ST. LOUIS (USBWA) – Brendan Wind of Nazareth College (Rochester, N.Y.) and Savannah Olsen of Newbury College (Brookline, Mass.) were named the U.S. Basketball Writers Association Division III National Players of the Week for the week ending February 12.

Wind, a 6-0 sophomore guard from Rochester, averaged 38.3 points, 3.0 rebounds and 7.3 assists as the Golden Flyers (15-8, 9-5) went 2-1 last week. He scored 48 points (17-of-27 FG, 14-of-17 FT), tied for the sixth-highest total in NCAA Division III this season, while adding seven assists and two rebounds in a 103-93 double-overtime loss to Empire 8-leader St. John Fisher (17-5, 12-1) on Saturday. Wind began the week on Tuesday with 29 points (9-of-20 FG, 11-of-15 FT), seven assists, four rebounds, and two steals in a 90-83 win over Houghton. Then, in an 80-71 victory over Elmira on Thursday, he totaled 38 points (11-of-15 FG, 16-of-18 FT), eight assists, and three rebounds. For the week, Wind shot 59.6 percent (37-of-62) from the floor and 82.0 percent (41-of-50) from the foul line. Also selected the Empire 8 Player of the Week, Wind currently leads the conference and is eighth in Division III with 6.7 assists per game.

Olsen, a 5-11 sophomore forward from Battle Creek, Mich., posted two double-doubles as the Nighthawks (8-15, 8-8) won both of their games last week. She opened the stretch by scoring 21 points (10-of-16 FG, 1-of-3 FT), collecting 15 rebounds, blocking four shots, and adding two assists and two steals in a 65-57 win over Bay Path on Wednesday. Olsen followed that up with career highs of 32 points (11-of-25 FG, 7-of-9 FT, 3-of-5 3FG) and 25 rebounds (tied for the seventh-highest total in NCAA Division III this season) as Newbury edged Daniel Webster 83-78 in overtime on Saturday. She also totaled four steals, three assists and two blocks in that contest. For the week, Olsen averaged 26.5 points, 20.0 rebounds, 3.0 blocks, 3.0 steals, and 2.5 assists per game. She shot 51.2 percent (21-of-41) from the field, 66.7 percent (8-of-12) from the foul line and 60.0 percent (3-of-5) from three-point range. Also selected the New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) Player of the Week, Olsen is averaging a double-double (17. 4 ppg, 11.0 rpg) 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