ST. LOUIS (USBWA) – Sam Jefferson of Colby College (Waterville, Maine) and Caitlin Corbett of Hartwick College (Oneonta, N.Y.) were named the U.S. Basketball Writers Association Division III National Players of the Week for the week ending January 27.

Jefferson, a 6-4 junior guard from Newton, Mass., helped lead Colby (15-5, 3-3 – receiving votes D3hoops.com) to three wins last week, two against nationally-ranked opponents. On Tuesday, Jefferson scored 29 points and added three rebounds, two assists and two blocks in a 101-98 victory over Husson. On Friday, against then-No. 19 Amherst, he totaled 24 points, five rebounds, an assist and steal in the Mules' 83-73 win. Playing against then-No. 6 Hamilton on Saturday, Jefferson finished with 29 points, eight rebounds and a block in his team's 86-78 victory. He scored 19 points of those points in the second half and made 5-of-6 free throws in the final 2:42 to help secure the win. For the week, Jefferson averaged 27.3 ppg, 5.3 rpg, one assist, one block, and 0.33 spg. He shot 54.8 percent (23-of-42) from the field, 58.6 percent (17-of-29) from three-point range and 86.4 percent (19-of-22) from the foul line. For his efforts, Jefferson was also named the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NASCAC) Player of the Week.

Corbett, a 5-7 senior guard from Altamont, N.Y., led first-place Hartwick (16-3, 9-1) to three wins last week. She began by scoring a career-high 34 points in an 89-77 victory over Utica on Tuesday, while also adding 12 rebounds and three assists. On Friday, Corbett totaled 20 points, nine rebounds, six assists, two steals, and a block in the Hawks' 76-56 win over Nazareth. Then, in Saturday's 93-50 win against Sage, she scored 25 points (including the 1,000th of her career), collected six rebounds, recorded three assists, and registered two steals. For the week, Corbett averaged 26.3 ppg, nine rebounds, four assists, 1.3 spg, and 0.3 bpg. She compiled a 68 percent (32-of-47) shooting percentage from the field, a 55.5 percent (10-of-18) mark from three-point range and made 83.3 percent (5-of-6) of her free throws. For her efforts, Corbett was also named the Empire 8 Conference Player 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