INDIANAPOLIS (USBWA) – Elijah Farrington of the University of Mount Union (Alliance, Ohio) and Grace Bezold of Hanover College (Hanover, Ind.) were named the U.S. Basketball Writers Association Division III National Players of the Week for the period ending February 16.
Farrington, a 6-6 sophomore forward from Massillon, Ohio, recorded a pair of double-doubles to lead Mount Union to two road victories over conference opponents and remain atop the standings. In an 86-83 double-overtime win at Muskingum on Wednesday, he played 47 minutes and scored 22 points (8-of-12 FG, 4-of-8 FT, 2-of-4 3FG), grabbed 18 rebounds, and added two assists and two blocks. Then, on Saturday in the Purple Raiders’ 72-61 victory at Heidelberg, Farrington scored 15 points (6-of-10 FG, 3-of-4 FT), while adding 10 rebounds and an assist. For the week, he averaged 18.5 points, 14.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 1.0 blocks while shooting 63.6 percent (14-of-22) from the field, 58.3 percent (7-of-12) from the foul line and 40.0 percent (2-of-5) from behind the arc. For his efforts, Farrington was also selected the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) Player of the Week.
Bezold, a 5-10 senior forward from Covington, Ky., helped lead Hanover to a pair of victories while adding some late-game heroics. She finished with 29 points (11-of-25 FG, 7-of-8 FT), six rebounds, an assist, and a steal in the Panthers’ 79-67 road victory at Anderson on Wednesday. Then, Bezold hit the game-winning bucket with 1:03 remaining and had a crucial block with 30 seconds left in the Panthers’ 83-81 win over Franklin on Saturday. She scored 21 of her 32 points (12-of-26 FG, 7-of-9 FT, 1-of-2 3FG) in the second half, including 12 in the fourth quarter to help erase a 13-point deficit. Bezold added 12 rebounds, an assist, two steals, and two blocks in the contest. For the week, she averaged 30.5 points, 9.0 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 1.5 steals, and 1.0 blocks while shooting 45.1 percent (23-of-51) from the field, 82.4 percent (14-of-17) from the foul line and 50.0 percent (1-of-2) from three-point range. For her efforts, Bezold was also chosen the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) 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
• Week ending Feb. 16: Elijah Farrington, University of Mt. Union; Grace Bezold, Hanover College