INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - Junior Emily Francis of the Mercyhurst University women's rowing team won the NCAA Division II Elite 89 Award on Thursday morning at the NCAA Championship opening banquet.

The Elite 89 Award is presented to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade-point average participating at a finals site for each of the NCAA's 89 championships.

Francis, a native of Goodrich, Michigan has a perfect 4.00 cumulative grade point average with a double major in intelligence studies and public health. She becomes the first Mercyhurst student-athlete to win an Elite 89 Award this academic year and is the third Laker to win the honor over the last two years (Trevor Vargo, men's lacrosse; Gina Buquet, women's hockey).

Also a member of the women's cross country team, Francis will cox the women's varsity four boat at the NCAA Division II Championships this weekend at Eagle Creek Park in Indianapolis, Indiana. Joining Francis in the varsity four will be Alexandra Kleckner, Molly Harrald, Kate Moran, and Jessica Garver.

The Lakers are participating in their seventh consecutive NCAA Championship Regatta and will open racing with the varsity eight heat on Friday morning at 11:10 a.m. The varsity four will take to the water at 11:30 a.m.