The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1137844
122 ■ THE WOLFPACKER Leslie's ankle never truly became "nor- mal" again, but it withstood the rigors to help her earn honorable mention All- A m e r i c a h o n o r s from the Associated Press, as well as first-team All-ACC and All-ACC Defen- sive Team accolades as a senior. She improved her statistics across the board from his junior year, when she av- eraged 12.1 points and 5.9 rebounds per contest. This past season, Leslie became the face of the Wolfpack women's basketball program en route to averaging 15.9 points, 7.2 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game this past season. She shot an impressive 38.1 percent from three-point land and had 10 double-doubles in points and rebounds. She attributes her success the last two years at NC State to head coach Wes Moore and his staff, as well as her ability to deal with the injury. "It was routine and pain management," Leslie said. "I didn't feel 100 percent con- fident with it until this season started. It was after we started playing games. "The coaches after I transferred restored my confidence and let me know that I'm a good player and that I could do things if I put my mind to it." Leslie managed to score in double fig- ures in all but three games her senior year, and she ex- ploded for a career-high 31 points in an 85-69 win at Boston College Jan. 6. She also tallied 30 points and 10 boards in a 77-73 win at Syracuse Feb. 13. She played a huge role in helping NC State finish 28-6 and reach the Sweet 16 before falling 79-61 to Iowa March 30 in the NCAA Tournament. The Wolfpack had four different play- ers suffer serious knee injuries. Leslie had empathy for the situation after going through her own health issues, and also know she needed to raise her game to another level to make up for the absences. "I knew everyone was going to step up what they were doing and contribute more," Leslie said. NC State will need to replace Leslie next year, which won't be easy, but she's excited about the program's future and how far it has come under Moore. FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR KIARA LESLIE OVERCOMING ADVERSITY Kiara Leslie Worked Through Injuries To Thrive On The Basketball Court Leslie compiled 15.9 points, 7.2 rebounds and 2.8 assists per contest on her way to earning first- team All-ACC and honorable mention All-America honors during her final season at NC State. PHOTO BY KEN MARTIN BY JACEY ZEMBAL K iara Leslie wouldn't call her time transferring from Maryland to NC State hitting rock bottom, but her confidence was certainly shaken. Leslie suffered a serious ankle injury that essentially derailed her development with the Terrapins and cost her the 2016-17 season. The rise to become one of the elite players in the ACC wasn't something she foresaw when she came back home to NC State. Leslie just wanted to get healthier and return on the court. "I never felt completely normal because I always felt it," explained Leslie, who earned a master's degree in liberal arts from NC State. "I tried to take my mind off of it and trust it. "When you have a traumatic injury, you always feel it in some kind of way. You just have to get comfortable with it."