Battista Selected for 2nd All-America Award in as Many Days
SAN ANTONIO, Texas – Bentley University sophomore Lauren Battista (North Easton, Mass./ Oliver Ames HS), who has helped lead the Falcons into the NCAA Division II national semifinals, has been selected for a second All-America award in as many days.
Battista was one of five players named by the nation's sports information directors for the 2012 Daktronics Division II All-America team. That select group included Ashley Arlen of Wayne State (Neb.), who the Falcons defeated in the opening round of the Elite Eight this afternoon, and Kari Daugherty of Ashland, the team Bentley will play in Wednesday's semifinals.
Battista, who became only the second sophomore in Bentley history to eclipse the 1,000-point plateau with her first two points against Wayne, averages 17 points, 7.3 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.3 steals. She has a .531 field goal percentage and connects at an 81 percent rate from the foul line.
It's been an amazing sophomore year for the six-footer, who has received almost every award possible, including State Farm All-America from the Women's Basketball Coaches Association. The list also includes Northeast-10 Conference and Daktronics Division II East Region Player of the Year, Most Outstanding Player in both the NE-10 playoffs and the NCAA East Regional, and second-team Capital One NCAA Division II Academic All-America®.
Bentley, who overcame a 19-point second-half deficit to eliminate Wayne State, will take a 30-3 record and a 14-game winning streak into Wednesday's semifinal encounter with Ashland.