IRVINE, Calif. – Natalie Diaz added two more major Pacific West Conference awards being named the PacWest Women's Basketball Scholar Athlete and the PacWest Female Athlete of the Year as announced by the conference office Wednesday and Thursday.

"I remember when Natalie was being recruited coach [Tim] LaKose and coach [PhyNique] Allen told me she had the ability to be the best player in the conference," athletic director Amy Henkelman said. "Natalie is a workhorse in everything she does. She is the type of person you always want on your team no matter if it is basketball, work or life. Natalie makes all those around her better. She is a great person and is so deserving of all her honors."

Diaz was named the PacWest Women's Basketball Scholar Athlete of the Year on Wednesday for the second consecutive year. Diaz graduated with a 3.56 GPA in Business Administration and interned this past year at Parnell Pharmaceuticals. She was named a 2018-19 Google Cloud Third Team Academic All-America® earlier this year for her excellence in the classroom and on the court.

Diaz followed up on her academic award by becoming the first Penguin to ever be named the PacWest Female Athlete of the Year. Diaz earned All-America honors from the D2CCA and WBCA this season after finishing the season No. 2 in the NCAA Division II with 26 points per game. She has also been nominated for the NCAA Woman of the Year Award which recognizes athletic, classroom and community excellence. The conference offices are currently in the process selecting one nominee each to become finalists for the award with an announcement coming in August.

Diaz also just signed to play for BC Musel Pikes in Luxemborg and will begin her professional basketball career at the end of August.