BOSTON, Mass. -- Simmons junior Emily Cunningham (Cotuit, Mass.) and sophomore Lauren Backhaus (Windsor, Conn.) were each named to the Great Northeast Athletic Conference All-Conference First Team for their outstanding performance in the 2013 season.

First baseman Emily Cunningham led all Sharks on offense, batting .402 on the season with 35 hits including two doubles, one triple and four home runs. Cunningham also recorded 26 RBIs to lead the team and committed just one error in the field for a .995 fielding percentage.

On the mound, Backhaus went 13-6 on the season, pitching 133 innings and allowing just 102 hits with 158 strikeouts, third best in the GNAC. She finished the year in the top three of all pitching categories within the GNAC and was nationally ranked in Division III in multiple categories including 10th in shutouts, 16th in strikeouts, 20th in strikeouts per seven innings, 31st in ERA and 32nd in hits allowed per seven innings. During the season, she was also nationally ranked in victories, walks allowed per seven innings, and triples hit. 

The Sharks ended their 2013 campaign with an overall record of 22-13 and 15-9 in the GNAC.

Click here for the full list of All-Conference honors.