University of Albany Women Lacrosse's Nikki Branchini A-East Defender of the Week; UAlbany Moves Up in Both National Polls - UAlbany Sports 2011

Cambridge, Mass. - University at Albany's Nikki Branchini has been named America East Conference Defensive Player of the Week in women's lacrosse, as announced on Monday, March 21 by the conference office.

Branchini, a senior defensive midfielder from Guilderland, N.Y., helped the Great Danes take down their third nationally-ranked opponent this season in last Saturday's 10-8 victory at No. 19/12 Massachusetts. She caused four turnovers, including an interception of a clearing pass that led to her team's fifth goal. Despite not scoring for the first time this season, Branchini also accounted for six ground balls, one off her career best, and collected three draw controls. She leads America East with 29 draw controls through six games (4.83 pg), plus is fourth among the NCAA Division I leaders in that category.

In addition, UAlbany (6-0) climbed three spots in this week's IWLCA coaches' poll and moved up four places in this week's deBeer/Inside Lacrosse national top-20. The Great Danes are ranked No. 14 by the IWLCA and No. 11 in the media poll. The Great Danes travel to Patriot League-leader Colgate on Wednesday, before returning home for its first-ever meeting with Oregon on March 27.

IWLCA Poll: 1. Maryland, 2. Northwestern, 3. Duke, 4. Pennsylvania, 5. North Carolina, 6. Loyola, 7. Stanford, 8. Virginia, 9. Florida, 10. James Madison, 11. Syracuse, 12. Princeton, 13. Georgetown, 14. Albany, 15. Vanderbilt, 16. William & Mary, 17. Notre Dame, 18. Dartmouth,19. Boston College, 20. Massachusetts.

deBeer/Inside Lacrosse Poll: 1. Maryland, 2. Northwestern, 3. Duke, 4. Pennsylvania, 5. Loyola, 6. North Carolina, 7. Stanford, 8. Florida, 9. Virginia, 10. James Madison, 11. Albany, 12. Massachusetts, 13. Princeton, 14. Vanderbilt, 15. William & Mary, 16. Syracuse, 17. Boston College, t18. Rutgers, t18. Louisville, 20. Georgetown.

Paw Prints: UAlbany (6-0) has won 13 of its last 14 non-conference games ...Taylor Frink equaled a career-high with seven points (4 goals, 3 assists) at Massachusetts and scored the game-winning goal with 7:26 remaining ... Frink is the first Great Dane to score seven or more points in three consecutive games at the Division I level ... Jodi Battaglia equaled a season-high with four points (2 goals, 2 assists) against UMass ... Battaglia needs two to become the 14th UAlbany player to reach the 100-career point plateau ... Anna Berman made a career-high nine saves against UMass ... the freshman goalkeeper stopped a free-position shot in each half.