LORETTO, Pa. – Saint Francis University softball's Mekenzie Saban was nominated for the 2022 NCAA Woman of the Year award, announced on Thursday. Nominations were eligible to graduating female student-athletes.
 
Saban joins the first list of nominees, consisted of 577 total female student-athletes - 248 Division I, 127 Division II and 202 Division II. To be nominated for the award, student-athletes must have notable accomplishments in academics, athletics, service and leadership.
 
The Pittsburgh, Pa. native was named Northeast Conference Softball Scholar-Athlete of the Year and NEC Co-Female Team Student-Athlete of the Year this season. She was also named CoSIDA Academic All-America First Team and Senior CLASS Award First Team All-America.
 
She graduated with her Master in Business Administration in Spring 2022 with a perfect 4.0 GPA after she earned her Bachelor of Science in Accounting in Spring 2020 with a 3.99 GPA. She was on the Saint Francis President's List, which is composed of students with at least a 3.90 GPA, in every semester of her studies.
 
She finished the 2022 season as an NFCA All-Region First Team, NEC Player of the Year and All-NEC First Team. She became the third NFCA First Team and fourth NEC Player of the Year selection in program history. She was also named the 140th player in D1 Softball's top-150 players of the 2022 season on June 14.
 
The next step in the 2022 NCAA Woman of the Year process will occur in mid-August with an official date and time to be determined.