HAMPDEN-SYDNEY’S BRAZIL, WASHINGTON AND LEE’S SCHLUESNER ARE USBWA DIVISION III NATIONAL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

INDIANAPOLIS (USBWA) – Adam Brazil of Hampden-Sydney College (Hampden-Sydney, Va.) and Mary Schluesner of Washington & Lee University (Lexington, Va.) were named the U.S. Basketball Writers Association Division III National Players of the Week for the period ending November 17.

Brazil, a 5-10 fifth-year guard from Mooresville, N.C., only played one game last week … but it was a beauty. His performance helped lead No. 23 (D3hoops.com) Hampden–Sydney to an 84-77 home victory over No. 7 Randolph-Macon on Wednesday. In the contest, Brazil scored a career-high 34 points (10-of-16 FG, 12-of-12 FT, 2-of-6 3FG), the program’s highest total since 2014. He scored 21 in the second half, including the Tigers’ final seven. Brazil added eight rebounds and two assists without committing a single turnover in 39 minutes. In addition to converting 100 percent of his free throws, Brazil shot 62.5 percent from the field and 33.3 percent from behind the arc in the game. For his efforts, Brazil was also named the Old Dominion Athletic Conference Player of the Week.

Schluesner, a 6-1 junior forward from Charlotte, N.C., helped lead No. 7/8 (D3hoops.com, WBCA) Washington & Lee to three victories with two double-doubles last week. In a 69-61 win over Southern Virginia on Monday, she totaled 28 points (10-of-18 FG, 6-of-10 FT, 2-of-5 3FG), 14 rebounds, four assists, and four blocks. Schluesner finished with 32 points (11-of-26 FG, 10-of-11 FT), 21 rebounds, two assists, and a block in the Generals’ 84-79 victory against Emory on Saturday. The next day, she scored 21 (8-of-12 FG, 4-of-6 FT, 1-of-2 3FG), had nine rebounds, an assist, steal, and three blocks in her team’s 79-60 triumph over Oglethorpe. For the week, Schluesner averaged 27.0 points, 14.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 0.3 steals, and 2.7 blocks while shooting 51.8 percent (29-of-56) from the field, 74.1 percent (20-of-27) from the foul line, and 33.3 percent (3-of-9) from three-point range. For her efforts, Schluesner, now a three-time USBWA POW honoree, was also named the Old Dominion Athletic 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 10th 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.

2024-25 USBWA Division III National Players of the Week
• Week ending Nov. 10: Lucas Lesko, Wilkes University; Destiny Matthews, Concordia University (Texas)
• Week ending Nov. 17: Adam Brazil, Hampden-Sydney College; Mary Schluesner, Washington & Lee University