INDIANAPOLIS (USBWA) – Alex Sobel of Middlebury College (Middlebury, Vt.) and Abbey McGee of Marywood University (Scranton, Pa.) were named the U.S. Basketball Writers Association Division III National Players of the Week for the week ending December 11.
Sobel, a 6-8 senior forward from Setauket, N.Y., posted three double-doubles in leading No. 10 Middlebury (D3hoops.com) to three victories last week. He began with a 16-point (7-of-10 FG, 2-of-2 FT), 15-rebound performance in a 78-59 win over Plattsburgh State on Wednesday. Sobel added four assists, three steals and five blocks in the contest. In a 73-53 victory over Skidmore on Friday, he scored 29 points (13-of-21 FG, 3-of-4 FT), snared 20 rebounds, had four assists, and recorded seven blocks. Against Stevens on Sunday, Sobel finished with 12 points (5-of-11 FG, 2-of-3 FT), 13 rebounds, a career-best seven assists, two steals, and one block in the Panthers' 76-53 victory. For the week, he averaged 19.0 points, 16.0 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.6 steals, and 4.3 blocks while shooting 59.5 percent (25-of-42) from the field and 77.8 percent (7-of-9) from the foul line. Sobel leads NCAA Division III in blocks (41) and is second in rebounds (13.2) and blocks (4.56) per game. For his efforts, Sobel was also selected the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) Player of the Week.
McGee, a 5-6 sophomore guard from Scranton, Pa., averaged a triple-double in leading Marywood to two victories last week. Playing only 22 minutes in the Pacers’ 90-50 win over SUNY Delhi on Tuesday, she scored 10 points (5-of-6 FG), collected eight rebounds, totaled eight assists, and recorded three steals. On Saturday, McGee posted a triple-double of 19 points (8-of-14 FG, 3-of-4 FT), 16 rebounds and 12 assists in her team’s 76-57 victory over Keystone. She also contributed four steals and two blocks in recording the first triple-double in program history. For the week, she averaged 14.5 points, 12.0 rebounds, 10.0 assists, 3.5 steals, and 1.0 blocks while shooting 65 percent (13-of-20) from the field and 75 percent (3-of-4) from the foul line. For her efforts, McGee was also selected the Atlantic East Conference Player of the Week.
Each Tuesday, the USBWA is selecting men's and women's Division III National Players of the Week. This is the eighth 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.