INDIANAPOLIS (USBWA) – Soren Richardson of Wheaton College (Wheaton, Ill.) and Mary Schleusner of Washington & Lee University (Lexington, Va.) were named the U.S. Basketball Writers Association Division III National Players of the Week for the period ending February 9.
Richardson, a 6-3 sophomore guard from Northfield, Minn., averaged over 40 points per game in leading Wheaton to its first two conference victories of the season. In a 102-89 win at then-conference-leading North Park on Wednesday, he finished with a career-high 53 points (18-of-23 FG, 11-of-14 FT, 6-of-8 3FG), the second-highest total in NCAA Division III this season and the third-highest in program history. Richardson added four rebounds, two assists and two steals in the victory. Then, on Saturday in the Thunder’s 91-81 victory over Carroll, Richardson scored 29 points (11-of-23 FG, 4-of-6 FT, 3-of-9 3FG), while adding seven rebounds, three assists, five steals, and two blocks. For the week, he averaged 41.0 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 3.5 steals, and 1.0 blocks while shooting 63.0 percent (29-of-46) from the field, 75.0 percent (15-of-20) from the foul line and 52.9 percent (9-of-17) from behind the arc. For his efforts, Richardson was also selected the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) Player of the Week.
Schleusner, a 6-1 junior forward from Charlotte, N.C., earned the award for the third time this season and an unprecedented fifth time in her career as she averaged a 20-20 in Washington & Lee’s 2-0 week. She has 20 double-doubles in 22 games this year, tied for the national lead. Schleusner scored 26 points (11-of-19 FG, 4-of-4 FT), grabbed 26 rebounds, and added four assists, two steals, and a block in the Generals’ 70-61 win at Randolph on Wednesday. Schleusner followed that up with 30 points (11-of-17 FG, 7-of-9 FT, 1-of-2 3FG), 17 rebounds, three assists, two steals, and three blocks in a 91-57 victory over Lynchburg on Saturday. For the week, she averaged 28.0 points, 21.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 2.0 steals, and 2.0 blocks while shooting 61.1 percent (22-of-36) from the field, 84.6 percent (11-of-13) from the foul line and 50.0 percent (1-of-2) from three-point range. For her efforts, Schleusner, who posted her seventh 20-20 game of the season and leads NCAA Division III with 18.3 rebounds per game, was also chosen the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) 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
• Week ending Jan. 5: Felix Kloman, Babson College; Zoe Tomlinson, Colorado College
• Week ending Jan. 12: Curt Heinz, Maine Maritime Academy; Kacie Kranson, University of Scranton
• Week ending Jan. 19: Jacob Reese, Belhaven; Mary Schleusner, Washington & Lee University
• Week ending Jan. 26: Tommy Griffitts, California Lutheran; Angelina Kohlwaies, Mount Aloysius
• Week ending Feb. 2: Russell Rau, Regis College; Alexa Charles, Hunter College
• Week ending Feb. 9: Soren Richardon, Wheaton College; Mary Schleusner, Washington & Lee University