After upset of Connecticut, Lorela Cubaj named ACC player of the week

Georgia Tech forward Lorela Cubaj (13) grabs a rebound in front of South Carolina forward Victaria Saxton (5) during the first half of the Sweet Sixteen round of the women's NCAA Tournament Sunday, March 28, 2021, at the Alamodome in San Antonio. (Eric Gay/AP)

Credit: Eric Gay

Credit: Eric Gay

Georgia Tech forward Lorela Cubaj (13) grabs a rebound in front of South Carolina forward Victaria Saxton (5) during the first half of the Sweet Sixteen round of the women's NCAA Tournament Sunday, March 28, 2021, at the Alamodome in San Antonio. (Eric Gay/AP)

Georgia Tech forward Lorela Cubaj was named ACC women’s basketball player of the week for her role in leading the Yellow Jackets to wins over then-No. 3 Connecticut and Furman last week. The conference made the announcement Monday.

Cubaj totaled 27 rebounds, 13 assists, 10 points, five steals and five blocks in the two games. She had 13 points and a career-high seven assists in Tech’s upset of the Huskies, which was the program’s first win over a top 3 team since January 2009.

The win also snapped Connecticut’s 240-game win streak against unranked teams.

Cubaj is averaging 12.5 rebounds per game for the season, which ranked fifth in Division I after Monday’s games and first in the ACC.

With the two wins, Tech returned to the Associated Press Top 25, moving up to No. 18. The Jackets had been in the poll through the second week of the season, but then dropped out after losses to Auburn and Purdue. Tech, now 8-2, begins ACC play at 6 p.m. Sunday at home against Wake Forest.

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