Eberhardt Nominated by Northeast Conference for 2015 NCAA Woman of the Year

Elizabeth Eberhardt, a standout for the Central Connecticut women's cross country and track and field programs, has been nominated by the Northeast Conference for the 2015 NCAA Woman of the Year award. The announcement was made on Thursday when the NCAA released the list of honorees made by conferences and independent schools, which included a record 147 student-athletes.

"We are extremely proud of Lizzie for her exceptional accomplishments as a Blue Devil student-athlete," Director of Athletics Paul Schlickmann said.  "This prestigious honor is fitting testimony to all that she has achieved throughout her CCSU career.   Lizzie is one of the finest young women with whom I have been privileged to be associated with during my 22 years in college athletics. She embodies all the best qualities we endeavor to instill in our student-athletes. Special thanks to the Northeast Conference for their confidence in her nomination."

These honorees, selected byfrom the record 480 school nominees, represent college athletes from 18 different sports spanning all three NCAA divisions. Eberhardt is one of 57 honorees who competed in Division I, while 39 competed in Division II and 51 competed in Division III.

Eberhardt had a record-breaking senior season for the Blue Devils, which included taking individual honors at the 2014 Northeast Conference Cross Country Championships. She set a school-record in the steeplechase during the outdoor track and field season, an event she won at the Northeast Conference Championships and qualified to compete in at the 2015 NCAA Women's Outdoor Track and Field East Preliminary Championships.

"It's amazing what Lizzie has been able to accomplished in her career at CCSU." Head Coach Eric Blake said.  "She is the epitome of a well-rounded student-athlete and bought into our programs day one of her freshmen year. Lizzie is very clutch and gets the best out of herself in the biggest races, for example winning the NEC Cross-Country title as a senior, on her last time racing at home. For as much as she accomplished in the classroom and on the track she is seen by her teammates as an extremely hard worker, very positive and always looking to help others."

Also an a standout in the classroom, Eberhardt was honored by the Northeast Conference with the women's cross country scholar-athlete award. She was also recently named an U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) All-Academic Individual. At the CCSU Senior Athletic and Academic Awards, Eberhardt was honored with the Highest Female Student-Athlete GPA and was a member of the Travelers Athletic Directors All-Academic Team. A graduate of the CCSU Honors Program, she is currently pursuing her Master of Business Administration degree. 

The Woman of the Year selection committee will next select the top 10 honorees in each division. These top 30 honorees will be announced in early September.  The selection committee will then choose and announce the top nine finalists (three from each division) at the end of September. The NCAA Committee on Women's Athletics will vote from amongst those nine finalists to determine the 2015 Woman of the Year.

The top 30 honorees will be honored and the 2015 NCAA Woman of the Year will be named at the annual ceremony in Indianapolis on Oct. 18.

Now in its 25^th year, the NCAA Woman of the Year award recognizes graduating female student-athletes for excellence in academics, athletics, community service and leadership.