INDIANAPOLIS (UBSWA) – Khai Seargeant of Virginia Wesleyan University (Virginia Beach, Va.) and Mary Schleusner of Washington and Lee University (Lexington, Va.) were named the U.S. Basketball Writers Association Division III National Players of the Week for the period ending January 7.
Seargeant, a 5-11 sophomore guard from Fredericksburg, Va., had an outstanding week as No. 20 (D3hoops.com) Virginia Wesleyan faced a pair of tough opponents. On Wednesday, Seargeant scored 17 points (6-of-13 FG, 4-of-5 FT, 1-of-2 3FG), grabbed six rebounds and added an assist in only 23 minutes as the Marlins held then-No. 25 Shenandoah to its lowest point total of the season in a 70-58 victory. On Saturday, in an 83-79 loss at Ferrum (receiving votes), he scored a career-high 33 points (9-of-14 FG, 11-of-11 FT, 4-of-6 3FG) while adding three rebounds, an assist and two steals. For the week, Seargeant averaged 25.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, 1.0 assists, and 1.0 steals while shooting 55.6 percent (15-of-27) from the field, 93.8 percent (15-of-16) from the foul line and 62.5 percent (5-of-8) from three-point range. For his efforts, Seargeant was also named the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) Player of the Week.
Schleusner, a 6-1 sophomore forward from Charlotte, N.C., averaged a 20-20 double-double in leading No. 12/23 (WBCA/D3hoops.com) Washington and Lee to a pair of victories. On Wednesday against Roanoke, Schleusner finished with 24 points (11-of-24 FG, 2-of-7 FT), 20 rebounds, four assists, five steals, and three blocks in leading the Generals to a 79-71 win. She returned to the court on Saturday and totaled 24 points (7-of-11 FG, 10-of-14 FT), 22 rebounds (one shy of her own program record), two assists, two steals, and a block in an 80-76 victory over Guilford. For the week, Schleusner averaged 24.0 points, 21.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 3.5 steals, and 2.0 blocks while shooting 51.4 percent (18-of-35) from the field and 57.1 percent (12-of-21) from the foul line. She is currently ranked second in NCAA Division III in double-doubles (11), #3 in rebounding (14.1) and #6 in blocks (3.36) per game. For her efforts last week, Schleusner earned USBWA national honors for the second time this season (also December 17) and was selected Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) Player of the Week for the fifth time.
Each Tuesday, the USBWA is selecting men's and women's Division III National Players of the Week. This is the ninth 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.
2023-24 USBWA Division III National Players of the Week
• Week ending Dec. 3: Jeff Hunter, Keene State; Natalie Anderson, Trinity (Texas)
• Week ending Dec. 10: Jordan Oates, Salisbury; Lauren Klieber, Neumann
• Week ending Dec. 17: Bryant Smith, Manchester; Mary Schleusner, Washington and Lee
• Week ending Dec. 31: Davidson Hubbard, Hampden-Sydney; Brianna Fitzgerald, SUNY-New Paltz
• Week ending Jan. 7: Khai Seargeant, Virginia Wesleyan; Mary Schleusner, Washington and Lee