INDIANAPOLIS (USBWA) – Chandler Jacobs of Dallas Baptist University (Dallas, Texas) and Breanna Diestelkamp of the University of Missouri-St. Louis (St. Louis, Mo.) were named the U.S. Basketball Writers Association Division II National Players of the Week for the week ending Jan. 17.
Jacobs, a senior guard, averaged 28.5 points and 8.5 rebounds to lead No. 15-ranked DBU to a pair of Lone Star Conference victories over Oklahoma Christian. He was one point off his career-high in scoring when he poured in 32 points with 7 rebounds in the opening game of the series, a 90-79 road win, and he posted a 25-point, 10-rebound double-double, his third double-double of the season, in the return game at home to wrap up the series. Jacobs also collected a pair of steals in each game and averaged 2.5 assists as DBU improved to 7-1 on the season.
Jacobs, a 6-foot-3, 185-pound guard from Missouri City, Texas, shot 65 percent (20-for-31) from the field on the week, hitting 13-of-20 including a trio of three-pointers in his 32-point effort, and he went 7-for-11 with a pair of threes in his 25-point performance. He also converted free throws at a 75 percent (12-for-16) clip.
Diestelkamp, a sophomore center was named the Great Lakes Valley Conference Player of the Week after averaging a double-double in her first two collegiate starts last week.
She averaged 29.0 points and 11.0 rebounds in wins over Southwest Baptist University and the University of Illinois Springfield, while shooting 88 percent (22-of-25) from the field and making 13-of-14 (92.9 percent free throws).
The Owensville, Mo., native started the week with a career-high 24 points to go with nine rebounds against Southwest Baptist and finished the week with new career highs of 34 points and 13 rebounds against Illinois Springfield. In the latter, she made 14-of-15 field goals and all five free throws at the foul line.
Each Tuesday, the USBWA is selecting men's and women's Division II National Players of the Week. This is the seventh season that the USBWA will recognize national players of the week from Division II.
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.
2020-21 USBWA Division II National Players of the Week
Week ending Jan. 10: Chandler Jacobs, Dallas
Baptist University and Sydney Kin, University of Findlay
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Week ending Jan. 17: Chandler Jacobs, Dallas
Baptist University and Breanna Diestelkamp, University of Missouri-St. Louis
· Week ending Jan. 24: Parker Fox, Northern
State University and Mayci Sales, Walsh University
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Week ending Jan. 31: Cam Martin, Missouri Southern
State University and Lilly Ritz, Wheeling University
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Week ending Feb. 7: Patrick Cartier, Hillsdale
College and Zyaire Ewing, Delta State University
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Week ending Feb. 14: Isaiah Reddish, Barton
College and Brooklyn Pannell, University of Charleston
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Week ending Feb. 21: TJ Crockett, Lindenwood
University and Breanna Locke, Emmanuel College (Ga.)
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Week ending Feb. 28: Joel Murray, West Texas
A&M University and Rachel Berry, Fresno Pacific University