DOYLESTOWN (PA) – Delaware Valley University graduate Eireann Anastasi is one of 517 nominees for the 2016 NCAA Woman of the Year award, the NCAA announced this week.
 
Anastasi is one of two nominees from the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Freedom, the other being Amy Viti of Misericordia University. The conference's winner will be announced in July.
 
Anastasi had one of the most successful years in DelVal history for the Aggie women's basketball team. Her list of accolades includes:
 
* Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Freedom Player of the Year
* MAC Freedom First-Team All-Conference (third straight year)
* D3hoops.com Atlantic Region Co-Player of the Year
* D3hoops.com First Team All-Atlantic Region
* D3hoops.com All-America Third Team
* DIII News All-America Fourth Team
* WBCA All-America Honorable Mention
* Philadelphia Inquirer Academic All-Area Women's Basketball Performer of the Year
* Philadelphia Inquirer Academic All-Area Women's Basketball Team
* CoSIDA Academic All-District First Team
* CoSIDA Academic All-America Second Team
* MAC Women's Basketball Scholar-Athlete
* Academic All-MAC Women's Basketball Team
* MAC Winter Academic Honor Roll
* Josten's Trophy Finalist
 
Anastasi, who received both her undergraduate and graduate degrees (all in just four years) at commencement this past May, was the lone returning starter for DelVal and led her team to a third straight appearance in both the MAC Freedom semifinals and the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) South Region quarterfinals. She averaged 19.9 points, 5.4 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 2.8 steals per game.
 
Anastasi finished her career in second place on the school's all-time scoring list with 1,744 points. She is also second in assists (424), tied for sixth in three-pointers (164) and seventh in steals (229).
 
The NCAA Woman of the Year award honors graduating female college athletes who have exhausted their eligibility and distinguished themselves throughout their collegiate careers in academics, athletics, service and leadership.
 
This pool of school honorees marks the largest in the 26-year history of the award. Of the nominees for the national award, 231 competed in Division I, 117 competed in Division II and 169 competed in Division III athletics. The nominees also represent 21 different women's sports, and 127 of the nominees competed in more than one sport in college.
 
Next, conferences assess their member school nominees and select up to two conference nominees. The Woman of the Year selection committee, made up of representatives from the NCAA membership, will then choose the top 30 honorees - 10 from each division. 
 
From the top 30, the selection committee determines the top three honorees from each division and announces the nine finalists in September. The NCAA Committee on Women's Athletics then chooses from among those nine to determine the 2016 NCAA Woman of the Year.
 
The top 30 honorees will be celebrated and the 2016 NCAA Woman of the Year winner will be announced at the annual award ceremony Oct. 16 in Indianapolis.