ST. LOUIS – Brianna Lore of the Saint Louis University softball team recently was named SLU's 2016 Atlantic 10 Conference Postgraduate Scholarship recipient.

Designed to provide graduating student-athletes an opportunity to continue their educational pursuits, the Postgraduate Scholarship program annually awards $5,000 for full-time graduate or professional studies to each of 14 recipients – one from each A-10 member institution. To be considered for the Postgraduate Scholarship, a student-athlete must have performed with distinction in the classroom and in competition throughout his or her career while also demonstrating exemplary conduct in the community.

“The A-10 Postgraduate Scholarship is a great honor, and Bri is well-deserving of this award,” head coach Christy Connoyer said. “She was a tremendous athlete on the field and an incredible student in the classroom. She elevated our program throughout her career and represented softball, as well as the University, on a national scale. We are very proud of Bri for earning this award and know she will find continued success in her future.”

Lore, who will pursue a master's degree in speech-language pathology at Maryville University in St. Louis, graduated in May with a Bachelor of Arts degree in communication sciences and disorders. During her final semester she received SLU's Female Senior Student-Athlete Award; was one of 30 nationwide candidates for the Senior CLASS Award for collegiate softball; and earned A-10 Commissioner's Honor Roll plaudits (minimum 3.5 semester grade point average) for a sixth time. Lore also was a 2015 National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-America Scholar-Athlete and a member of the 2014 A-10 All-Academic team.

On the field, Lore was part of the winningest class in program history; the Billikens' 119 victories during her career included a school-record 36 wins in 2015. She helped lead Saint Louis to A-10 regular-season runner-up finishes in 2014 and 2015 as well as second place at the 2014 A-10 Championship.

Lore became the first SLU softball player to earn All-Region honors twice (2014 second team, 2015 third team) and the first Saint Louis pitcher to throw two no-hitters. She was selected A-10 co-Pitcher of the Year in 2014, becoming the first Billiken hurler to garner a conference Pitcher of the Year award.

Lore was a first-team All-Conference choice in 2014 and 2016, a second-team pick in 2015 and an All-Rookie selection in 2013. She made the 2013 A-10 Championship All-Tournament team and collected seven A-10 weekly awards (four Pitcher of the Week, two Player of the Week, one Rookie of the Week).

Lore owns Billiken career records for wins (70), complete games (77), innings (823), starts (135) and appearances (156), and she is second in strikeouts (533). In 2014 she set Saint Louis season marks for wins (25), complete games (30), innings (243) and starts (37). Also a force at the plate, Lore finished her career fourth in RBIs (89), fifth in walks (71) and sixth in on-base percentage (.396) on the SLU charts.

“The Postgraduate Scholarship is one of the most prestigious honors the A-10 bestows,” A-10 Commissioner Bernadette V. McGlade said. “Providing this opportunity to individuals who are dedicated to success in academics and athletics is an important part of the Atlantic 10's commitment to our student-athletes. I congratulate each of these deserving individuals and wish them good luck as they pursue their advanced degrees.”