ST. LOUIS (USBWA) – Jordan Rezendes of UMass Dartmouth (North Dartmouth, Mass.) and Lisa Murphy of Carnegie Mellon University (Pittsburgh, Pa.) were named the U.S. Basketball Writers Association Division III National Players of the Week for the week ending Dec. 6.

Rezendes, a 6-2 senior guard from Onset, Mass., averaged 36.0 points, 5.3 assists, 5.0 rebounds, 3.0 steals, and shot 52.2 percent (35-of-67) from the field, 56.7 percent (21-of-37) from three-point range and 80.9 percent (17-of-21) from the foul line in three games. On Tuesday, Rezendes registered the second-highest single-game point total in program history with 48 (he holds the record of 51) in a 108-69 win at Worcester State (4-4). He shot 17-of-26 from the field and also established a new single-game program record for three-pointers made with 10 (in 13 attempts). He recorded game highs of eight rebounds and seven steals while adding three assists. On Thursday, in an 85-65 home victory over Bridgewater State (3-5), Rezendes had 29 points (10-of-20 FG), including 7-of-12 (58.3 percent) from three-point range, adding six assists and two rebounds. On Saturday, he finished with 31 points (8-of-21 FG, 11-of-14 FT), five rebounds and seven assists in a 103-84 loss at Keene State (6-0). The Corsairs (5-3, 0-2) play in the Little East Athletic Conference (LEC).

Murphy, a 6-1 junior forward from McLean, Va., set an NCAA Division III record and tied another in two games. On Monday, in an 81-73 win at home over La Roche College (4-2), she scored a career-high 37 points, the third most by a Division III player this season. Murphy went 16-of-16 from the field to set the NCAA single-game record for consecutive shots made while also tying the NCAA all-time mark of 18 consecutive field goals made, dating back to her previous game against Waynesburg University. She added nine rebounds, two steals and a block in the game. On Saturday, in a 73-64 home win over Oberlin College (5-4), Murphy netted 28 points, shooting 13-of-17 from the floor while pulling down 12 rebounds and recording two blocks. Overall, Murphy averaged 32.5 points and 10.5 rebounds per game, while shooting 87.8 percent from the floor (29-for-33). The Tartans (7-0) play in the University Athletic Association (UAA) and are currently receiving votes in the latest D3hoops.com Top 25 Poll.

Each Tuesday, the USBWA is selecting men's and women's Division III National Players of the Week. This is the second 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.

2015-16 USBWA Division III National Players of the Week
• Week ending Dec. 6: Jordan Rezendes, UMass Dartmouth and Lisa Murphy, Carnegie Mellon
• Week ending Dec. 13: Connor Green, Amherst and TiChina Mitchell, La Roche
• Week ending Dec. 20: David Linane, John Carroll and Alexix Roman, Scranton
• Week ending Jan. 3: Tom Palleschi, Tufts and Jordan Holmes, Denison
• Week ending Jan. 10: Tyheim Monroe, Cabrini and Michela North, Tufts
• Week ending Jan. 17: Jamie Nikitas, Lawrence University and Katelyn Spahar, John Carroll
• Week ending Jan. 24: Lucas Johnson, Benedictine and Jillian Gilman, Daniel Webster
• Week ending Jan. 31: Jordan Rezendes, UMass Dartmouth and Kelsey Tietje, Defiance
• Week ending Feb. 7: Ty Sabin, Ripon and Holly Denfeld, Milwaukee School of Engineering
• Week ending Feb. 14: Josh Berard, University of the Ozarks and Sydney Moss, Thomas More
• Week ending Feb. 21: Luke Lattner, DePauw and Lisa Murphy, Carngie Mellon
• Week ending Feb. 28: David Meurer, Denison and Caroline Naumann, Lynchburg