All-American Honors for Lauren Battista

Bentley University junior forward Lauren Battista, a former Oliver Ames standout,  was named to the 2013 WBCA Division II Coaches' All-America team by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association Monday evening. It's the second straight year that the Falcon standout has been so honored.

Her teammate, senior guard Courtney Finn(Winthrop/Winthrop HS), was also recognized, as a WBCA Division II honorable mention All-America.

Battista was one of three repeat selections on the ten-player team, a distinction she shares with seniors Kiara Brown of Edinboro and Kari Daugherty of Ashland.  The Northeast-10 was the only Division II conference in the country with two players honored, with Battista joined by Bianca Simmons of UMass-Lowell.

"What a tremendous honor for Lauren!" said Women's Basketball Hall of Fame coach Barbara Stevens. "To be selected to this prestigious group of WBCA Division II All-Americans for the second year in a row is a tremendous tribute to Lauren and recognition of the vital role she played in our team's success this season." 

Battista was Bentley's top scorer for the second straight year, averaging 14.9 points overall and 17.8 in the postseason. She shot 53 percent overall, made 82 percent of her free throws and also gave the Falcons 6.7 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.3 steals a game.

Battista, a three-time All-Conference and NE-10 tournament MVP, finished her junior year with 1,504 points, ranking tenth on Bentley's all-time list. Over that time, she's been part of teams that have an 89-11 record, three Northeast-10 regular season titles, three Northeast-10 playoff championships and two NCAA Division II East Region crowns.

Battista is the third two-time WBCA All-America in Bentley history. Alison Fay earned the honor in 1982 and 1983, and Kim Penwell was saluted in 1991 and 1992.

The All-America award is the fifth of her career for the two-time Capital One NCAA Division II Academic All-America. She was named to the Daktronics Division II third team last week and her sophomore season also included first-team Daktronics and second-team Women's Division II Bulletin All-America recognition.

Finn, who joined Battista on the All-Northeast-10 first team and in Bentley's 1,000-point club, led the Falcons in rebounds at 7.1 a game, and finished the season with a 13.8 scoring average. Finn's season included five 20-point games, four double-doubles and a 16-for-19 performance from the foul line at Saint Rose, tying the school record for both free throws made and attempted.