INDIANAPOLIS (USBWA) – Parker Fox of Northern State University (Aberdeen, S.D.) and Mayci Sales of Walsh University (North Canton, Ohio) were named the U.S. Basketball Writers Association Division II National Players of the Week for the week ending Jan. 24.
Fox, a junior forward, posted a pair of double-doubles to lead unbeaten Northern State to a pair of road wins over St. Cloud State. Fox averaged 22.0 points and 16.5 rebounds for the week, extending a streak of 20-point games to five with outings of 23 and 21 points. In the Wolves 79-74 win over St. Cloud State in Friday·s weekend series opener, Fox scored 23 points with 12 rebounds and 5 blocks, and he followed that up the next night in an 81-72 victory with 21 points, 21 rebounds, and 4 blocks. Fox·s 21-rebound performance was the highest single-game rebounding effort (all NCAA divisions) in a game this season.
The 6-foot-8, 210-pound forward from Mahtomedi, Minn., registered shooting percentages of 57 percent (16-for-28) from the field and from the free throw line (12-for-21) on the week, hitting 8-of-12 from the field and 7-of-9 free throws in the opening game of the week. Fox is Division IIs 11th-leading rebounder on the season, averaging 10.4 boards per game, and he also ranks in the individual top-30 in scoring at 20.6 points per game.
Sales, a senior forward, was named the Great Midwest Athletic Conference Player of the Week after a pair of big performances in wins over Ursuline College and Ohio Valley University. She averaged 29 points, 13 rebounds and 5.5 assists per game, while shooting 69.4 percent (25-of-36) from the floor and 70 percent (7-of-10) at the free-throw line.
The Massillon, Ohio, native tallied 26 points, nine rebounds and a career-high seven assists in the win over Ursuline on Thursday, making 11-of-18 shots. She followed that up on Saturday with a career-high 32 points against Ohio Valley and tied a career-best with 17 rebounds, while also dishing out four assists. Sales connected on 14-of-18 shot attempts in that win.
Each Tuesday, the USBWA is selecting men's and women's Division II National Players of the Week. This is the seventh 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 Malcolm Moran at 814-574-1485.
2020-21 USBWA Division II National Players of the Week
Week ending Jan. 10: Chandler Jacobs, Dallas
Baptist University and Sydney Kin, University of Findlay
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Week ending Jan. 17: Chandler Jacobs, Dallas
Baptist University and Breanna Diestelkamp, University of Missouri-St. Louis
· Week ending Jan. 24: Parker Fox, Northern
State University and Mayci Sales, Walsh University
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Week ending Jan. 31: Cam Martin, Missouri Southern
State University and Lilly Ritz, Wheeling University
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Week ending Feb. 7: Patrick Cartier, Hillsdale
College and Zyaire Ewing, Delta State University
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Week ending Feb. 14: Isaiah Reddish, Barton
College and Brooklyn Pannell, University of Charleston
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Week ending Feb. 21: TJ Crockett, Lindenwood
University and Breanna Locke, Emmanuel College (Ga.)
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Week ending Feb. 28: Joel Murray, West Texas
A&M University and Rachel Berry, Fresno Pacific University