ST. LOUIS (USBWA) Kevin Dennis of Morrisville State College (Morrisville, N.Y.) and Rah Rah Thompson of Albertus Magnus College (New Haven, Conn.) were named the U.S. Basketball Writers Association Division III National Players of the Week for the week ending February 17.
Dennis, a 6-4 junior forward from the Bronx, N.Y., led Morrisville (21-4, 15-1) to two victories last week and became the program's all-time leading scorer. In the Mustangs' 86-72 win over Cazenovia on Wednesday, Dennis totaled 32 points and 22 rebounds while also recording two blocks. Then, in a 79-58 victory over Keuka on Saturday, he scored 21 points, making him Morrisville's career leader with 1,537. He also had 13 rebounds and two steals in the game. For the week, Dennis averaged 26.5 ppg, 17.5 rpg, 1.0 spg, and 1.0 bpg while shooting 63.0 percent (23-of-36) from the field and 77.7 percent (7-of-9) from the foul line. His 21 double-doubles are the most in NCAA Division III this season and second-most in any division. Also Morrisville's career rebounding leader (931), he currently ranks second in Division III with 14.5 rpg. For his efforts, Dennis was also named the North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) Player of the Week for the fifth time this season.
Thompson, a 6-0 center/forward from Bridgeport, Conn., recorded 20-20 games in both of Albertus Magnus' (22-3, 10-2) victories last week. Against Johnson & Wales on Wednesday, Thompson totaled 22 points and 22 rebounds while adding three steals, an assist and a block in the Falcons' 82-70 win. Then, in a 68-62 victory over Suffolk on Saturday, she tied a career high with 26 points while also collecting a career-best 25 rebounds. Thompson added three blocks, an assist and a steal in the contest. For the week, she averaged 24.0 ppg, 23.5 rpg, 2.0 bpg, 2.0 spg, and 1.0 apg, while shooting 57.7 (26-of-45) percent from the field, 36.8 percent (7-of-19) from the foul line and 33.3 percent (1-of-3) from three-point range. Her 14.4 rpg this season is third-most in NCAA Division III, while her 18 double-doubles are tied for the third-highest total. For her efforts, Thompson was also named the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Player of the Week for the second time this season.
Each Tuesday, the USBWA is selecting men's and women's Division III National Players of the Week. This is the fourth 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.
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