INDIANAPOLIS (USBWA) – Andrew Sischo of Daemen College (Amherst, N.Y.) and Brianna Purcell of Saint Michael's College (Colchester, Vt.) were named the U.S. Basketball Writers Association Division II National Players of the Week for the week ending November 10.
Sischo, a junior center was named MVP of the ECC-CACC Challenge last weekend after averaging 32.5 points, 18.0 rebounds and 4.5 blocks in Daemen's victories over Felician and Nyack. Sischo has started the season with four consecutive double-doubles, as the Wildcats split their games at the Small College Basketball National Hall of Fame Classic before posting a pair of victories in the ECC-CACC Challenge to improve to 3-1 to start the season.
Sischo went for 24 points and 15 rebounds in a season-opening defeat to No. 1-ranked Northwest Missouri State, and he registered 11 points and 12 rebounds in a 68-64 win over Missouri Western. He led the Wildcats to a 95-80 win over Felician with 31 points, 19 rebounds, and 5 blocks, and notched another 30-point game in an 80-74 win over Nyack with a season-high 34 points with 17 rebounds and 4 blocks.
Sischo, a native of Guilderland, N.Y., is averaging 25.0 points, 15.8 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 2.8 blocks per game through the season's first four games.
Purcell, a senior guard, earned Northeast-10 Conference Player of the Week honors after averaging a triple-double in a pair of wins. Purcell turned in 10.5 points, 11.0 rebounds, 13.0 assists and 2.5 steals per game.
In an 82-64 win over Wilmington last Friday in the season opener, Purcell had a triple-double by the third quarter and finished with 12 points, 15 boards – including six on the offensive end – 11 assists and a steal.
The Bedford, N.H., native added 15 assists, one shy of a school record, to go along with nine points, even rebounds and four steals in a 69-56 win over Caldwell on Saturday.
Each Tuesday, the USBWA is selecting men's and women's Division II National Players of the Week. This is the sixth season that the USBWA will recognize national players of the week from Division II.
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 Malcolm Moran at 814-574-1485.
2019-20 USBWA Division II National Players of the Week
Week ending Nov. 10: Andrew Sischo, Daemen College and Brianna Purcell, Saint Michael's College
· Week ending Nov. 17: Andrew Sischo, Daemen College and Kayla Marosites, Carson-Newman University
· Week ending Nov. 24: Pat Dembley, UT Permian Basin and Kwanza Murray, Lincoln University
· Week ending Dec. 1: Hasan Varence, Ohio Dominican University and Shannon Ryan, Saint Anselm College
· Week ending Dec. 8: Peyton Wejnert, Pace University and Taisha DeShazo, Catawba College
· Week ending Dec. 15: Jhonathan Dunn, Southern Nazarene University and Jamiyah Johnson, Davis & Elkins College
· Week ending Dec. 29: Kevin Buckingham, Southeastern Oklahoma State University and Peyton Steinman, Saint Anselm College
· Week ending Jan. 5: Jordan Floyd, King University and Mar'Shalia Lollie, University of Arkansas-Fort Smith
· Week ending Jan. 12: Sekou Sylla, The College of Saint Rose and Sylvia Hudson, Urbana University
· Week ending Jan. 19: Jhonathan Dunn, Southern Nazarene University and McKayla Roberts, Le Moyne College
· Week ending Jan. 26: Eamonn Joyce, Southern New Hampshire University and Tyra James, Urbana University
· Week ending Feb. 2: Winston Hill, Francis Marion University and Alexy Mollenhauer, Anderson University
· Week ending Feb. 9: Jordan Floyd, King University and Lilly Ritz, Wheeling University
· Week ending Feb. 16: Brian Halums, University of Arkansas-Fort Smith and Hailey Diestelkamp, Drury University
· Week ending Feb. 23: Brandon Myer, University of Minnesota Duluth and Shannon Ryan, Saint Anselm College
· Week ending March 1: Robbie Heath, West Chester University and Hailey Diestelkamp, Drury University