Chamberlain Finalist for Top Sportswoman

NORMAN – Former Oklahoma infielder Lauren Chamberlain has been named a finalist for the 2015 Sportswoman of the Year Award, the Women's Sports Foundation announced Monday. Athletes were considered for the 2015 awards based on their athletic achievements between Aug. 1, 2014 and July 31, 2015.

Chamberlain, who was named the Big 12 Female Athlete of the Year in late July, set the NCAA career home run record as she finished with 95 during her time in Norman. In addition, she set the NCAA all-time slugging percentage record with a .960 career mark.

Following the 2015 season, Chamberlain was named a first-team All-American by the NFCA, joining former Sooner Keilani Ricketts as the only four-time All-Americans in Oklahoma history, as well as the only OU players to be named to the first team three times in a career.

Chamberlain hit .399 in 2015 with 23 home runs and tied for the team lead in runs batted in with 65. She also led the team with 62 walks and a .589 on-base percentage, adding 11 doubles, four triples and eight stolen bases while playing in 56 of 58 games.

In addition to being the all-time home run and slugging percentage leader, Chamberlain finished her career fifth all-time in Division I in runs scored (272), ninth in walks (207) and 10th in runs batted in (254).

The No. 1 overall pick in the 2015 NPF Draft, Chamberlain was nominated for an ESPY this season for “Best Record Breaking Performance” for setting the all-time home run record and was also a finalist for the Honda Sports Award for softball.

Chamberlain claimed three Big 12 Player of the Week awards in 2015 to become the conference leader with eight for her career. She also earned All-Big 12 First Team and All-Region First Team honors for the fourth time. She led the Sooners to the 2013 Women's College World Series title and played in the WCWS three times in her four seasons.

The winners of the Sportswoman of the Year Award will be determined by a combination of a public vote (50 percent) and the Women's Sports Foundation's Awards Committee's vote (50 percent). The winners will be the two athletes - one individual finalist and one team finalist - who receive the highest combined share of a public vote and the Awards Committee vote.

The last OU softball player to be named a finalist for Sportswoman of the Year Award was Ricketts in 2012. Chamberlain has a chance to become the fourth softball player to take home the honor as she looks to join Jessica Mendoza (2008), Monica Abbott (2007) and Cat Osterman (2005).

The winner in each of the categories will be invited to accept their award at the Annual Salute to Women in Sports Awards Gala on Tuesday, October 20, 2015, at Cipriani Wall Street in New York City.

Fan voting has begun already on SportsWomanoftheYear.com and will conclude at 11:59 pm ET on Aug. 31.