WALTHAM, Mass. – Eleven weeks after leading her team to a perfect season and the NCAA Division II national championship, former Bentley University women's basketball standout Lauren Battista (North Easton/Oliver Ames HS) has been named the 2014 Honda Division II Athlete of the Year by THE Collegiate Women Sports Awards (CWSA) presented by Honda. CWSA Executive Director Chris Voelz made the announcement Friday afternoon.

Battista, the first in Bentley history to be deemed the top female athlete in Division II, will be presented with the award during the live telecast of the 2014 Collegiate Women Sports Awards show presented by Honda on Monday, June 30, at the USC Galen Center Founders Room in Los Angeles, Calif.

The honor was voted on by national balloting among 1,000 NCAA member schools as part of THE CWSA program, now in its 38th year. Finalists for the award included Jennifer Agnew (Univ. of Mary, cross country), Jessica Bradley (Lynn, golf), Valentine Confalonieri (Lynn, tennis), Karenee Demery (Cal State Stanislaus, soccer), Kitty Fischer (West Chester, swimming and diving), Katie Lange (Minnesota-Duluth, volleyball), Kelsi Lykens (West Chester, field hockey), Jackie Sileo (LIU Post, lacrosse), Morgan Spearman (Angelo State, softball) and Danielle Williams (Johnson C. Smith, track and Field.

How special is Battista winning this award?  Consider that there are approximately 45,000 student-athletes competing in women's athletics at the Division II level and she was deemed the best during the 2013-14 academic year.

"It is such an honor to receive the Honda Division II Athlete of the Year Award, said Battista, the all-time leading scorer in Bentley women's basketball history (2,112 points) and a standout in the classroom as well. "To be selected for this award from among the best Division II female athletes in the country is truly humbling.

"I am extremely proud to represent Bentley University, the Northeast-10 Conference and Division II women's basketball on this national stage," continued Battista, who graduated last month with a 3.96 grade point average. "I accept this award on behalf of all of my teammates and coaches who played such an important role in helping me become the player and person that I am." 

"What an incredible honor for Lauren!" exclaimed legendary Bentley women's basketball coach Barbara Stevens. "As recognized as she has been throughout her career for her athletic and academic accomplishments, Lauren's selection as the Honda Division II Athlete of the Year is a supreme achievement.  Winning the Honda Award caps off a storybook season and phenomenal career for Lauren. 

"Her teammates and coaches are so proud of her and are thrilled to have Lauren represent Bentley and our women's basketball program as she receives this prestigious award," continued Stevens.

The prestigious Honda Award is the latest in a series of major honors that Battista has received in 2014 with the list including:

• Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Division II National Player of the Year
• Capital One NCAA Division II Women's Basketball Academic All-America of the Year
• Northeast-10 Conference Woman of the Year
• Northeast-10 Conference Outstanding Female Scholar-Athlete
• Women's Division II Bulletin Player of the Year
• Bentley's Outstanding Female Senior Athlete
• Edward J. Powers Award as Bentley's premier senior scholar-athlete
• Bentley's all-time leading scorer
• Northeast-10 Player of the Year for the second time in three years
• Northeast-10 Scholar-Athlete Sport Excellence Award (women's basketball) for the third time
• WBCA Division II All-America for the third straight season
• Capital One NCAA Division II Women's Basketball Academic All-America for the third time

Battista's career concluded March 28 in Erie, Pa. with the Falcons rallying in the final minutes for a 73-65 win over West Texas A&M in the national championship game. With that victory, Bentley completed a 35-0 season, becoming only the second undefeated national champion in NCAA Division II women's basketball history.

During her amazing four seasons in a Bentley history, Battista was part of teams that amassed a 124-11 record with a Northeast-10 regular season and playoff championship all four seasons, three NCAA Division II East Regional championships and an amazing 27-3 postseason record.

THE Collegiate Women Sports Awards has honored the nation's top NCAA women athletes for 37 years, recognizing superior athletic skills, leadership, academic excellence and eagerness to participate in community service.   Since commencing its sponsorship in 1986, Honda has provided more than $2.7 million in institutional grants to the universities of the award winners and nominees to support women's athletics programs at the institutions.