ST. LOUIS (USBWA) David Linane of John Carroll University (University Heights, Ohio) and Alexix Roman of the University of Scranton (Scranton, Pa.) were named the U.S. Basketball Writers Association Division III National Players of the Week for the week ending Dec. 20.
Linane, a 5-9 junior guard from Euclid, Ohio, scored a season-high 27 points to lead John Carroll to an 82-78 home conference win over No. 8 (D3Hoops.com) Marietta College (8-2, 4-1) on Saturday. He added five assists, four steals and four rebounds while shooting 10-of-21 from the field, 5-of-10 from three-point range and 2-of-2 from the foul line to help the Blue Streaks to their best start since the 2004-05 season. Linane was responsible for seven of his teams last 11 points, including a three-pointer with 3:50 left that gave John Carroll the lead for good. He then sank both free throws with 1.8 seconds left to seal the victory. The Blue Steaks are now 9-0 overall, 4-0 in the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) and ranked No. 10 in the nation as one of 15 undefeated teams remaining in NCAA Division III.
Roman, a 6-1 junior forward from Hawley, Pa., averaged 21.3 points and 8.0 rebounds per game in a 3-0 week for No. 17 (D3Hoops.com) University of Scranton. She shot 64.3% (27-of-42) from the field and is currently ranked fifth in NCAA Division III in field goal percentage (66.4%). Roman registered a double-double with 18 points and 11 rebounds in the Lady Royals 66-48 win over previously-unbeaten Johnson & Wales (7-1) on Tuesday. The next night, she totaled 16 points, five rebounds, two steals, and one block in an 81-58 win over Eastern (7-2) to help her team capture the Hilton Scranton Poinsettia Classic. Then, on Saturday, Roman tied her career high with 30 points on 13-for-19 shooting in an 86-57 victory over previously-undefeated Emory & Henry (6-1). She also recorded eight rebounds and a pair of blocks as the Lady Royals, a member of the Landmark Conference, improved to 10-0, 2-0.
Each Tuesday, the USBWA is selecting men's and women's Division III National Players of the Week. This is the second season that the USBWA will recognize national players of the week from Division III.
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.
2015-16 USBWA Division III National Players of the Week
Week ending Dec. 6: Jordan Rezendes, UMass Dartmouth and Lisa Murphy, Carnegie Mellon
· Week ending Dec. 13: Connor Green, Amherst and TiChina Mitchell, La Roche
· Week ending Dec. 20: David Linane, John Carroll and Alexix Roman, Scranton
· Week ending Jan. 3: Tom Palleschi, Tufts and Jordan Holmes, Denison
· Week ending Jan. 10: Tyheim Monroe, Cabrini and Michela North, Tufts
· Week ending Jan. 17: Jamie Nikitas, Lawrence University and Katelyn Spahar, John Carroll
· Week ending Jan. 24: Lucas Johnson, Benedictine and Jillian Gilman, Daniel Webster
· Week ending Jan. 31: Jordan Rezendes, UMass Dartmouth and Kelsey Tietje, Defiance
· Week ending Feb. 7: Ty Sabin, Ripon and Holly Denfeld, Milwaukee School of Engineering
· Week ending Feb. 14: Josh Berard, University of the Ozarks and Sydney Moss, Thomas More
· Week ending Feb. 21: Luke Lattner, DePauw and Lisa Murphy, Carngie Mellon
· Week ending Feb. 28: David Meurer, Denison and Caroline Naumann, Lynchburg