ST. LOUIS (USBWA) – Aston Francis of Wheaton College (Wheaton, Ill.) and Madison Temple of Thomas More University (Crestview Hills, Ky.) were named the U.S. Basketball Writers Association Division III National Players of the Week for the week ending December 16.

Francis, a 6-1 senior guard from Tyler, Texas, scored an NCAA-season-high (all divisions) 54 points in Wheaton's (8-3, receiving votes D3hoops.com) 99-77 victory over University of Wisconsin-Platteville on Wednesday. He shot 16-of-27 from the floor, 7-of-15 from three-point range and a perfect 15-of-15 from the foul line in that contest. Francis added six rebounds, four steals and two assists in his 38 minutes on the floor. On Saturday, he totaled 20 points, eight rebounds, and an assist, steal and block in the Thunder's 69-59 loss to North Central (receiving votes). For the week, Francis averaged 37 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 2.5 spg, 1.5 apg, and 0.5 bpg. He shot 45.7 percent (21-of-46) from the field, 37 percent (10-of-27) from three-point range and was perfect (22-of-22) from the charity stripe. For his efforts, Francis was also named College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) Player of the Week for the fourth time this season.

Temple, a 6-0 senior guard from Cincinnati, Ohio, is receiving this honor for the second consecutive week after averaging a double-double and leading the No. 2 (D3hoops.com) Saints (13-0) to victories over two ranked teams. In an 80-56 victory over then-No. 19 Baldwin-Wallace on Friday, Temple scored 26 points and added eight rebounds, four assists and two steals in only 27 minutes. The next night, she posted a near-triple-double with 15 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists (while adding a steal and a block) against then-No. 2 Hope in an 81-61 win on the Flying Dutch's home court. For the week, Temple averaged 20.5 ppg, 10.5 rpg, 6.0 apg, 1.5 spg, and 0.5 bpg. She shot 40.6 percent (13-of-32) from the field, 92.9 percent (13-of-14) from the line and 22.2 percent (2-of-9) from beyond the arc. For her efforts, Temple was also named American Collegiate Athletic Association (ACAA) Player of the Week and Most Valuable Player of Hope’s Post-Exam Jam.

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.

2018-19 USBWA Division III National Players of the Week
• Week ending Nov. 18: Keith Brown, Endicott College and Yuleska Ramirez-Tejeda, Emmanuel College
• Week ending Nov. 25: Demitrius Underwood, University of Texas at Dallas and Allison Chernow, Emory University
• Week ending Dec. 2: Kevin Dennis, Morrisville State College and Hannah Norlin, University of Wisconsin-Superior
• Week ending Dec. 9: Sean Smith, Jr., Manhattanville College and Madison Temple, Thomas More University
• Week ending Dec. 16: Auston Francis, Wheaton College (Ill.) and Madison Temple, Thomas More University
• Week ending Jan. 6: Will Carius, Monmouth College (Ill.) and Maddie Hasson, Bowdoin College
• Week ending Jan. 13: Elijah Hirsh, Berry College and Katie Garrish, Southern Virginia University
• Week ending Jan. 20: Hakeem Animashaun, Salem State University; Kierra McCarthy, Westfield State University
• Week ending Jan. 27: Sam Jefferson, Colby College; Caitlin Corbett, Hartwick College
• Week ending Feb. 3: Andrew Romero III, Johnson & Wales University; Rebecca Prociak, King's College
• Week ending Feb. 10: Aston Francis, Wheaton College (Ill.); Rachael Windhausen, Oswego State University
• Week ending Feb. 17: Kevin Dennis, Morrisville State College; Rah Rah Thompson, Albertus Magnus College
• Week ending Feb. 24: Luke Smith, Sewanee; Yuleska Ramirez-Tejeda, Emmanuel College