ST. LOUIS (USBWA) Eric Anderson of New Haven (Conn.) and Shareta Brown of Wayne State (Mich.) were named the U.S. Basketball Writers Association Division II National Players of the Week for the week ending Jan. 4.
Anderson, a 6-8 senior forward from Newark, N.J., helped the Chargers split their pair of Northeast-10 Conference games last week. Anderson averaged 25.0 points, 22.0 rebounds, 5.5 assists, and 1.5 steals for the week as New Haven (7-5, 2-4 Northeast-10) notched a 78-76 overtime win over Saint Anselm on New Year's Eve before falling to Southern Connecticut State, 74-65, on Jan. 3.
Anderson recorded the schoolss first ever triple-double in the New Year's Eve victory, registering 26 points, 28 rebounds, and 10 assists, giving him the first triple-double in the Northeast-10 Conference since 2012. It was also one of only three triple-double efforts in NCAA Division II since 2001-02 which included 25-plus points and 25-plus rebounds. Three days later, he recorded his eighth double-double of the season with 24 points and 16 rebounds against Southern Connecticut State.
Brown, a 6-1 senior center from Pontiac, Mich., was named the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Conference South Division Player of the Week for the fourth consecutive week after averaging 24.5 points and 18.5 rebounds per game in two wins.
In a battle of two top-20 squads last Friday, Brown grabbed a season-high 24 rebounds to go along with her first 30-point effort as a Warrior, in No. 11 Wayne States 89-63 win over 17th-ranked Grand Valley State. Brown was 12-of-15 from the field and 8-of-9 at the foul line for 32 points. In Sunday·s 75-53 win over Ferris State, Brown recorded game-high totals of 13 rebounds and four assists to go along with 17 points on 8-of-10 shooting from the field. Wayne State is now 9-1 overall, including 5-1 in the GLIAC.
Each Tuesday, the USBWA is selecting men's and women's Division II National Players of the Week. This is the first 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 Joe Mitch at 314-795-6821.
2014-15 USBWA Division II National Players of the Week
Week ending Dec. 7: Derrick White, Colorado-Colorado Springs and Sarah Nelson, Dominican
· Week ending Dec. 14: Tyler Kelly, Florida Southern and Abby Kirchoff, Colorado-Colorado Springs
· Week ending Jan. 4: Eric Anderson, New Haven and Shareta Brown, Wayne State
· Week ending Jan. 11: Gerald Beverly, Daemen College and Natalie Piaggesi, Mercyhurst
· Week ending Jan. 18: Joe Lawson, Indianapolis and Morgan Pullins, St. Mary's (Texas)
· Week ending Jan. 25: Alex Herrera, Fort Lewis College and Taylor Beverly, West Georgia
· Week ending Feb. 1: Derrick White, Colorado-Colorado Springs and Nettie Blake, Gannon University
· Week ending Feb. 8: Darian Hooker, NYIT and Shareta Brown, Wayne State
· Week ending Feb. 15: Garret Kerr, University of the Sciences and Schontiquah White, West Texas A&M
· Week ending Feb. 22: Nick Harney, Fairmont State and Amy Philamlee, Union (Tenn.)