June 20, 2008

EVANSTON, Ill. - Northwestern softball sophomore pitcher Lauren Delaney and the Wildcat women's lacrosse team were honored as recipients of honors from the Big Ten Network as announced on its 2007-08 year-end awards show Friday evening.

Delaney, a native of Jefferson City, Mo., earned the award for the Most Dominating Performance for her efforts in guiding the Wildcats to the 2008 Big Ten Tournament title at Sharon J. Drysdale Field May 8-10. Delaney threw 17.0 innings in her three complete-game shutouts, allowing just five hits and five walks while fanning 24. Only four times in those three games did a runner advance to scoring position against her. In the championship game against Iowa, she struck out nine and held the Hawkeyes to a pair of infield singles.

Northwestern junior quarterback C.J. Bachér was also a finalist in the category for his 520-yard, five-touchdown effort in a win at Michigan State.

NU's women's lacrosse program was honored by being named the Women's Team of the Year. The Wildcats capped a 21-1 season by defeating Penn 10-6 May 25 to earn the squad's fourth consecutive national title. The win over the Quakers in the championship game avenged Northwestern's lone loss of the season.

Two other individuals affiliated with Northwestern were finalists for awards. Wrestling's Dustin Fox was up for Breakout Performer of the Year, while lacrosse head coach Kelly Amonte Hiller was a finalist for Women's Coach of the Year.