For Immediate Release
March 2, 2012
Courtesy of the Bentley Athletics Communications Staff
Waltham, Mass. – Bentley University forward Lauren Battista has been selected to the 2012 Capital One NCAA Division II Academic All-America® women's basketball second team by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). She was the only sophomore amongst the 15 Division II players who were honored with Academic All-America honors.
Battista, a standout in the classroom as well as on the court, has been a major reason why the Bentley Falcons are ranked first in the NCAA Division II East Region and sixth in the latest USA Today/ESPN/WBCA coaches poll. Her efforts helped the Falcons repeat as Northeast-10 Conferenceregular season champions while building a 24-3 overall record.
Battista, who has amassed a sparkling 3.93 grade point average while majoring in both marketing and liberal studies (with a concentration in health and industry), leads the Falcons in scoring (16.9), rebounds (7.3), steals (32), field goal percentage (.541) and free throw percentage (.804). The six-footer is the only player in the NE-10 shooting at least 50 percent from the field and 80 percent from the line, and is also the only NE-10 player averaging at least 15 points, six rebounds and 2.6 assists.
Both Battista and her coach, Barbara Stevens, were both extremely pleased with her becoming Bentley's first women's basketball Academic All-America since Stacey Connors in 1998.
"Being named to the Capital One DII Academic All-America second team is a tremendous honor for Lauren," said Stevens, one of only six coaches in the exclusive 800-win club. "To earn the distinction of being named one of the nation's best in the classroom and on the court is the ultimate reward for her efforts. LB epitomizes the term 'student-athlete', and all of us associated with the Bentley women's basketball program are extremely proud of her."
"It definitely was a goal of mine to receive some recognition for my academic achievements this year," said Battista. "I think to be seen as someone who puts in an equal amount of effort and hard work on and off the court is such a high honor, and is something I pride myself in doing. I didn't know how realistic of a goal it was because I am only a sophomore, so I knew it would be hard to compete against other players who were older than I am. I was so honored to be recognized in our region, and to be recognized at the national level is beyond what I expected, and I am so grateful."
Battista, who has had a perfect 4.0 each of the last two semesters, has put up eight 20-point games and seven double-doubles thus far this season while recording season-highs of 29 points (against Bridgeport), 14 rebounds (at Stonehill), nine assists (at St. Michael's) and three steals (against Assumption).
Her career scoring average of 14.9 is the third highest in the program's history.
