebounds in Junkanoo Jam championship game against Rutgers (11/30)…Named to Junkanoo Jam All-Tournament Team…Led Jackets with 11 rebounds in win over Wisconsin (12/5) for fourth-straight game pulling down double-figure rebounds…Recorded her seventh career double-double in win over ETSU (12/15) with 20 points and 11 rebounds…Marked first career game with 20-plus points…Added eight points, four rebounds and five assists in win over Rice (12/21) in Coqui Classic…Led Jackets offensively with 18 points in ACC-opening win over Virginia (12/29) and hit two three-pointers in fourth quarter…Finished with three assists, two steals and a block against Cavaliers… Recorded double-double against Miami (1/2) with 10 points and 10 rebounds…Posted third-straight game in double-figures with 13 points at Wake Forest (1/5), nearly missing a double-double with eight rebounds. …Added 10 points in Tech’s win at No. 11/11 Florida State (1/9), hitting five field goals, and added a steal and an assist…Dished out a team-high five assists in Tech’s win against Clemson (1/12) and added two blocks…Played 25 minutes at Syracuse (1/16) and finished with 11 points and a team-high nine rebounds…Also recorded three steals and two blocks against the Orange…Nearly missed a double-double against Boston College (1/19) with 10 rebounds and nine points…Added 12 points and a team-high nine rebounds against North Carolina (1/23), while dishing out five assists…Played the full 40 minutes at Duke (1/26), recording nine rebounds, eight points, five assists and three steals while shooting 4-for-5 from the field…Recorded seven points and seven rebounds at Miami (1/30), hitting a three-pointer and recording an assist…Posted 10 points, five rebounds and three assists against Notre Dame (2/2)… Just missed a double-double at Pittsburgh (2/6) with nine points and eight rebounds…Added five assists, a steal and a block against the Panthers…Recorded a career-high in scoring with 21 points against Wake Forest (2/9), hitting eight field goals and five free throws…Led team with eight rebounds against Deacs and also dished out three assists…Secured 10 rebounds at Virginia Tech (2/13) with six points…Recorded her fifth double-double of the season in Tech’s win over No. 17/18 Florida State (2/23) with 13 points and 11 rebounds…Also dished out four assists against the Seminoles and went 5-for-6 at the free throw line…Finished with 11 points, four rebounds, three blocks, two assists and a steal in Tech’s ACC Tournament quarterfinal game against No. 10 NC State (3/6).

2018-19 (Sophomore): Opened the season at Houston (11/9) nearly missing a double-double with 10 points and nine rebounds…Led Jackets with 13 points against No. 14 Georgia (11/18), while also pulling down seven rebounds, helping Tech uproot the in-state rival…Recorded eight points, six rebounds and three assists at No. 7 Maryland (11/29) in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge…Added 10 points to the scoreboard against Alabama State (12/5), going 5-for-8 from the field…Pulled down nine rebounds against Dayton (12/21) in the West Palm Beach Invitational to lead Tech on the boards, while tying her season-high…Recorded first double-double of the season against Wofford (12/30), scoring 13 points and securing a season-best 12 rebounds, while dishing out a season-best five assists…Contributed eight points and six rebounds in Tech’s win at Boston College (1/3), while dishing out four assists…Finished with seven points and seven rebounds against No. 2 Notre Dame (1/6) in 26 minutes of playing time…Notched her second double-double of the season against Duke (1/10) with 13 points and 11 rebounds and went a career-best 5-for-11 at the free throw line…Tied for the team-lead with 10 rebounds at No. 2 Louisville (1/13)… Missed a double-double against No. 12 Syracuse (1/20) with nine rebounds and seven points…Recorded fourth career double-double at UNC (1/31) behind 17 points and 12 rebounds, tying her season-high in scoring…Posted seven points and seven rebounds at No. 5 Notre Dame (2/3), while adding three steals, two blocks and two assists against the Fighting Irish…Pulled down team-high 10 rebounds in win over Pitt (2/7)…Chipped in 10 points in Tech’s win over Virginia Tech (2/17) and finished with four assists and two steals…Secured seven rebounds at Virginia (2/24)…Secured team-best nine rebounds at No. 15 Miami (2/28)…Added 11 points and eight rebounds to the board against No. 22/21 Florida State (3/3).

2017-18 (True Freshman): Made collegiate debut at App State (11/10) and finished with three rebounds and two points in 24 minutes of action…Earned third start against Kennesaw State (11/15) and finished with four points and seven rebounds…Contributed four points at Princeton (11/19)…Posted six points and seven rebounds against No. 8/9 Baylor (11/25) in the Junkanoo Jam Championship Game…Tied her then-season-highs in both blocks (2) and steals (3) against MTSU (12/3)…Scored a season-high nine points against UT Arlington (12/10), hitting a season-high four field goals…Tied her season-high of nine points at Georgia (12/17) and nearly missed a double-double with eight rebounds…Swiped a career-high five steals against Charleston Southern (12/19)…Played 13 minutes against No. 3/4 Louisville (12/28) to open ACC play and finished with two rebounds and two points…Matched her season-high of three assists in the win over Clemson (12/31)…Pulled down five rebounds at Virginia Tech (1/25)…Pulled down seven rebounds at No. 19 Duke (2/1) including four on the offensive glass…Led Tech on the glass at Clemson (2/4) with eight rebounds and set a personal-best with three blocks…Set personal-best with 10 rebounds in win over Boston College (2/8) and tied season-high of five steals…Scored career-high 14 points over Miami (2/22), hitting 7-of-9 from the field…Pulled down six rebounds at Florida State (2/25)…Notched first career double-double behind 17 points and 13 rebounds in WNIT opener against Bethune-Cookman (3/15)…Also dished out seven assists, two blocks and two steals against Bethune-Cookman…Had eight points and eight rebounds against UAB (3/18) in WNIT…Closed season with eight points and five rebounds at Alabama (3/22).

PREP: Was the No. 2 ranked international player by ProspectsNation.com…14th-ranked player in Italy…Competed in Italian Championships three years from 2015-17 and named All-Star Five…In 2017, competed in the FIBA U19 World Championships and FIBA U18 European Championships with the Italian National Team…Named FIBA U16 European Championship All-Star Five in 2015…Helped Italy to a silver medal at the FIBA U17 World Championship in 2016.

PERSONAL: Has two uncles who played professional basketball…Introduced to basketball at age 8 by her uncle who was playing professionally…Chose Georgia Tech because of the academics, player development and new experience…Lists most memorable athletic accomplishment as placing second at the FIBA U17 World Championship in 2016…Pronunciation: Lorela (low-rell-UH) Cubaj (coo-BYE)

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