ST. LOUIS (USBWA) – Will Carius of Monmouth College (Monmouth, Ill.) and Maddie Hasson of Bowdoin College (Brunswick, Maine) were named the U.S. Basketball Writers Association Division III National Players of the Week for the week ending January 6.

Carius, a 6-7 junior forward from Bettendorf, Iowa, scored an NCAA-season-high (all divisions) and school-record 62 points (the 11th-highest total in Division III history) in Monmouth's (4-9) 116-88 victory over Grinnell on Wednesday. He connected on 24 of the 26 field goals he attempted while also making 14-of-18 free throws. Carius collected 18 rebounds in the contest while adding three assists, a steal and a block. On Saturday, in the Fighting Scots' 60-56 road loss to Lawrence, he totaled 28 points, seven rebounds and four blocks. For the week, Carius averaged 45 ppg, 12.5 rpg, 2.5 bpg, 1.5 apg, and 0.5 spg. He shot 66 percent (33-of-50) from the field, 25 percent (2-of-8) from three-point range and 73.3 percent (22-of-30) from the foul line. For his efforts, Carius was also named the Midwest Conference Player of the Week.

Hasson, a 5-11 junior forward from South Portland, Maine, helped lead top-ranked (D3hoops.com) Bowdoin (12-0) to a pair of conference victories last week. On Friday in a 65-49 win over Bates, she posted a double-double of 25 points (10-of-14 FG, 5-of-7 FT) and 10 rebounds while also adding two steals and a block. Then, in the Polar Bears' 82-63 win against then-No. 4 Tufts, Hasson scored 21 points (9-of-11 FG, 3-of-4 FT), grabbed seven rebounds, recorded three steals, and registered a blocked shot. For the week, Hasson averaged 23 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 2.5 spg, and 1.0 bpg. She shot 76 percent (19-of-25) from the field and 72.7 percent (8-of-11) from the line. For her efforts, Hasson was also named New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC), New England Women's Basketball Association and Maine Women's Basketball Coaches Association Players of the Week.

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