ST. LOUIS (USBWA) Keegan Ryan of St. John Fisher College (Pittsford, N.Y.) and Jill Valley of Westfield State University (Westfield, Mass.) were named the U.S. Basketball Writers Association Division III National Players of the Week for the week ending February 19.
Ryan, a 6-8 senior forward/center from Beekmantown, N.Y., helped lead the Cardinals (20-5, 15-1) to a 3-0 week and to the Empire 8 Conference regular-season title. Over the three games, Ryan averaged 27.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 0.3 blocks while shooting 78.9 percent (30-of-38) from the field and 88.0 percent (22-of-25) from the foul line. To open the week on Wednesday, he scored 33 points (11-of-14 FG, 11-of-11 FT) and added five rebounds, an assist and a block in St. John Fishers 75-63 win over Elmira. Against Stevens Tech on Friday, he finished with 28 points (12-of-17 FG, 4-of-5 FT), seven rebounds and two assists in a 94-86 overtime victory. Then on Saturday in another overtime win (90-88 vs. Hartwick), Ryan posted his 41st career double-double with 21 points (7-of-7 FG, 7-of-9 FT) and 10 rebounds while adding two assists. Also selected the Empire 8 Player of the Week, Ryan has now moved into first place on St. John Fisher·s all-time list with 962 career rebounds.
Valley, a 5-4 senior guard from Orange, Mass., helped lead the Owls (17-8, 11-1) to a 2-0 week and to the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MSCAC) regular-season title. On Saturday, in a 102-82 victory over Worcester State, Valley scored 52 points (19-of-27 FG, 12-of-14 FT, 2-of-5 3FG) in only 26 minutes the highest points total of any player in NCAA Division III this season and a Westfield State and MASCAC record. She totaled 21 points and made all of her shots (8-of-8 FG, 3-of-3 FT, 2-of-2 3FG) in the fourth quarter. Valley also added six rebounds, eight steals, three assists, and one block in the contest. In her first game of the week on Wednesday, she scored 12 points (3-of-9 FG, 6-of-8 FT), while adding six rebounds, six steals and two assists in a 77-68 victory over Bridgewater State. For the week, Valley averaged 32.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, 7.0 steals, 2.5 assists, and 0.5 blocks while shooting 61.1 percent (22-of-36) from the field, 81.8 percent (18-of-22) from the foul line and 33.3 percent (2-of-6) from downtown. Valley currently leads the MSCAC in scoring (21.8 ppg).
Each Tuesday, the USBWA is selecting men's and women's Division III National Players of the Week. This is the third 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.
2016-17 USBWA Division III National Players of the Week
Week ending Nov. 20: Khory Moore, Virginia Wesleyan College and Camille McPherson, Moravian College
· Week ending Nov. 27: Ty Sabin, Ripon College and Mikayla Miller, Gustavus Adolphus College
· Week ending Dec. 4: Sam Amsbaugh, Simpson College and Sara Tarbert, Stevenson University
· Week ending Dec. 11: Jayde Dawson, Amherst College and Zarkia Mattox, Ferrum College
· Week ending Dec. 18: Anthony Mosley Jr., Illinois Institute of Technology and Emily Martin, Elizabethtown College
· Week ending Jan. 1: Tyheim Monroe, Cabrini College and Lisa Murphy, Carnegie Mellon University
· Week ending Jan. 8: Frank Schettino, College of Staten Island and Kelly Williams, Randolph-Macon College
· Week ending Jan. 15: Baba Waples, Penn State Berks and Garis Grant, Agnes Scott College
· Week ending Jan. 22: Ty Sabin, Ripon College and Lisa Murphy, Carnegie Mellon University
· Week ending Jan. 29: Marcos Echevarria, Nichols College and Kara Hageman, Case Western Reserve University
· Week ending Feb. 5: Caleb Thomasson, Sul Ross State University and Kaitlin Langer, University of St. Thomas
· Week ending Feb. 12: Brendan Wind, Nazareth College and Savannah Olsen, Newbury College
· Week ending Feb. 19: Keegan Ryan, St. John Fisher College and Jill Valley, Westfield State University
· Week ending Feb. 26: Ty Sabin, Ripon College and Katie Sommer, Wartburg College