ST. LOUIS (USBWA) Nick Harney of the Fairmont State University (Fairmont, W. Va.) and Amy Philamlee of West Union University (Jackson, Tenn.) were named the U.S. Basketball Writers Association Division II National Players of the Week for the week ending Feb. 22.
Harney, a 6-8 senior forward from Cleveland, Ohio, broke a 49-year old Fairmont State University single-game scoring record, matching the NCAA Division II national season scoring high with 48 points in a 98-54 victory over Virginia-Wise. Harney also scored 23 points in Fairmont State's 95-82 loss to Concord, giving him a 35.5-point scoring average as he hit all five three-pointers he attempted, and he also averaged seven rebounds per game for the week as the Falcons moved to 18-9 overall and 15-6 in Mountain East Conference play this year.
Harney hit 20-of-31 from the field, including a perfect four-for-four on three-pointers, against Virginia-Wise, adding four free throws to get to 48 points in 30 minutes of action. He also grabbed seven rebounds, dished out three assists, and had a steal in the Feb. 21 victory. He started the week with a 23-pointer effort against Concord, hitting seven-of-15 from the field while converting his only three-point attempt, and he added seven more rebounds, a block, and four steals.
Philamlee, a 5-5 senior guard from Jonesboro, Ark., was named the Gulf South Conference Player of the Week after helping Union to a 2-0 week, including a GSC regular-season title-clinching win. She averaged 37.5 points and 10.0 assists per game, while shooting 71 percent from the field, including 62.5 percent (5-of-8) from three-point range, and was 96.3 percent (26-of-27) from the free throw line.
Philamlee scored a career-high 42 points in the clinching home win over North Alabama, 97-84. It was the third highest total for points in a game in Union history and fifth highest total in NCAA Division II this season. She added 14 assists in the game for her eighth double-double on the season and was 12-of-16 from the field, including 3-of-4 from long range and 15-of-15 from the free throw line. In a 64-62 road win at Alabama Huntsville, Philamlee scored 33 points including a pair of free throws with one second left on the clock to give Union the two-point win. She added six assists at UAH and was 10-of-15 from the field, 2-of-4 from 3-point range and 11-of-12 from the free throw line.
Union is 22-3 overall, including 18-2 in the GSC, and ranked No. 1 in the NCAA South Region Poll going into the final week of the season.
Each Tuesday, the USBWA is selecting men's and women's Division II National Players of the Week. This is the first 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 Joe Mitch at 314-795-6821.
2014-15 USBWA Division II National Players of the Week
Week ending Dec. 7: Derrick White, Colorado-Colorado Springs and Sarah Nelson, Dominican
· Week ending Dec. 14: Tyler Kelly, Florida Southern and Abby Kirchoff, Colorado-Colorado Springs
· Week ending Jan. 4: Eric Anderson, New Haven and Shareta Brown, Wayne State
· Week ending Jan. 11: Gerald Beverly, Daemen College and Natalie Piaggesi, Mercyhurst
· Week ending Jan. 18: Joe Lawson, Indianapolis and Morgan Pullins, St. Mary's (Texas)
· Week ending Jan. 25: Alex Herrera, Fort Lewis College and Taylor Beverly, West Georgia
· Week ending Feb. 1: Derrick White, Colorado-Colorado Springs and Nettie Blake, Gannon University
· Week ending Feb. 8: Darian Hooker, NYIT and Shareta Brown, Wayne State
· Week ending Feb. 15: Garret Kerr, University of the Sciences and Schontiquah White, West Texas A&M
· Week ending Feb. 22: Nick Harney, Fairmont State and Amy Philamlee, Union (Tenn.)