ST. LOUIS (USBWA) Derrick White of Colorado-Colorado Springs and Sarah Nelson of Dominican University of California (San Rafael, Calif.) were named the U.S. Basketball Writers Association Division II National Players of the Week for the week ending Dec. 7.
White, a 6-5 junior guard from Parker, Colo., led the Mountain Lions to three wins, averaging 27.7 points, 8.0 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.3 blocks, and 3.3 steals per game. With the perfect 3-0 week, including a pair of victories to start Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference play, UCCS is now 8-0, its best start in program history, and the Mountain Lions moved up to No. 5 in this week's NABC/Division II men's basketball national rankings.
White scored 17 points in 20 minutes in a 112-55 non-conference win over Johnson & Wales, then helped lead the Mountain Lions to a pair of Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference wins to close out the week. In an 85-78 win over Fort Lewis, White broke the UCCS career scoring record with 37 points to go with nine rebounds, five assists, and six steals. He followed that effort with 29 points, going a perfect 17-for-17 at the free throw line, and he was one assist shy of a triple-double as he added 11 rebounds and nine assists to lead a 99-82 win over Adams State.
Nelson, a 6-4 freshman center from Clayton, Calif., led Dominican to its best Division II start in school history with two wins last weekend by averaging 20.5 points, 10.5 rebounds and 9.0 blocks per game. In an 85-60 home win over Notre Dame de Namur, Nelson recorded 22 points, a career-high 17 rebounds and eight blocked shots. She then reached that elusive triple-double with 19 points, 13 rebounds and a school-record 10 blocked shots in a 66-63 road win at Holy Names. Nelson leads the PacWest Conference and NCAA Division II with 5.5 blocks per game. Dominican is 4-3 overall and matched its best start in PacWest play at 2-0.
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.)