INDIANAPOLIS (USBWA) – Nate West of LeTourneau University (Longview, Texas) and Taite Anderson of Bethel University (Arden Hills, Minn.) were named the U.S. Basketball Writers Association Division III National Players of the Week for the week ending January 26.

West, a 5-10 senior guard from Houston, Texas, recorded a triple-double and a double-double as the YellowJackets (13-4, 6-2) won both of their road games last week. Against Belhaven on Thursday, West scored 31 points, grabbed 10 rebounds, totaled 12 assists, and added two steals in his team's 95-73 victory. It was his third triple-double of the season (which leads NCAA Division III) and fifth of his career. Then, on Saturday at Louisiana, West produced 26 points, five rebounds, 12 assists, and four steals in an 89-66 win. For the week, he averaged 28.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, 12 assists, and three steals per game while shooting 51.3 percent (20-of-39) from the field, 88.9 percent (8-of-9) from the foul line and 42.9 percent (9-of-21) from three-point range. West, who currently leads the nation with 8.1 assists per game and is 15th in scoring with 24.1 points per game, was also named the American Southwest Conference (ASC) Player of the Week for the fifth time this season. He is now 28 points shy of becoming the ASC's first-ever 2,000-point scorer.

Anderson, a 5-10 senior forward from White Bear Lake, Minn., posted a pair of double-doubles as Bethel won its two road contests, remained undefeated (17-0, 12-0) and moved up to a No. 5 ranking (D3hoops.com) in the nation. Anderson opened the week by producing 21 points, 13 rebounds, two steals, one assist, and one block in the Royals' 67-42 win at Carleton on Wednesday. Then, in Saturday's 79-75 victory at Hamline, she scored a career-high 31 points, grabbed 12 rebounds, recorded three assists, and added a steal. For the week, Anderson averaged 26 points, 12.5 rebounds, two assists, 1.5 steals, and 0.5 blocks while shooting 64.5 percent (20-of-31) from the field, 64.7 percent (11-of-17) from the line and 50 percent (1-of-2) from behind the arc. Currently fourth in NCAA Division III with a 64.3 (133-of-207) field goal percentage, Anderson was also named the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) Player of the Week for the third time this season. Her 1,497 career points is now the third-highest total in program history.

Each Tuesday, the USBWA is selecting men's and women's Division III National Players of the Week. This is the sixth 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 Malcolm Moran at 814-574-1485.

2019-20 USBWA Division III National Players of the Week
• Week ending Nov. 10: Nate Schimonitz, Nebraska Wesleyan University and Tessa Zamolyi, Misericordia University
• Week ending Nov. 17: Jake Ross, Springfield College and Leah Porath, University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh
• Week ending Nov. 24: Matthew Mancuso, University of Scranton and Katelyn Pickunka, Smith College
• Week ending Dec. 1: Hunter Martineau, Hilbert College and Sydney Kopp, DePauw University
• Week ending Dec. 8: Jared Wagner, York College and Amina Wiley, Mitchell College
• Week ending Dec. 15: Eric Demers, Gordon College and Alexis Jones, Augustana College
• Week ending Jan. 5: Tyler Frederick, La Roche University and Katie Garrish, Southern Virginia University
• Week ending Jan. 12: Chris LaBelle, Centenary University and Olivia Nagy, John Carroll University
• Week ending Jan. 19: Sam Jefferson, Colby College and Dejah Terrell, Albright College
• Week ending Jan. 26: Nate West, LeTourneau University and Taite Anderson, Bethel University
• Week ending Feb. 2: Brian Cameron, Wesley College and Abbey Lawrence, Case Western Reserve University
• Week ending Feb. 9: Jake Ross, Springfield College and Katie McShea, Marymount University
• Week ending Feb. 16: Isaiah Brown, SUNY Potsdam and Yuleska Ramirez-Tejeda, Emmanuel College
• Week ending Feb. 23: Nate West, LeTourneau University and Shyla Osmond, Albertus Magnus College
• Week ending March 1: Gabriel Leifer, Yeshiva University and Kelly Williams, Randolph-Macon College