THE FLATS – Georgia Tech women’s basketball forward Lorela Cubaj was named one of four finalists for the 2022 Naismith Women’s Defensive Player of the Year Award, as announced on Monday.
The all-time leading rebounder in Georgia Tech women’s basketball program history, Cubaj was named the 2022 Atlantic Coast Conference Defensive Player of the Year for the second consecutive season. She also picked up All-ACC first team honors by both the Blue Ribbon Panel and league’s head coaches.
Statistically, Cubaj leads the ACC and ranks 16th in the nation in rebounds per game, averaging 11.1, while her 9.0 defensive rebounds per game top the ACC and ranks second in the nation. Cubaj also paces the Jackets in assists per game, averaging 4.29, which places her third in the league and makes her the only post player to lead their team in assists.
Cubaj boasts 21 games with double-figure rebounding totals and 18 games with double-figure scoring numbers. She has collected 12 double-doubles on the season and owns 35 in her illustrious career.
Georgia Tech begins its March Madness run on Friday, March 18, as the No. 9 seed in the Spokane Region. The Yellow Jackets will open the tournament facing No. 8-seed Kansas in Stanford, Calif. Tipoff is slated for 7:30 p.m. EST on ESPNU in Maples Pavilion.
2022 Naismith Women’s Defensive Player of the Year Finalists
Aliyah Boston, South Carolina
Veronica Burton, Northwestern
Cameron Bring, Stanford
Lorela Cubaj, Georgia Tech
Alexander-Tharpe Fund
The Alexander-Tharpe Fund is the fundraising arm of Georgia Tech athletics, providing scholarship, operations and facilities support for Georgia Tech’s 400-plus student-athletes. Be a part of developing Georgia Tech’s Everyday Champions and helping the Yellow Jackets compete for championships at the highest levels of college athletics by supporting the Annual Athletic Scholarship Fund, which directly provides scholarships for Georgia Tech student-athletes. To learn more about supporting the Yellow Jackets, visit atfund.org.
For the latest information on the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, follow us on Twitter (@GTWBB), Instagram (GTWBB), Facebook (Georgia Tech Women’s Basketball) or visit us at www.ramblinwreck.com.
