INDIANAPOLIS (USBWA) – Buzz Anthony of Randolph-Macon College (Ashland, Va.) and Abbey Lawrence of Case Western Reserve University (Cleveland Ohio) were named the U.S. Basketball Writers Association Division III National Players of the Week for the week ending November 21.
Anthony, a 5-11 senior guard from Arnold, Md., led the Yellow Jackets (5-0) to a pair of impressive victories against ranked opponents. On Friday, he scored a career-high 32 points (14-of-21 FG, 4-of-8 3FG) and added five rebounds, five assists and two steals in an 88-74 victory over No. 13 (D3hoops.com) Emory University in the Great Lakes Invitational at Marietta College. Then on Saturday against host Marietta, Anthony posted a double-double with 15 points (4-of-8 FG, 5-of-6 FT, 2-of-2 3FG) and a career-high-tying 13 assists (tied for the second-highest total in any NCAA Division so far this season) in an 82-74 win over the No. 3 Pioneers. Over the two games, Anthony averaged 23.5 points, 3.0 rebounds, 9.0 assists, and 0.7 blocks. He shot 62.1 percent (18-of-29) from the field, 83.3 percent (5-of-6) from the foul line and 60 percent (6-of-10) from three-point range. For his efforts, Anthony was named to the Great Lakes Invitational All-Tournament Team and was chosen Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) Player of the Week.
Lawrence, a 5-10 senior guard/forward from West Caldwell, N.J., averaged 32 points in the Spartans' (2-4) three games last week. She began her assault by producing program records of 45 points and 17 field goals (17-of-25 FG, 8-of-9 FT, 3-of-8 3FG) while adding six rebounds, five assists and three steals in a 91-67 victory over Waynesburg on Tuesday. Lawrence scored 31 points (10-of-20 FG, 10-of-10 FT, 1-of-5 3FG), had six rebounds and a steal in a 72-63 loss to La Roche on Friday. She capped off her week on Saturday with 20 points (6-of-20 FG, 4-of-4 FT, 4-of-7 3FG), seven rebounds, three assists, and two steals in a 79-74 loss to Denison. For the week, Lawrence averaged 32.0 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 2.0 steals. She shot 50.8 percent (33-of-65) from the field, 95.7 percent (22-of-23) from the foul line and 40 percent (8-of-20) from three-point range. For her efforts, Lawrence was named to the SpringHill Suites Tip-Off All-Tournament Team and was selected University Athletic Association (UAA) Player of the Week.
Each Tuesday, the USBWA is selecting men's and women's Division III National Players of the Week. The program has resumed after a one-season hiatus and this is the seventh 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 Malcolm Moran at 814-574-1485.
2021-22 USBWA Division III National Players of the Week
Week ending Nov. 21: Buzz Anthony, Randolph-Macon
College and Abbey Lawrence, Case Western Reserve University
·
Week ending Nov. 28: Ryan Turell, Yeshiva University
and Claudia Cooke, Kenyon College
· Week
ending Dec. 5: Lyle Tipton, Geneva College and Meg Carroll, Lasell University
· Week ending Dec. 12: Ryan Turell, Yeshiva
University and Hanna Geistfeld, Bethany Lutheran College
·
Week ending Dec. 19: Luke Feely, University
of Mary Hardin-Baylor and Cayla Sharkey, Gwynedd Mercy University
·
Week ending Jan. 2: Jack Davidson, Wabash College
and Jenna Taylor, Simpson College
· Week
ending Jan. 9: Alex Sobel, Middlebury College and Aleah Grundahl, University of
Wisconsin-Whitewater
· Week ending Jan.
16: Christian Stewart, Spalding University and Camille Zinaich, Oberlin College
· Week ending Jan. 23: Levi Borchert, University
of Wisconsin-Oshkosh and Hanna Geistfeld, Bethany Lutheran College
·
Week ending Jan. 30: Christian Parker, University
of Mount Union and Flannery O'Connor, Framingham State University
·
Week ending Feb. 6: Jackson Danzig, University
of Scranton and Bailey Donovan, Husson University
·
Week ending Feb. 13: Matthew Leritz, Illinois
Wesleyan University and Hanna Geistfeld, Bethany Lutheran College
·
Week ending Feb. 20: Austin Grunder, SUNY Cortland
and Elyce Knudsen, Millikin University
·
Week ending Feb. 27: Jack Davidson, Wabash College
and Anaya Simmons, Christopher Newport University