STANDISH, ME - The New England Intercollegiate Softball Coaches Association (NEISCA) has named Saint Joseph's third baseman Emily Leverone '11 (Hampton, NH/Winnacunnet) as the organization's Player of the Week.

Leverone, also the GNAC Player of the Week, takes home the prestigious award after batting .682 (15-22) in an 8-0 week for the Lady Monks. The first-year player scored 15 runs and knocked home 15 with eight doubles, a triple and a home run in eight games last week. The amazing offensive effort was made even more impressive by the fact that Leverone broke the St. Joe's single season records for home runs, doubles and hits over the weekend.

She is also well on her way to breaking the SJC single-season batting average record, which is held by Julie MacMichael '93, who hit .515 in 1992. Leverone is hitting .586 (68-116) heading into this weekend's conference tournament.

Through 36 games, the slugger leads the Lady Monks in runs (39), RBI (44), doubles (17) and triples (5). Her slugging percentage stands at a staggering 1.000, which is tops in the conference and third in all of NCAA DIII Softball. She also leads the GNAC in batting, OBP (.611, fifth in NCAA), runs, hits, doubles and total bases, and ranks second in runs batted in.

Leverone has notched at least one hit in 32 games and notched multiple hits in 25 contests.

As the #2 seed, Saint Joseph's (26-10, 18-6 GNAC) will host a conference quarterfinal game, opponent TBD, at Ward Park on Friday at 4:00 PM.