MERCED, Calif. – University of California, Merced women's basketball sophomore forward Nicole Lukito has been named to the NAIA All-America Third Team.

Lukito, who was also named California Pacific Conference Player of the Year, joins Mia Belvin as the only two NAIA All-America Third Team members in program history.

Lukito recorded a Cal Pac record 22 double-double's while averaging 16.4 points per game and 14.7 rebounds per game this season. Her 14.7 RPG ranked third in the country. She also led the Bobcats and finished top three in the Cal Pac with 3.3 assists and 1.2 blocks per game. Lukito was second on the Bobcats with 1.6 steals a night.

She is the first player in the NAIA in the last 20 years to average at least 16.0 PPG, 14.5 RPG, and 3.3 APG.

Lukito shot 54% from the floor and 84.6% from the free throw line, good for top 50 nationally this season and top ten by any player in Cal Pac history.

Also this season, Lukito recorded UC Merced's second ever triple-double as she had 17 points, 23 rebounds, and ten assists against Stanton on January 10. She scored 20 or more points six times on the year and grabbed 19+ rebounds on nine instances.

The Fremont, Calif., native earned seven Cal Pac Player of the Week awards throughout the season.

Through just two seasons, Lukito is already the first player in program history with over 700 career points and 700 career rebounds. Her 716 total rebounds are a program-record. She is ninth all-time with 720 points.

Lukito led the Bobcats to their first Cal Pac Regular Season Championship since 2015-16 and their first Cal Pac Tournament Championship since 2022.

UC Merced finished the season 17-9 overall.