INDIANAPOLIS (USBWA) – Devon Lewis of California Lutheran University (Thousand Oaks, Calif.) and Jordan Carpenter of Penn State Harrisburg (Harrisburg, Pa.) were named the U.S. Basketball Writers Association Division III National Players of the Week for the period ending December 15.
Lewis, a 6-2 senior guard from Pasadena, Calif., helped lead No. 25 (D3hoops.com) California Lutheran to a pair of victories last week. In the Kingsmen’s 80-73 win over Mary Hardin-Baylor (RV) on Saturday, Lewis scored 17 points (7-of-14 FG, 3-of-6 3FG), grabbed seven rebounds and added four assists. Then, in Sunday’s 98-87 victory at Whitman, he scored a career-high 43 points (13-of-22 FG, 12-of-14 FT, 5-of-9 3FG), the fifth-highest total in NCAA Division III this season. Lewis added six rebounds, three assists and two steals in the contest. For the week, he averaged 30.0 points, 6.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1.0 steals while shooting 55.6 percent (20-of-36) from the field, 85.7 percent (12-of-14) from the foul line, and 53.3 percent (8-of-15) from three-point range. For his efforts, Lewis was also named the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) Player of the Week.
Carpenter, a 5-11 graduate forward from Chester, Va., averaged a double-double in three games for Penn State Harrisburg last week. She scored 26 points (9-of-15 FG, 8-of-10 FT), including the game-winning free throws with two seconds remaining, in the Nittany Lions’ 70-69 victory over Gwynedd Mercy on Monday. Carpenter added nine rebounds, two assists, a steal, and three blocks in the contest. On Thursday, she finished with 16 points (6-of-9 FG, 4-of-4 FT), 11 rebounds, two assists, a steal, and two blocks in a 68-63 win at Delaware Valley. Carpenter culminated her outstanding week with 22 points (10-of-11 FG, 2-of 4 FT), 20 rebounds, two assists, a steal, and a block in a 70-64 loss at Salisbury. For the week, she averaged 21.3 points, 13.3 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.0 steals, and 2.0 blocks while shooting 73.5 percent (25-of-34) from the field and 77.8 percent (14-of-18) from the foul line. For her efforts, Carpenter was also named the United East Conference Player of the Week.
Each Tuesday, the USBWA is selecting men's and women's Division III National Players of the Week. This is the 10th 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 Malcolm Moran at 814-574-1485.
2024-25 USBWA Division III National Players of the Week
• Week ending Nov. 10: Lucas Lesko, Wilkes University; Destiny Matthews, Concordia University (Texas)
• Week ending Nov. 17: Adam Brazil, Hampden-Sydney College; Mary Schluesner, Washington & Lee University
• Week ending Nov. 24: Octavio Brito, Keene State University; Natalie Gricius, Carroll University
• Week ending Dec. 1: Billy Ray Barnes III, Dean College; Korin Baker, Whitman College
• Week ending Dec. 8: Owen Liss, Norwich University; Kendall Harris, Hamilton College
• Week ending Dec. 15: Devon Lewis, California Lutheran University; Jordan Carpenter, Penn State Harrisburg