CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - One day before the first team in Lesley University history plays in a DIII NCAA Tournament game, the Lynx softball players continue to get recognized for their efforts this past season. 

Freshman Alyson Durben (Stow, Mass.) was named to the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Second Team All-New England after her impressive rookie season.  Durben was the only North Atlantic Conference player to be named to the NFCA's All-Region teams.  Also in the New England region were some of the players from the upcoming NCAA tournament teams that Lesley is expected to face such as Wellesley College, Tufts University, Bridgewater State College and Rhode Island College. 

Through the NAC Championship game, Durben batted .470, drove in 45 runners, scored 44 times, and totaled 109 bases.  She finished nationally ranked in several categories including batting average and slugging percentage. 

Alicia Burnett (Gulf Breeze, Fla.) was named the final winner of the NAC Player of the Week after earning Tournament MVP at the NAC Championships this past weekend.  Burnett's gutsy performance over the weekend included five complete games in three days, earning four victories en route to the conference title.  The award marks the second time that Burnett has won Player of the Week. 

Entering tomorrow's NCAA DII Tournament, Burnett has a record of 17-5 with a 1.83 ERA while striking out 155 batters in 157.2 IP. 

The Lynx will travel to Rhode Island College, the host institution for the first round of the NCAA DIII Tournament on Thursday, May 8.  Their first game will be Thursday morning at 10 a.m. against Wellesley College, winners of the NEWMAC (27-9-1). 

To learn more about the Lesley University softball team, please visit their website.