GREEN, WILLIAMS ARE DIVISION IIINATIONAL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

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

ST. LOUIS (USBWA) Lavrone Green of New Jersey City University (Jersey City, N.J.) and Kendrea Williams of Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham (Madison, N.J.) were named the U.S. Basketball Writers Association Division III National Players of the Week for the week ending December 17.

Green, a 6-2 junior guard from Teaneck, N.J., led the way to the Gothic Knights' 81-80 come-from-behind victory over Albertus Magnus on Saturday. With his team trailing by nine, 71-62, with less than six minutes remaining, Green scored 14 points as New Jersey City closed the game on a 19-9 run. Included in his late-game heroics were a game-tying three-pointer with 38 seconds left and a game-winning trey at the buzzer. Overall, Green finished with 34 points (12-of-24 FG, 6-of-8 FT, 4-of-9 3FG), two rebounds and two assists. His performance led the No. 17 (D3hoops.com) Gothic Knights to their best start (9-0) in program history and into the school break undefeated for the first time in 85 years. For his efforts, Green was also named the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Player of the Week as the Gothic Knights climbed to 4-0.

Williams, a 5-9 sophomore guard from Piscataway, N.J., rose to the top of this season's NCAA Division III season and one-game scoring lists with her performances last week. Against then-No. 15 (D3hoops.com) Messiah on Friday, she totaled 20 points (6-of-16 FG, 5-of-8 FT, 3-of-7 3FG) and added five rebounds, one assist and one steal as the Devils fell 82-72. Then, in a 94-66 victory over Hartwick on Saturday, Williams scored a team-record and NCAA-high 45 points, including a school-record-tying nine three-pointers. She added a rebound, two steals and a block while rising to the top of the national scoring list with 25.4 ppg. For the week, Williams averaged 32.5 points, 3.0 rebounds, 1.0 steals, 0.5 assists and blocks while shooting 55.2 percent (21-of-38) from the field, 78.6 percent (11-of-14) from the foul line and 54.5 percent (12-0f-22) from three-point range. For her efforts, Williams was also named the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Freedom) 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 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.