OLSON, REINWALD ARE DIVISION IIINATIONAL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

Contact Jeff Bernstein
jeffrey.bernstein@nyu.edu
(212) 998-2031

ST. LOUIS (USBWA) Brayden Olson of Benedictine University (Lisle, Ill.) and Dani Reinwald of Medaille University (Buffalo, N.Y.) were named the U.S. Basketball Writers Association Division III National Players of the Week for the week ending November 26.

Olson, a 6-4 senior guard from Grand Rapids, Mich., averaged 34.5 points in the Eagles· (1-3) two games last week. Against then-No. 12 (D3hoops.com) North Central on Tuesday, he scored 32 points (10-of-15 FG, 7-of-9 FT, 5-of-9 3FG) in an 82-79 buzzer-beating defeat. Olson also had two rebounds, four assists and two steals in the contest. Then, in a 93-85 victory over Marian on Saturday, Brown scored a career-high 37 points (11-of-19 FG, 8-of-11 FT, 7-of-13 3FG) to go with five rebounds and five assists. For the week, he shot 61.8 percent (21-of-34) from the field, 75 percent (16-of-20) from the foul line and 54.5 percent (12-of-22) from three-point range while adding 3.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.0 steals per game. For his efforts, Olson was also named the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC) Player of the Week.

Reinwald, a 6-0 senior forward from Clymer, N.Y., averaged 22.5 points and 19.0 rebounds in the Mavericks (2-3) two games last week. In a 72-66 loss to St. John Fisher on Tuesday, she scored 25 points (6-of-12 FG, 13-of-14 FT) and pulled down 20 rebounds while adding an assist, five steals and four blocks. Then, in a 79-72 victory over Fredonia on Sunday, Reinwald scored 20 points (5-of-11 FG, 10-of-12 FT), collected 18 rebounds and added three assists, six steals and a block. For the week, she shot 47.8 percent (11-of-23) from the field and 88.5 percent (23-of-26) from the foul line while also averaging 5.5 steals, 2.5 blocks and 2.0 assists per game. Also named the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC) Player of the Week, Reinwald eclipsed the 1,000-point career scoring mark vs. St. John Fisher and the 1,000-rebound plateau vs. Fredonia. She now has totals of 1,033 and 1,008, respectively, and is currently ranked No. 5 in NCAA Division III with 17.4 rebounds per game.

Each Tuesday, the USBWA is selecting men's and women's Division III National Players of the Week. This is the fourth 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 Joe Mitch at 314-795-6821.