DEMPSEY, IAVARONE ARE DIVISION IIINATIONAL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

Contact Jeff Bernstein
jeffrey.bernstein@nyu.edu
(212) 998-2031

ST. LOUIS (USBWA) Marcus Dempsey of Muskingum College (New Concord, Ohio) and Andrea Iavarone of St. Joseph's College-Long Island (Patchogue, N.Y.) were named the U.S. Basketball Writers Association Division III National Players of the Week for the week ending January 28.

Dempsey, a 6-1 sophomore guard from Zanesville, Ohio, earns the honor for the second time this season. He averaged 37.5 points, 9.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.0 steals while playing every minute of the Fighting Muskies' (8-11, 6-6) two Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) games last week. On Wednesday, in an 86-78 loss to Capital, Dempsey scored 36 points (11-of-18 FG, 8-of-9 FT, 6-of-9 3FG) and added seven rebounds and an assist. Then in a 112-103 win vs. then-No. 23 (D3hoops.com) John Carroll on Saturday, he went over the 1,000-point career scoring mark with a 39-point (11-of-19 FG, 13-of-14 FT, 4-of-8 3FG), 12-rebound, four-assist, two-steal performance. The third-leading scorer in NCAA Division III this season (30.0 ppg), Dempsey shot 59.5 percent (22-of-38) from the field, 91.3 percent (21-of-23) from the foul line and 58.8 percent (10-of-17) from three-point range last week. He now has posted a one-season school record of 570 points and has accumulated 1,012 for his career in just 46 games. For his efforts, Dempsey was also named the OAC Player of the Week.

Iavarone, a 6-0 senior forward from Miller Place, N.Y., posted a pair of 20-20 games in leading the Golden Eagles (6-10, 3-6) to a pair of Skyline Conference victories. On Monday, in an 83-69 win over Farmingdale, Iavarone scored 37 points (14-of-26 FG, 9-of-14 FT) and pulled down a school-record 27 rebounds (the second-highest one-game total in NCAA Division III this season) while also recording two blocks and playing all 40 minutes. She again played every minute in a 74-71 victory over SUNY Purchase on Saturday. In that contest, Iavarone totaled 32 points (11-of-14 FG, 10-of-10 FT), 25 rebounds, six blocks, two assists, and two steals. For the week, she averaged 34.5 points, 26.0 rebounds, 4.0 blocks, 1.0 assist, and 1.0 steal while shooting 62.5 percent (25-of-40) from the field and 79.2 percent (19-of-24) from the foul line. Iavarone, who is currently fourth in the nation in rebounds per game (15.7), was also named the Skyline Conference Player of the Week.

Each Tuesday, the USBWA is selecting men's and women's Division III National Players of the Week. This is the fourth season that the USBWA will recognize national players of the week from Division III.

The U.S. Basketball Writers Association was formed in 1956 at the urging of then-NCAA Executive Director Walter Byers. With some 900 members worldwide, it is one of the most influential organizations in college basketball. It has selected an All-America team since the 1956-57 season. For more information on the USBWA and its award programs, contact executive director Joe Mitch at 314-795-6821.