INDIANAPOLIS (USBWA) – Kyle Poerschke of the University of Texas at Dallas (Richardson, Texas) and Meghan Dryburgh of Washington & Jefferson College (Washington, Pa.) were named the U.S. Basketball Writers Association Division III National Players of the Week for the week ending January 15.
Poerschke, a 6-4 graduate student guard from Houston, Texas, helped lead UT Dallas (receiving votes, D3hoops.com) to a pair of conference road victories last week. In a 75-69 win over East Texas Baptist on Thursday, he scored 25 points (9-of-17 FG, 4-of-5 FT, 3-of-5 3FG) with 21 coming in the second half. He added five rebounds as well as an assist, steal and block in the contest. On Saturday at LeTourneau, Poerschke scored a program-record 43 points (15-of-22 FG, 6-of-7 FT, 7-of-10 3FG) in the Comets’ 89-81 victory while adding seven rebounds, two assists and two steals. Over the two games, he averaged 34.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.5 steals, and 0.5 blocks while shooting 61.5 percent (24-of-39) from the field, 83.3 percent (10-of-12) from the foul line and 66.7 percent (10-of-15) from three-point range. For his efforts, Poerschke was also selected American Southwest Conference (ASC) Player of the Week.
Dryburgh, a 5-11 sophomore guard/forward from Pittsburgh, Pa., averaged a 20-20 double-double as No. 25 (D3hoops.com) Washington & Jefferson posted a pair of conference road victories. She scored 18 points (8-of-13 FG, 2-of-4 FT), including 11 in the fourth quarter, as the Presidents held off Bethany 54-51 on Wednesday. Dryburgh added 14 rebounds, two assists, a steal, and a block in the victory. On Saturday, in a 59-48 win at Grove City, she had a season-high 22 points (9-of-14 FG, 2-of-4 FT, 2-of-2 3FG), a career-high 26 rebounds (third-most in NCAA Division III this season), five assists, and four blocks. For the week, she averaged 20.0 points, 20.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.5 steals, and 2.5 blocks while shooting 62.9 percent (17-of-27) from the field, 50.0 percent (4-of-8) from the foul line and 66.7 percent (2-of-3) from long distance. For her efforts, Dryburgh was also selected the Presidents’ Athletic Conference (PAC) Player of the Week.
Each Tuesday, the USBWA is selecting men's and women's Division III National Players of the Week. This week’s announcement was delayed a day by the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. 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.