LOCK HAVEN, Pa.- The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference released their 75 greatest female athletes to celebrate the conference's 75th anniversary. Mercyhurst softball player Rachel DiBartolomeo was featured among the list of standout athletes. 

The native of Saegertown joined Mercyhurst in 2014. Throughout her career, she started and played in 167 games. The numbers she posted continued to get better each season. 

In 2016, DiBartolomeo was named the PSAC West Athlete of the Year. This came after she posted a .433 batting average with 55 hits and 38 RBIs. That season was also one of two seasons where she recorded double-digit home runs (10). 

DiBartolomeo shared what this selection means to her and the impact Mercyhurst softball had on her life: "I'm truly honored to be selected as one of the Top 75 Greatest of All-Time Female Athletes in the PSAC. My time at Mercyhurst was one of the greatest chapters of my life. Being a college athlete was no easy task, but it instilled in me determination, drive, and grit that continue to guide me as a coach and trainer for young athletes today. I wouldn't be where I am—on or off the field—without the unwavering love and support of my coaches and teammates. Mercyhurst and the PSAC provided incredible opportunities for growth and advocacy for female athletes, and I'm proud to have been a part of that legacy. I'm deeply grateful for the opportunity to have been a Laker." 

DiBartolomeo finished her career with 183 hits, 110 RBIs, 26 home runs, and a batting average of .338. In the second to last game of her career, she hit two home runs among her four hits against Edinboro, capitalizing on an impressive career at Mercyhurst. 

Head coach Leanne Baker spoke about DiBartolomeo after this release: "Rachel worked tirelessly to get better at softball during her time at Mercyhurst.  She was very versatile for us as well. She came to the Lakers as a catcher and ended her career as our starting center fielder. Rachel got better every year because of her love of the game and trying to be the best she could. She was and is still a constant learner and asked so many coaches for guidance during her time. What makes me most proud of Rachel now is that she is spreading the love of the game to the next generation as the President of the Amherst Lightning organization in the Buffalo area." 

To view the PSAC's full release of featured female athletes, please click here.