Lexi Donarski, who was named the 2021-2022 Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year while playing for Iowa State, has committed to the UNC women’s basketball program out of the transfer portal. Donarski’s hometown newspaper, the La Crosse (WI) Tribune, first reported the story before Donarski shared her decision on social media Monday night.

In three seasons with the Cyclones, Donarski started every game she played in. She was named the Big 12 Freshman of the Year and then earned a spot on the All-Big 12 First Team as a sophomore. That season coincided with Iowa State making a run to the Sweet 16 (ironically in the same region as Carolina). The Cyclones followed that up with a Big 12 Tournament title this past season, with Donarski scoring 20 points in a semifinal win against Oklahoma and being named to the All-Tournament Team.

Donarski has made a name for herself on defense, making back-to-back Big 12 All-Defensive Teams and swiping 32 steals as a junior last season. She is also a capable scorer, averaging at least 12 points per game in all three seasons playing for Iowa State. She shot 41.1 percent on three-pointers as a freshman, though that number dipped to 31.8 percent as a junior.

As a rising senior who played during the 2020-21 season, Donarski will have two years of eligibility remaining with the Tar Heels. She is the second transfer to commit to UNC out of the portal this offseason, joining Boston College’s Maria Gakdeng.

 

Featured image via Iowa State Athletics

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