INDIANAPOLIS (USBWA) – TJ Crockett of Lindenwood University (St. Charles, Mo.) and Breanna Locke of Emmanuel College (Franklin Springs, Ga.) were named the U.S. Basketball Writers Association Division II National Players of the Week for the week ending Feb. 21.
Crockett, a senior guard, scored a school and conference record 54 points in a 116-109 double-OT victory over McKendree on Feb. 20. Crocketts 54-point outburst is the highest single-game scoring performance this season (all NCAA divisions), and the four-time GLVC Player of the Week is the NCAA Division II national scoring leader this season with a season average of 28.2 points per game.
The 6-foot-1, 180-pound senior, scored 19 of the final 32 points in overtime for Lindenwood, surpassing the previous school record of 46 points in the double-OT victory. Crockett was 18-for-35 from the field, including 4-of-10 from three-point range, and he sank 14-of-15 free throws. He also registered 6 rebounds and 7 assists as Lindenwood tied the programs single-game team scoring record as the Lions improved to 10-8 on the season.
Crockett is the first USBWA Division II National Player of the Week from the Great Lakes Valley Conference this season.
Locke, a senior forward was named the Conference Carolinas Player of the Week after averaging 30 points, 11.7 rebounds and seven assists per game in helping the Lions to a 3-0 week.
The Flowery Branch, Ga., native began the week with 21 points, 14 rebounds and seven assists in a 70-52 win over Erskine College. She then tallied 38 points, 16 rebounds and six assists in a 72-64 win over North Greenville University and finished the week with 31 points, five rebounds and eight assists in an 86-55 win over the University of Mount Olive.
On the week, Locke shot 59.3 percent from the field, including 68.4 percent (13-of-19) from three-point range, and made 13-of-15 free throws.
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