Simmons Basketball senior Lauren Kreckie (Braintree, Mass.) was presented with the NCAA Sportsmanship Award for 2008, for the Division III conference. This award is given annually in recognition of the desire to promote sportsmanship and ethical behavior and the highest ideals of respect, caring, civility, fairness, honesty, integrity and responsibility as a Division III student-athlete.

Kreckie, accompanied by her parents at halfcourt, was presented with the award before the start of Saturday's season opener against the College of Saint Elizabeth. Simmons Director of Athletics Ali Kantor, Great Northeast Athletic Conference Commissioner Joe Walsh, and Assistant Commissioner and Director of Conference Communications Jessica Huntley were all present to recognize Kreckie's achievement.

Kantor offered these words of congratulations, "Over the course of her four years as a varsity athlete, Lauren has grown into one of the finest team leaders both on and off the court. The unwavering discipline to which she applies herself, is only one of the ways she models the practice of leadership around campus and in the community. She is known by her teammates to challenge them to achieve and support their efforts on the court, while she sets the example of a team player giving it her all.  Win or lose Lauren always demonstrates good sportsmanship; displaying fairness and maintaining integrity at all times. She is deserving of this National recognition. We are so proud of her achievements spanning four years of her academic and athletic career."