UNC Women's Basketball: Alyssa Ustby named to the Top 10 list for the Cheryl Miller Award

The Cheryl Miller Award is presented annually to the nation's top small forward.

For the second consecutive season, UNC women's basketball star Alyssa Ustby has earned a spot on the top 10 list.

Ustby has put together a very strong senior season thus far, as she heads into Thursday night's action averaging 12.6 points and 9.5 rebounds per contest. She has been a huge part of the Tar Heels' 14-5 start, including an ACC best 6-1 record in conference play.

The Rochester, Minnesota native has been even better in conference play, as she's recorded a double-double in four of the UNC women's basketball program's seven ACC games. She also put together the first triple-double in program history in the Tar Heels win over Syracuse on January 4.

Ustby is no stranger to this award, as she was named to the preseason watch list three times while making her way onto the top 10 list twice. She is one of two ACC players to make the top-10 list, as Kiki Jefferson of Louisville was the other conference player selected.

Here is the official list of the top 10 finalists for this year's Cheryl Miller Award:

Madison Booker-Texas
Mara Braun-Minnesota
McKenzie Forbes-USC
Yarden Garzon-Indiana
Rickea Jackson-Tennessee
Kiki Jefferson- Louisville
Jordan King- Marquette
Cotie McMahon- Ohio State
Aneesah Morrow- LSU
Alyssa Ustby-UNC

Ustby has been a very important player for the UNC women's basketball program over her Tar Heel career, as she's been even more vital to the team's success during her senior season. As she's improved her game in various ways since arriving in Chapel Hill, Ustby continues to be a player who does it all for the Tar Heels, as she's earned the right to be considered not only among the best players at her position, but among the top players in the entire country as well.

If Ustby continues to play at a high level, it wouldn't surprise anyone to see the UNC women's basketball star be a legitimate candidate to earn this year's prestigious award.