WALTHAM, Mass. –Lauren Battista (North Easton/Oliver Ames HS), a senior forward who helped lead the Bentley University women's basketball team to a perfect season and the NCAA Division II national championship, has been named the Women's Division II Bulletin Player of the Year and her coach, Barbara Stevens, was the choice for Schelde Sports/Women's Division II Bulletin Coach of the Year, the publication announced today.

WDIIB also unveiled its Division II All-America team with Battista topping the five-player first-team and graduate student Courtney Finn (Winthrop/Winthrop HS) selected for the second team. Both were previously selected as All-Americas by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association and Battista also received first-team recognition from Daktronics.

Bentley, which rallied for a 73-65 win over West Texas A&M Friday night to claim its first-ever national championship in women's basketball, was the only program to have two players earn All-America honors from WDIIB, a publication that has covered Division II women's basketball for more than two decades.

Battista, the Capital One Academic All-America of the Year for Division II and one of three finalists for WBCA Division II Player of the Year accolades, averaged 17.4 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.1 assists during a 35-0 senior season. She set a school record for field goals in a season (244) and wrapped up her career as Bentley's all-time leader in points (2,112), field goals (821), field goal attempts (1,512), games (135) and games started (133).

"Lauren is a tremendous talent and showed why she is the best player in the country," said WDIIB editor Gary Rubin. "She is most deserving."

Stevens, a finalist for WBCA Division II Coach of the Year honors, led her team to a perfect season, just the second ever recorded in Division II women's basketball. Her team finished with a Division II-best 21.6 scoring margin and had only three games that were decided by single digits, two of those coming in the Elite Eight. She finished the year with 917 career wins, fifth most all-time in women's basketball, after joining the exclusive 900-win club on Jan. 25.

"Barbara is truly one of the outstanding coaches in the country and she led her team to a dream season," said Rubin. "Along with Schelde Sports, we are pleased to recognize her for her achievement and hard work."

"Coaching college basketball today means sacrifices and countless hours devoted to a team, and winning a national championship with a perfect record takes an outstanding effort from the first day of practice to the final buzzer in March," said Jim Peterson, president of Schelde Sports, a leading basketball goal and equipment manufacturer. "Schelde Sports is honored to partner with Women's Division II Bulletin to recognize Barbara Stevens and all the coaches in Division II college basketball."

Finn led the Falcons in rebounds (7.2), free throws (140) and three-pointers (68) while averaging 15.6 points, including a team-best 18.0 during the NCAA tournament. She concluded her career three points shy of 1,600 with her total rankings eighth on the program's all-time list.

In other news, senior forward Jacqui Brugliera (Fitchburg/Wachusett Reg. HS) was named the Northeast-10 Spalding Player of the Week and both Battista and Finn were members of the NE-10 Weekly Honor Roll. All three were named to the All-Tournament Team at the Elite Eight with Brugliera recognized as the Most Outstanding Plater.

Brugliera was outstanding in the championship game against West Texas A&M as she powered her way to 17 points, including 11 in the second half, and four rebounds against the Lady Buffs and also drew four offensive fouls. Overall in the Elite Eight, Brugliera averaged 12 points, six rebounds and one block while also playing outstanding defense on three very talented post players.

Battista averaged a team-best 19.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.3 steals and 0.7 blocks while shooting 50 percent overall and 73 percent from the line. Finn joined Battista and Brugliera on the All-Tournament Team after giving the Falcons 19 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.3 assists a game during the Elite Eight. She had 21 points in the championship game against West Texas A&M, including 12-for-12 free throws, and established a career best with 30 points, along with ten rebounds, in the quarterfinals against Drury.