INDIANAPOLIS (USBWA) – Ethan Edwards of Case Western Reserve University (Cleveland, Ohio) and Mary Schleusner of Washington & Lee University (Lexington, Va.) were named the U.S. Basketball Writers Association Division III National Players of the Week for the period ending February 22.
Edwards, a 6-0 graduate guard from Brooklyn, N.Y., set program and conference records with an unprecedented performance in one of Case Western Reserve’s games last week. In his first game on Friday against No. 3 (D3hoops.com) Emory University, Edwards scored 18 points (4-of-9 FG, 7-of-8 FT, 3-of-5 3FG), grabbed two rebounds, recorded two steals, and added a block in the Spartans’ 101-83 loss. Then, on Sunday, he scored the most points at any NCAA level this season, 54 (18-of-29 FG, 6-of-7 FT, 12-of-21 3FG), in a 110-98 victory over Rochester. Edwards added six rebounds and a steal in the contest. The point total set Case Western Reserve and University Athletic Association (UAA) records, as did his 18 field goals and 12 three-pointers as he exceeded the 1,000-point scoring mark for his career. For the week, he averaged 36.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.5 steals, and 0.5 blocks while shooting 57.9 percent (22-of-38) from the field, 86.7 percent (13-of-15) from the foul line and 57.7 percent (15-of-26) from three-point range. For his efforts, Edwards was also named the UAA Athlete of the Week.
Schleusner, a 6-1 senior center from Charlotte, N.C., takes home the award for a record fourth time this season and an unprecedented ninth time in her career. She produced her nation-leading 22nd and 23rd double-doubles of the season in leading No. 4 (D3hoops.com, WBCA) and undefeated Washington & Lee to a pair of victories last week. In Wednesday’s 67-38 win at Bridgewater, Schleusner had 11 points (5-of-18 FG, 1-of-1 FT), 13 rebounds, an assist, a steal, and two blocks. Then, in an 85-62 victory over Guilford on Saturday, she posted her fifth 20-20 game of the campaign with 31 points (13-of-23 FG, 5-of-6 FT) and 21 rebounds to go with two assists, six steals and four blocks. For the week, she averaged 21.0 points, 17.0 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 3.0 steals, and 2.0 blocks while shooting 43.9 percent (18-of-41) from the field and 85.7 percent (6-of-7) from the foul line. For her efforts, Schleusner was also selected the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) Player of the Week.
Each Tuesday, the USBWA has selected men's and women's Division III National Players of the Week. This week's selections are the final honors of the season, the 11th that the USBWA has recognized 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.
2025-26 USBWA Division III National Players of the Week
• Week ending Nov. 9: Sam Grieger, University of Wisconsin–La Crosse; Mary Schleusner, Washington & Lee University
• Week ending Nov. 16: Marcus Montagnino, Endicott College; Alexa Charles, Hunter College
• Week ending Nov. 23: Reph Stevenson, DePauw University; Elaina Beckett, McDaniel College
• Week ending Nov. 30: Quamir Ingram, Greensboro College; Caroline Peper, NYU
• Week ending Dec. 7: Joey Ramirez, Concordia University (Texas); Jaycie Christopher, University of Southern Maine
• Week ending Dec. 14: Elijah Kinney, Endicott College; Anna Giannopoulou, Guilford College
• Week ending Jan. 4: Scott Gyimesi, Tufts University; Elyse Warren, Millsaps College
• Week ending Jan. 11: Lamar Lovelace, Keuka College; Mary Schleusner, Washington & Lee University
• Week ending Jan. 18: Fletcher Bigham, Sewanee, The University of the South; Emma Shinney, Endicott College
• Week ending Jan. 25: Darren Rubin, New York University; Mary Schleusner, Washington & Lee University
• Week ending Feb. 1: Zevi Samet, Yeshiva University; Madi Zancan, Regis College
• Week ending Feb. 8: Reem Welch, Plattsburgh State University; Riley Brady, Hendrix College
• Week ending Feb. 15: Aaron Coston, SUNY Cortland; Kathleen Smith, Williams College
• Week ending Feb. 22: Ethan Edwards, Case Western Reserve University; Mary Schleusner, Washington & Lee University