MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - Gina Buquet, a senior forward on the Mercyhurst University women's hockey team, has been named the recipient of the Elite 89 award for the 2013 NCAA Division I Women's Hockey Championship.

Buquet, majoring in Exercise Science, currently carries a 3.94 GPA. Buquet was presented with the award during the Women's Hockey Frozen Four Tournament Banquet on Thursday evening.

Hailing from Lafayette, La., Buquet played her first two years at Wayne State University before transferring to Mercyhurst for her junior season. This season, she has 17 points on six goals and 11 assists, surpassing her previous high of 14 points she set in both her freshman and sophomore seasons. She tallied her 50^th career point against Syracuse University as the Lakers' won their 10^th College Hockey America Tournament Championship. Buquet, most recently, scored the first goal of the game in the NCAA Quarterfinals last Saturday against Cornell, helping the Lakers to the NCAA Frozen Four for the third time in program history.

The Elite 89, an award founded by the NCAA, recognizes the true essence of the student-athlete by honoring the individual who has reached the pinnacle of competition at the national championship level in his or her sport, while also achieving the highest academic standard among his or her peers. The Elite 89 is presented to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade-point average participating at the finals site for each of the NCAA's championships.

Eligible student-athletes are sophomores or above who have participated in their sport for at least two years with their school. They must be an active member of the team, traveling and a designated member of the squad size at the championship. All ties are broken by the number of credits completed.

This is Mercyhurst University's fifth Elite 89 award-winner in school history. In 2009-10, women's hockey alum Vicki Bendus and women's rowing participant Bethany Brun were awarded the Elite 89 award. The following year, Brun picked up her second straight award, while men's lacrosse standout Ian Wild was awarded for his academic achievements.

For more information on the Elite 89 award winners, log on to NCAA.com/elite89.