ST. LOUIS (USBWA) – Andrew Romero III of Johnson & Wales University (Denver, Colo.) and Rebecca Prociak of King's College (Wilkes-Barre, Pa.) were named the U.S. Basketball Writers Association Division III National Players of the Week for the week ending February 3.

Romero III, a 6-1 senior guard from Northglenn, Colo., played every minute of both games last week as Johnson & Wales (16-6, 9-4) swept its conference opponents. In Friday's 83-69 win over first-place Texas Lutheran, Romero III scored 31 points (10-of-18 FG, 10-of-13 FT, 1-of-5 3FG), pulled down six rebounds, recorded four assists, and had three steals. The next day, in a 97-95 victory over Southwestern, he scored 34 points (10-of-14 FG, 13-of-17 FT, 1-of-2 3FG), and added six rebounds, six assists and three steals. Romero III scored five points in the last 1:41, including three free throws in the final 39 seconds, to help the Wildcats secure the victory. For the week, he averaged 32.5 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 5.0 apg, and 3.0 spg while shooting 62.5 percent (20-32) from the field, 76.7 percent (23-of-30) from the line and 28.6 percent (2-of-7) from three-point range. For his efforts, Romero III was also named the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) Player of the Week.

Prociak, a 5-11 junior forward from Wilkes-Barre, Pa., averaged a double-double as King's (12-9, 6-4) split its two games last week. On Wednesday, Prociak scored a career-high 32 points (9-of-14 FG, 14-of-16 FT) as the Monarchs were edged by Eastern 79-75. She added 17 rebounds, seven assists and two blocks in the contest. Then, in her team's 81-61 victory over FDU-Florham on Saturday, Prociak totaled 27 points (8-of-14 FG, 11-of-14 FT, 0-1 3FG), including the 1,000th of her career, while totaling a career-high eight assists, adding three steals and recording two blocks. For the week, she averaged 29.5 ppg, 17.5 rpg, 7.5 apg, 2.0 bpg, and 1.5 spg while shooting 60.7 percent (17-of-28) from the field and 83.3 percent (25-of-30) from the foul line. For her efforts, Prociak was also named the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Freedom 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