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INDIANAPOLIS (USBWA) – Fletcher Bigham of Sewanee, the University of the South (Sewanee, Tenn.) and Emma Shinney of Endicott College (Beverly, Mass.) were named the U.S. Basketball Writers Association Division III National Players of the Week for the period ending January 18.
 Bigham, a 6-8 junior forward from Charlotte, N.C., reached a pair of milestones and averaged a double-double in leading Sewanee to a pair of road victories last week. On Friday, he totaled 23 points (10-of-14 FG, 3-of-7 3FG), 13 rebounds, an assist, and a steal in the Tigers’ 93-85 victory over Oglethorpe. Bigham followed that up with a career-high 40 points (13-of-20 FG, 7-of-7 FT, 7-of-11 3FG), including the 1,000th point of his career, in his team’s 82-72 win over Berry. He added 14 rebounds, an assist, a steal, and three blocks in the game. For the week, Bigham averaged 31.5 points, 13.5 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 1.0 steals, and 1.5 blocks while shooting 67.6 percent (23-of-34) from the field, 100 percent (7-of-7) from the foul line and 55.6 percent (10-of-18) from three-point range. For his efforts, Bigham was also named the Southern Athletic Association (SAA) Player of the Week.
Shinney, a 5-6 junior guard from Wakefield, Mass., filled up the stat sheet as Endicott swept a pair of conference games. In Wednesday’s 81-75 victory at Gordon, she finished with 18 points (4-of-8 FG, 9-of-17 FT, 1-of-2 3FG), three rebounds, five assists, and four steals. Then, in the Gulls’ 75-69 victory over Suffolk, Shinney posted her second career triple-double with 16 points (7-of-14 FG, 1-of-4 FT, 1-of-2 3FG), 13 rebounds, 12 assists, and a steal. For the week, she averaged 17.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, 8.5 assists, and 2.5 steals while shooting 50.0 percent (11-of-22) from the field, 47.6 percent (10-of-21) from the foul line and 50.0 percent (2-of-4) from three-point range. For her efforts, Shinney was also selected the Conference of New England (CNE) 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 selections came today after the Martin Luther King Day holiday, This is the 11th 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.
2025-26 USBWA Division III National Players of the Week
• Week ending Nov. 9: Sam Grieger, University of Wisconsin–La Crosse; Mary Schleusner, Washington & Lee University
• Week ending Nov. 16: Marcus Montagnino, Endicott College; Alexa Charles, Hunter College
• Week ending Nov. 23: Reph Stevenson, DePauw University; Elaina Beckett, McDaniel College
• Week ending Nov. 30: Quamir Ingram, Greensboro College; Caroline Peper, NYU
• Week ending Dec. 7: Joey Ramirez, Concordia University (Texas); Jaycie Christopher, University of Southern Maine
• Week ending Dec. 14: Elijah Kinney, Endicott College; Anna Giannopoulou, Guilford College
• Week ending Jan. 4: Scott Gyimesi, Tufts University; Elyse Warren, Millsaps College
• Week ending Jan. 11: Lamar Lovelace, Keuka College; Mary Schleusner, Washington & Lee University
• Week ending Jan. 18: Fletcher Bigham, Sewanee, The University of the South; Emma Shinney, Endicott College |
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