INDIANAPOLIS (USBWA) – Luke Feely of University of Mary Hardin-Baylor (Belton, Texas) and Cayla Sharkey of Gwynedd Mercy University (Gwynedd Valley, Pa.) were named the U.S. Basketball Writers Association Division III National Players of the Week for the week ending December 19.
Feely, a 6-4 sophomore forward from Argyle, Texas, averaged a double-double in leading Mary Hardin-Baylor (7-1, 4-1) to a pair of home conference victories last week. The No. 19-ranked (D3hoops.com) Crusaders defeated UT Dallas 79-69 on Thursday as Feely scored 19 points (7-of-10 FG, 5-of-6 FT), collected nine rebounds and added two assists. Then, in a 91-86 overtime win against LeTourneau (receiving votes), he scored eight of his team's 15 points in the extra session, including a jumper with 20 seconds left and a pair of free throws with only two seconds remaining. For the game, Felly totaled 23 points (9-of-17 FG, 5-of-6 FT), 14 rebounds, two assists, and one steal. Over the two games, he averaged 21.0 points, 11.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 0.5 steals while shooting 59.3 percent (16-of-27) from the field and 83.3 percent (10-of-12) from the charity stripe. For his efforts, Feely was also named American Southwest Conference (ASC) Player of the Week.
Sharkey, a 5-10 junior forward from Lansdale, Pa., played in only one game last week. However, it was a spectacular one as she posted a triple-double, the first in program history. In just 30 minutes on the court, Sharkey produced career-high numbers in all three categories as the Griffins (6-5) posted an 89-76 victory over Wilkes on Saturday. Her 21 points (8-of-17 FG, 5-of-13 3FG) and 15 rebounds were both career bests, as were her 10 blocked shots, the most in NCAA Division III this season and the third-most in any division. In addition, she added two assists and three steals in the victory. For that outstanding effort, Sharkey was also named Atlantic East Conference (AEC) Player of the Week.
Each Tuesday, the USBWA is selecting men's and women's Division III National Players of the Week. The program has resumed after a one-season hiatus and this is the seventh 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.
2021-22 USBWA Division III National Players of the Week
Week ending Nov. 21: Buzz Anthony, Randolph-Macon
College and Abbey Lawrence, Case Western Reserve University
·
Week ending Nov. 28: Ryan Turell, Yeshiva University
and Claudia Cooke, Kenyon College
· Week
ending Dec. 5: Lyle Tipton, Geneva College and Meg Carroll, Lasell University
· Week ending Dec. 12: Ryan Turell, Yeshiva
University and Hanna Geistfeld, Bethany Lutheran College
·
Week ending Dec. 19: Luke Feely, University
of Mary Hardin-Baylor and Cayla Sharkey, Gwynedd Mercy University
·
Week ending Jan. 2: Jack Davidson, Wabash College
and Jenna Taylor, Simpson College
· Week
ending Jan. 9: Alex Sobel, Middlebury College and Aleah Grundahl, University of
Wisconsin-Whitewater
· Week ending Jan.
16: Christian Stewart, Spalding University and Camille Zinaich, Oberlin College
· Week ending Jan. 23: Levi Borchert, University
of Wisconsin-Oshkosh and Hanna Geistfeld, Bethany Lutheran College
·
Week ending Jan. 30: Christian Parker, University
of Mount Union and Flannery O'Connor, Framingham State University
·
Week ending Feb. 6: Jackson Danzig, University
of Scranton and Bailey Donovan, Husson University
·
Week ending Feb. 13: Matthew Leritz, Illinois
Wesleyan University and Hanna Geistfeld, Bethany Lutheran College
·
Week ending Feb. 20: Austin Grunder, SUNY Cortland
and Elyce Knudsen, Millikin University
·
Week ending Feb. 27: Jack Davidson, Wabash College
and Anaya Simmons, Christopher Newport University