North Carolina’s Kea, NC State’s Cunane recognized
GREENSBORO, N.C. (theACC.com) – North Carolina senior guard Paris Kea has been named the Atlantic Coast Conference Women’s Basketball Player of the Week, while NC State center Elissa Cunane is this week’s ACC Freshman of the Week announced Monday by the conference office and voted upon by the Blue Ribbon Panel.
Kea earned her first ACC Player honor of the season after keying the Tar Heels to a 78-73 upset win over top-ranked Notre Dame on Sunday following a strong performance in a victory at Virginia Tech earlier in the week. The Greensboro, North Carolina, native averaged 28.0 points, 6.0 assists and 4.0 rebounds over the two games.
In Sunday’s victory over the visiting Fighting Irish, Kea scored a season-high 30 points on 11-for 17 shooting, including a 5-of-8 showing from 3-point range. She added 10 assists to become just the second player to score 30 points and hand out 10 assists in an ACC game this season. Kea, who also had three steals, led UNC to just its third ever win over a No. 1-ranked team, and its first since defeating Duke in 2006.
Kea went 10-of-18 from the floor in the Tar Heels’ 81-69 win over Virginia Tech en route to 26 points. She added five rebounds and had a pair of assists.
NC State’s Cunane helped the Wolfpack remain unbeaten with double-digit scoring performances in wins over Clemson and on the road at Georgia Tech.
In the 54-51 win over Clemson, Cunane delivered 11 points on 4-of-7 shooting from the floor. The Summerfield, North Carolina, freshman knocked down her only 3-point shot attempt and grabbed four rebounds.
In Sunday’s 68-60 win at Georgia Tech, Cunane tied for game-high scoring honors with 17 points and had six rebounds. For the week, she shot 60 percent from the floor and while averaging 14 points and five rebounds as the Wolfpack moved to 7-0 in the ACC – its best start in conference play since 1988-89 – and took over sole possession of first place in the league standings.
Week 1 – Nov. 12
Player of the Week: Asia Durr, Sr., G, Louisville
Freshman of the Week: Valencia Myers, Fr., F, Florida State
Week 2 – Nov. 19
Player of the Week: Arike Ogunbowale, Sr. G, Notre Dame
Co- Freshman of the Week: Elizabeth Dixon, Fr., F, Georgia Tech and Maeva Djaldi-Tabdi, R-Fr., F, Syracuse
Week 3 – Nov. 26
Player of the Week: Tiana Mangakahia, Jr., G, Syracuse
Freshman of the Week: Marnelle Garraud, Fr., G, Boston College
Week 4 – Dec. 3
Player: Asia Durr, Sr., G, Louisville
Freshman: Maeva Djaldi-Tabdi, R-Fr., F, Syracuse
Week 5 – Dec. 10
Player: Asia Durr, Sr., G, Louisville
Freshman: Elissa Cunane, Fr., C, NC State
Week 6 – Dec. 17
Player: Simone Westbrook, Gr., G, Clemson
Freshman: Elizabeth Balogun, Fr., G, Georgia Tech
Week 7 – Dec. 23
Player: Arike Ogunbowale, Sr. G, Notre Dame
Freshman: Elizabeth Balogun, Fr., G, Georgia Tech
Week 8 – Dec. 31
Player: Janelle Bailey, So., C, North Carolina
Freshman: Miela Goodchild, Fr., G, Duke
Week 9 – Jan. 7
Co-Player: Beatrice Mompremier, R-Jr., F, Miami & Tiana Mangakahia, Jr., G, Syracuse
Freshman: Elizabeth Balogun, Fr., G, Georgia Tech
Week 10 – Jan. 14
Player: Tiana Mangakahia, Jr., G, Syracuse
Co- Freshman: Makayla Dickens, Fr., G, Boston College & Elizabeth Dixon, Fr., F, Georgia Tech
Week 11 – Jan. 21
Player: Beatrice Mompremier, R-Jr., F, Miami
Freshman: Elizabeth Balogun, Fr., G, Georgia Tech
Week 12 – Jan. 28
Player: Paris Kea, Sr., G, North Carolina
Freshman: Elissa Cunane, Fr., C, NC State