WALTHAM, Mass. – Lauren Battista (North Easton/Oliver Ames HS), who led the Bentley University women's basketball team to a 35-0 season and the NCAA Division II national championship, has added both the Northeast-10 Conference Woman of the Year and NE-10 Outstanding Female Scholar-Athlete awards to her already impressive list of honors.

The recent Bentley Summa Cum Laude graduate received both awards Monday night during the conference's annual yearend banquet at the Essex Spa and Resort in Essex, Vt.

"Congratulations to Lauren for being named the NE-10 Woman of the Year and NE-10 Women's Scholar Athlete of the Year," said Bentley Women's Basketball Hall of Fame coach Barbara Stevens. "To be recognized by the member institutions of the NE-10 Conference for outstanding achievement on the court and in the classroom is a tremendous honor.  In a year full of outstanding accomplishments for Lauren, these NE-10 awards cap off a storybook season and an exceptional career.  We are extremely proud of her."

Battista distinguished herself both on and off the court during her four years at Bentley.  Her senior year, which culminated with a come-from-behind 73-65 win over West Texas A&M in the national championship game, saw her recognized as the Women's Basketball Coaches Association Division II Player of the Year, the Capital One NCAA Division II Academic All-America of the Year and the women's basketball nominee for the Collegiate Women's Sports Awards DII Woman of the Year.

The three-time WBCA All-America totaled a school-record 2,112 points while leading the Falcons to a four-year record of 124-11, including a remarkable 96-6 over the last three seasons and 93-6 in conference play (regular season and tournament). She earned All-Conference recognition four times, including three straight first-team nods, and was the conference's Player of the Year in both 2012 and 2014. Her four straight NE-10 Championship Most Outstanding Player awards is unprecedented in conference history, in any sport.

"Since my team's national championship victory, I have been approached by aspiring athletes, fellow students, faculty, alumni, and other fans who have showered me with praise and admiration for being a positive role model and ambassador for women's college athletics," said Battista.

The success carried over into the classroom with Battista graduating with a 3.96 GPA while majoring in both marketing and liberal studies. She earned Capital One Academic All-America honors three times, including first team recognition the last two years, and was the NE-10 Sport Excellence Scholar-Athlete for women's basketball three times.

In the community, Battista has volunteered with Team IMPACT, Habitat for Humanity and Bentley's Student-Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC).

"My roles as a scholar and as an athlete have defined critical components of my character, but my experience giving back to others has had the biggest influence on the person I am today," said Battista. "Through my work with Team IMPACT, I have been able to foster a relationship with a young girl battling leukemia and her family. Her optimism and strength inspire me daily. The experience has taught me to be grateful for everything I have been blessed with in life and that no challenge is too big to overcome."

As the NE-10 Woman of the Year, which was selected by the conference's Senior Woman Administrator (SWA) Council, Battista will now be considered for the NCAA Woman of the Year Award.