ST. LOUIS (USBWA) Kevin Dennis of Morrisville State College (Morrisville, N.Y.) and Hannah Norlin of the University of Wisconsin-Superior (Superior, Wis.) were named the U.S. Basketball Writers Association Division III National Players of the Week for the week ending December 2.
Dennis, a 6-4 junior forward from the Bronx, N.Y., produced a stellar week which included an NCAA-season-high (all divisions) and team-record 32 rebounds in a 91-89 double-overtime win against SUNY Polytechnic Institute on Saturday. In that contest, Dennis also scored a career-high 35 points (10-of-18 FG, 15-of-19 FT), including 12 in the two overtimes. He played 46 minutes and added three steals, two assists and two blocks while collecting 10 of his rebounds in the overtime sessions. Earlier in the week, Dennis recorded another double-double of 26 points (9-of-13 FG, 8-of-8 FT) and 11 rebounds in the Mustangs' (4-2) 78-63 loss to No. 12 (D3hoops.com) Middlebury. He added two assists, two blocks and a steal in that contest. Overall, Dennis averaged 30.5 ppg, 21.5 rpg, and 2.0 assists, blocks and steals per game while shooting 61.3 percent (19-of-31) from the field and 85.2 percent (23-of-27) from the foul line. For his efforts, Dennis was also named the North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) Player of the Week.
Norlin, a 6-0 senior forward from Litchfield, Minn., produced overall numbers of 20.6 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 3.3 bpg, 2.6 apg, and 2.0 spg as the Yellowjackets (5-1) defeated all three of their opponents last week. In Wisconsin-Superior's 58-50 victory over NCAA Division II Bemidji State on Monday, Norlin scored 21 points while adding five rebounds, five blocks and two assists. She then recorded a double-double of 19 points and 13 rebounds to go with four steals, three assists and one block in a 77-52 win against Saint Benedict on Wednesday. To close out the week, Norlin totaled 22 points, six rebounds, four blocks, three assists, and two steals in a 75-64 victory over Wisconsin-Eau Claire on Saturday. Overall, she shot 65.9 percent (27-of-41) from the field and 61.5 percent (8-of-13) from the foul line. For her efforts, Norlin was also named Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) Player of the Week for the third consecutive week.
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.
2018-19 USBWA Division III National Players of the Week
Week ending Nov. 18: Keith Brown, Endicott College
and Yuleska Ramirez-Tejeda, Emmanuel College
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Week ending Nov. 25: Demitrius Underwood, University
of Texas at Dallas and Allison Chernow, Emory University
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Week ending Dec. 2: Kevin Dennis, Morrisville
State College and Hannah Norlin, University of Wisconsin-Superior
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Week ending Dec. 9: Sean Smith, Jr., Manhattanville
College and Madison Temple, Thomas More University
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Week ending Dec. 16: Auston Francis, Wheaton
College (Ill.) and Madison Temple, Thomas More University
·
Week ending Jan. 6: Will Carius, Monmouth College (Ill.)
and Maddie Hasson, Bowdoin College
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Week ending Jan. 13: Elijah Hirsh, Berry College and Katie Garrish, Southern Virginia University
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Week ending Jan. 20: Hakeem Animashaun, Salem State University; Kierra McCarthy, Westfield State University
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Week ending Jan. 27: Sam Jefferson, Colby College; Caitlin Corbett, Hartwick College
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Week ending Feb. 3: Andrew Romero III, Johnson & Wales University; Rebecca Prociak, King's College
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Week ending Feb. 10: Aston Francis, Wheaton College (Ill.); Rachael Windhausen, Oswego State University
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Week ending Feb. 17: Kevin Dennis, Morrisville State College; Rah Rah Thompson, Albertus Magnus College
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Week ending Feb. 24: Luke Smith, Sewanee; Yuleska Ramirez-Tejeda, Emmanuel College