BIDDEFORD, Maine -- Recent University of New England graduate Lauren Hayden is a nominee for the 2016 NCAA Woman of the Year Award, as announced today (June 21) by the NCAA National Office.

Hayden, a four-year member of the women's basketball team, was UNE's Female Senior Scholar-Athlete of the Year and a three-time Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Defensive Player of the Year.

The NCAA Woman of the Year award honors graduating female student-athletes who have distinguished themselves throughout their collegiate careers in the areas of academic achievement, athletics excellence, service and leadership. Student-athletes are nominated only once in their career by their school.

This year represents the highest number of nominees, with 517 student-athletes in consideration for one of the NCAA's most prestigous honors. Each conference will determine one nominee to be forwarded to the NCAA selection committee, and from there 30 (10 from each division) will be identified for further consideration. The list of 30 will be pared to nine finalists -- three from each division -- with the eventual winner being selected by the Committee on Women's Athletics.

For a complete list of the nominees for the 2016 NCAA Woman of the Year award, click HERE.