ST. LOUIS (USBWA) Tyheim Monroe of Cabrini College (Radnor, Pa.) and Michela North of Tufts University (Medford, Mass.) were named the U.S. Basketball Writers Association Division III National Players of the Week for the week ending January 10.
Monroe, a 6-6 sophomore forward from Philadelphia, Pa., averaged 21 points, 17 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.3 steals, and 1.3 blocks while shooting 59 percent (23-39) from the field and leading Cabrini to a 3-0 week. He recorded double-doubles in all three contests for the Cavaliers (6-5, 4-1), who compete in the Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC). Monroe totaled 21 points (8-for-11 FG, 5-for-7 FT), 12 rebounds, two blocks, a steal, and an assist in a 95-83 at Cairn University (5-7, 2-4 CSAC) on Tuesday. He recorded 28 points (10-for-15 FG, 8-for-10 FT), 21 boards, a block, and two steals in an 80-72 win at Keystone College (1-9, 1-4 CSAC) on Thursday. Monroe, who closed out the week on Saturday with 14 points, 18 rebounds, six assists, a block, and a steal in a 70-64 win over Centenary College (8-5, 4-2 CSAC), currently leads NCAA Division III in double-doubles (11) and rebounds per game (14.5).
North, a 6-2 junior forward from Duxbury, Mass., recorded three double-doubles to lead No. 12 (D3Hoops.com) Tufts (11-2, 2-0) to a 3-0 mark last week, averaging 14.7 points and 14.7 rebounds. Competing in the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC), she opened the week on Tuesday by recording 13 points (3-of-6 FG, 7-of-8 FT), 17 rebounds and a steal in a 59-40 non-conference win over Babson College (8-4). North then had 13 points (4-of-11 FG; 5-of-5 FT), 13 boards and two blocks in a 53-50 victory at then-No. 22 Bowdoin College (10-3, 1-1 NESCAC) on Friday. She completed the week on Saturday by totaling 18 points (7-of-16 FG; 4-of-7 FT), 14 rebounds, three blocks, an assist, and a steal in a 54-45 win at Colby College (8-4, 1-1), amassing 12 points and 11 rebounds in the third and fourth quarters combined, including eight points and six boards in the fourth.
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