Jan. 19, 2022
For Immediate Release
Contact: Jeff Bernstein
212-998-2031
Association continues to honor Div. III standouts
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STEWART, ZINAICH ARE USBWA
DIV. III NATIONAL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

INDIANAPOLIS (USBWA) Christian Stewart of Spalding University (Louisville, Ky.) and Camille Zinaich of Oberlin College (Oberlin, Ohio) were named the U.S. Basketball Writers Association Division III National Players of the Week for the week ending January 16.

Stewart, a 6-5 junior forward from Clarksville, Ind., had a pair of monster games in leading Spalding (4-12, 2-2) to a pair of victories last week. On Wednesday, he scored 52 points (23-of-27, 6-of-8 FT), the second-highest total in NCAA Division III this season and the fourth highest in any division, while tying for most made field goals in any division. Stewart added 15 rebounds, three assists and a steal in the Golden Eagles' 132-119 victory over Greenville. Then, on Saturday, he totaled 34 points (13-of-26 FG, 8-of-11 FT), eight rebounds, two assists, and two steals in an 83-78 victory over Eureka. Over the two games, Stewart averaged 43.0 points, 11.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.5 steals. He shot 67.9 percent (36-of-53) from the field and 73.7 percent (14-of-19) from the foul line. For his efforts, Stewart was also named St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC) Player of the Week.

Zinaich, a 5-10 freshman guard/forward from Boonsboro, Md., posted a pair of triple-doubles as Oberlin (12-1, 6-1) defeated all three of its opponents last week. On Tuesday, she scored 18 points (8-of-12 FG, 2-of-2 FT), collected 11 rebounds, totaled 10 assists, and added four steals and a block in an 86-59 win over Hiram. The Yeowomen defeated Denison 66-52 on Thursday, but Zinaich was limited to 16 minutes due to foul trouble and totaled four points (2-of-6 FG), two rebounds and an assist. She was back in the groove against Kenyon on Saturday, registering career highs with 21 points (7-of-13 FG, 7-of-7 FT) 16 rebounds and 13 assists, while adding two steals and two blocks in the 77-75 overtime victory. For the week, Zinaich averaged 14.3 points, 9.6 rebounds, 8.0 assists, 2.0 steals, and 1.0 blocks while shooting 54.8 percent from the field (17-31) and 90 percent from the foul line. Only two players in NCAA Division III and four in any division have recorded two triple-doubles this season. For her efforts, Zinaich was also named North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) Player of the Week.

Each Tuesday, the USBWA is selecting men's and women's Division III National Players of the Week. The program has resumed after a one-season hiatus and this is the seventh season that the USBWA will recognize national players of the week from Division III. This week's selections were delayed one day by the Martin Luther King Day holiday.

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.

2021-22 USBWA Division III National Players of the Week
Week ending Nov. 21: Buzz Anthony, Randolph-Macon College and Abbey Lawrence, Case Western Reserve University
Week ending Nov. 28: Ryan Turell, Yeshiva University and Claudia Cooke, Kenyon College
Week ending Dec. 5: Lyle Tipton, Geneva College and Meg Carroll, Lasell University
Week ending Dec. 12: Ryan Turell, Yeshiva University and Hanna Geistfeld, Bethany Lutheran College
Week ending Dec. 19: Luke Feely, University of Mary Hardin-Baylor and Cayla Sharkey, Gwynedd Mercy University
Week ending Jan. 2: Jack Davidson, Wabash College and Jenna Taylor, Simpson College
Week ending Jan. 9: Alex Sobel, Middlebury College and Aleah Grundahl, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
Week ending Jan. 16: Christian Stewart, Spalding University and Camille Zinaich, Oberlin College
Week ending Jan. 23: Levi Borchert, University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh and Hanna Geistfeld, Bethany Lutheran College
Week ending Jan. 30: Christian Parker, University of Mount Union and Flannery O'Connor, Framingham State University
Week ending Feb. 6: Jackson Danzig, University of Scranton and Bailey Donovan, Husson University
Week ending Feb. 13: Matthew Leritz, Illinois Wesleyan University and Hanna Geistfeld, Bethany Lutheran College
Week ending Feb. 20: Austin Grunder, SUNY Cortland and Elyce Knudsen, Millikin University
Week ending Feb. 27: Jack Davidson, Wabash College and Anaya Simmons, Christopher Newport University