Nov. 28, 2017
For Immediate Release
Contact: Jeff Bernstein
212-998-2031
Association continues to honor Div. III standouts
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OLSON, REINWALD ARE DIVISION III
NATIONAL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

ST. LOUIS (USBWA) – Brayden Olson of Benedictine University (Lisle, Ill.) and Dani Reinwald of Medaille University (Buffalo, N.Y.) were named the U.S. Basketball Writers Association Division III National Players of the Week for the week ending November 26.

Olson, a 6-4 senior guard from Grand Rapids, Mich., averaged 34.5 points in the Eagles’ (1-3) two games last week. Against then-No. 12 (D3hoops.com) North Central on Tuesday, he scored 32 points (10-of-15 FG, 7-of-9 FT, 5-of-9 3FG) in an 82-79 buzzer-beating defeat. Olson also had two rebounds, four assists and two steals in the contest. Then, in a 93-85 victory over Marian on Saturday, Brown scored a career-high 37 points (11-of-19 FG, 8-of-11 FT, 7-of-13 3FG) to go with five rebounds and five assists. For the week, he shot 61.8 percent (21-of-34) from the field, 75 percent (16-of-20) from the foul line and 54.5 percent (12-of-22) from three-point range while adding 3.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.0 steals per game. For his efforts, Olson was also named the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC) Player of the Week.

Reinwald, a 6-0 senior forward from Clymer, N.Y., averaged 22.5 points and 19.0 rebounds in the Mavericks’ (2-3) two games last week. In a 72-66 loss to St. John Fisher on Tuesday, she scored 25 points (6-of-12 FG, 13-of-14 FT) and pulled down 20 rebounds while adding an assist, five steals and four blocks. Then, in a 79-72 victory over Fredonia on Sunday, Reinwald scored 20 points (5-of-11 FG, 10-of-12 FT), collected 18 rebounds and added three assists, six steals and a block. For the week, she shot 47.8 percent (11-of-23) from the field and 88.5 percent (23-of-26) from the foul line while also averaging 5.5 steals, 2.5 blocks and 2.0 assists per game. Also named the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC) Player of the Week, Reinwald eclipsed the 1,000-point career scoring mark vs. St. John Fisher and the 1,000-rebound plateau vs. Fredonia. She now has totals of 1,033 and 1,008, respectively, and is currently ranked No. 5 in NCAA Division III with 17.4 rebounds per game.

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

2017-18 USBWA Division III National Players of the Week
• Week ending Nov. 19: Keith Brown, Endicott College and Kelly Williams, Randolph-Macon College
• Week ending Nov. 26: Brayden Olson, Benedictine and Dani Reinwald, Medaille
• Week ending Dec. 3: Hamed Shamseldin, The College at Brockport and Bryce Frank, Austin College
• Week ending Dec. 10: Justin Webster, Adrian College and Georgia Bourikas, Suffolk University
• Week ending Dec. 17: Lavrone Green, New Jersey City and Kendrea Williams, FDU-Florham
• Week ending Dec. 31: Marcus Dempsey, Muskingum University and Kelly Williams, Randolph-Macon College
• Week ending Jan. 7: Sam Light, Lebanon Valley College and Alecia Rohrer, Messiah College
• Week ending Jan. 14: Ryan Bruns, Ohio Northern University and Casey Poe, Whitman College
• Week ending Jan. 21: Jake Ross, Springfield College and Mikayla Hodge, Lyndon State College
• Week ending Jan. 28: Marcus Dempsey, Muskingum College and Andrea Iavarone, St. Joseph's College-Long Island
• Week ending Feb. 4: Josh Freund, Roanoke College and Kelsey Burton, Lake Forest College
• Week ending Feb. 11: Myles Copeland, Trine University and Kelly Williams, Randolph-Macon College
• Week ending Feb. 18: Mike Rapoza, Anna Maria College and Madison Temple, Thomas More College
• Week ending Feb. 25: Caleb Johnson, Berry College and Kelly Williams, Randolph-Macon College