ST. LOUIS (USBWA) Seger Bonifant of West Liberty University and Nicole Hampton of Lubbock Christian University have been named the U.S. Basketball Writers Association Division II National Players of the Week for games of the week ending Feb. 14.
Bonifant, 6-7 senior forward from Berlin, Ohio, led Division II No. 3-ranked West Liberty University to a pair of Mountain East Conference wins over Concord University and University of Virginia's College at Wise last week. Williams averaged 34.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 5.5 assists per game as the Hilltoppers ran their winning streak to seven while improving to 22-2 overall and 16-2 in Mountain East play.
In a 115-105 win over Concord on Feb. 11, Bonifant scored 37 points with five rebounds and eight assists, shooting 12-for-15 from the field, including seven-for-eight on three-pointers, and he was a perfect six-for-six from the free throw line. Two days later, he made 10-of-14 from the field including six-of-nine three-pointers, as he scored 31 points in just 28 minutes of action to lead West Liberty to a 103-64 win over Virginia-Wise. On the week, he shot 76 percent (22-for-29) from the field including a 77 percent (13-for-17) clip from three-point range. The Mountain East Conference scoring leader (24.8 ppg) was also 85 percent (11-for-13) on free throws as he posted his fifth and sixth 30-point games of the season.
Hampton, a 5-10 senior guard from Canyon, Texas, was the Heartland Conference Player of the Week, averaged 18.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, 7.5 assists and 2.0 steals per game to lead the Lady Chaparrals to a 2-0 week, helping them clinch their second consecutive regular season conference title.
She was also 10-of-14 (71.4 percent) from the field and 15-of-16 (93.8 percent) from the free throw line.
Hampton came up two assists shy of a triple-double in an 82-54 win over Arkansas-Fort Smith, as she finished with 22 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists. She also collected three steals in the win and was 12-of-13 at the free throw line. Then in an 89-41 victory over Rogers State, Hampton was 5-of-5 from the field and 3-of-3 at the free throw line en route to finishing with 14 points, while also producing seven assists without committing a turnover in 26 minutes on the court. On the week, she had 15 assists and just two turnovers.
Hampton ranks second nationally in assist/turnover ratio at 3.3, 10th in assist per game (5.9), 20th in steals per game (2.7), 16th in assists (129) and 14th in free-throw percentage (88.1%). She leads the conference in the aforementioned categories except steals per game (second in the conference).
LCU is 22-0 overall and 14-0 in conference play this season.
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.