ST. LOUIS (USBWA) – Marcos Echevarria of Nichols College (Dudley, Mass.) and Kara Hageman of Case Western Reserve University (Cleveland, Ohio) were named the U.S. Basketball Writers Association Division III National Players of the Week for the week ending January 29.

Echevarria, a 5-10 sophomore guard from Lynn, Mass., averaged 26.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 6.0 assists, 3.5 steals, and 0.5 blocks as the Bison (14-5) won their two games last week. He scored 30 points (10-of-19 FG, 2-of-2 FT, 8-of-14 3FG) in Nichols’ 78-63 win over Roger Williams on Wednesday. Echevarria added three rebounds, four assists and three steals in the contest. Then, in a 104-85 victory over Gordon on Saturday, he scored 22 points (8-of-16 FG, 2-of-4 FT, 4-of-9 3FG) while also contributing seven rebounds, eight assists, four steals, and a block. For the week, Echevarria Sabin shot 51.4 percent (18-of-35) from the field, 66.7 percent (4-of-6) from the foul line and 52.1 percent (12-of-23) from three-point range. Also selected the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Player of the Week, Echevarria has become only the fourth Bison to eclipse the 1,000-point scoring mark as a sophomore.

Hageman, a 5-11 junior forward from Pennington, N.J., averaged 34.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 0.5 steals and blocks as the Spartans (11-7) split their two games last week. She scored 28 points (9-of-15 FG, 6-of-9 FT, 4-of-6 3FG), including 14 in the fourth quarter, in Case Western’s 80-78 win over Chicago on Friday. Hageman added six rebounds, three assists and a block in the contest. Then, in a 92-79 loss to No. 11 (D3hoops.com) Washington on Sunday, she scored a program-record 41 points (16-of-21 FG, 6-of-8 FT, 3-of-4 3FG) and tied the University Athletic Association (UAA) one-game record for field goals made. Hageman also totaled five rebounds, two assists and a steal in the game. For the week, she shot 69.4 percent (25-of-36) from the field, 70.5 percent (12-of-17) from the foul line and 70.0 percent (7-of-10) from three-point range. Also selected the UAA Player of the Week, Hageman’s 41 points were the seventh-highest one-game total in NCAA Division III this season.

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

2016-17 USBWA Division III National Players of the Week
• Week ending Nov. 20: Khory Moore, Virginia Wesleyan College and Camille McPherson, Moravian College
• Week ending Nov. 27: Ty Sabin, Ripon College and Mikayla Miller, Gustavus Adolphus College
• Week ending Dec. 4: Sam Amsbaugh, Simpson College and Sara Tarbert, Stevenson University
• Week ending Dec. 11: Jayde Dawson, Amherst College and Zarkia Mattox, Ferrum College
• Week ending Dec. 18: Anthony Mosley Jr., Illinois Institute of Technology and Emily Martin, Elizabethtown College
• Week ending Jan. 1: Tyheim Monroe, Cabrini College and Lisa Murphy, Carnegie Mellon University
• Week ending Jan. 8: Frank Schettino, College of Staten Island and Kelly Williams, Randolph-Macon College
• Week ending Jan. 15: Baba Waples, Penn State Berks and Garis Grant, Agnes Scott College
• Week ending Jan. 22: Ty Sabin, Ripon College and Lisa Murphy, Carnegie Mellon University
• Week ending Jan. 29: Marcos Echevarria, Nichols College and Kara Hageman, Case Western Reserve University
• Week ending Feb. 5: Caleb Thomasson, Sul Ross State University and Kaitlin Langer, University of St. Thomas
• Week ending Feb. 12: Brendan Wind, Nazareth College and Savannah Olsen, Newbury College
• Week ending Feb. 19: Keegan Ryan, St. John Fisher College and Jill Valley, Westfield State University
• Week ending Feb. 26: Ty Sabin, Ripon College and Katie Sommer, Wartburg College