INDIANAPOLIS (USBWA) Eamonn Joyce of Southern New Hampshire University (Manchester, N.H.) and Tyra James of Urbana University (Urbana, Ohio) were named the U.S. Basketball Writers Association Division II National Players of the Week for the week ending January 26.
Joyce, a senior forward, claimed his first Division II National Player of the Week honor of the season after he averaged 34.5 points and 13.5 rebounds to lead the Penmen to a pair of Northeast-10 Conference wins over American International College and the College of Saint Rose last week. He scored over 30 points and registered double-doubles in both contests, scoring 34 points with 16 rebounds in an 88-81 win over American International, setting career-highs in both categories. Three days later, Joyce established a new career scoring high with 35 points and 11 rebounds in a 92-80 win over Saint Rose.
Joyce shot 53 percent (20-for-38) from the field on the week, including a 53 percent (9-for-17) clip from three-point range, and he made 20-of-26 free throws (77 percent). He also added a pair of blocks in the win over American International, as he helped lead Southern New Hampshire improve to 11-8 overall and 4-7 in Northeast-10 Conference play with last weeks victories.
Joyce, a 6-foot-10, 230-pound forward, ranks seventh in the Northeast-10 Conference in scoring with 18.4 points per game, and hes 14th in the conference in rebounding with 7.1 per game. He ranks fifth in the conference in blocks (85). He now has three 30-point games this season.
Joyce is one of three players from the Northeast-10 Conference to earn USBWA Mens Division II National Player of the Week honors this season.
James, a senior guard/forward, was named the Mountain East Conference Player of the Week for the third time this season after averaging 27.5 points, 19.5 rebounds and 6.0 assists in two victories last week, including a win over 24th-ranked Notre Dame (OH) College.
James opened the week one assist shy of a triple-double with 26 points, 21 rebounds and nine assists in a 95-86 win over West Liberty.
The Cincinnati, Ohio native then poured in 29 points to go with 18 rebounds in three assists in the upset victory over the Falcons.
James ranks sixth in NCAA Division II with 22.9 points per game and is 22nd with 10.5 rebounds. She is the second Urbana player to be named USBWA Division II National Player of the Week as teammate Sylvia Hudson earned the honor two weeks ago.
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