SUNY Cortland’s Coston, Williams’ Smith are USBWA Division III National Players of the Week

SUNY Cortland’s Coston, Williams’ Smith are USBWA Division III National Players of the Week

 

INDIANAPOLIS (USBWA) – Aaron Coston of SUNY Cortland (Cortland, N.Y.) and Kathleen Smith of Williams College (Williamstown, Mass.) were named the U.S. Basketball Writers Association Division III National Players of the Week for the period ending February 15.

Coston, a 6-7 senior forward from Kerhonkson, N.Y., averaged a double-double and established a career-high scoring mark in leading Cortland (RV, D3hoops.com) to a pair of road wins and the regular-season conference title. In the Red Dragons’ 86-63 win at SUNY Canton on Friday, Coston scored a career-high 29 points (11-of-14 FG, 4-of-9 FT, 3-of-3 3FG) while also contributing six rebounds and two assists. The next day, he exceeded his scoring output with 32 points (13-of-15 FG, 5-of-5 FT, 1-of-2 3FG) in a 65-58 victory at SUNY Oswego. Coston fell one short of his career high with 14 rebounds in the contest and added an assist. For the week, he averaged 30.5 points, 10.0 rebounds and 1.5 assists while shooting a deadly 82.2 percent (24-of-29) from the field, 64.3 percent (9-of-14) from the foul line and 80.0 percent (4-of-5) from three-point range. For his efforts, Coston was also named the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) Player of the Week as he led the Red Dragons to their first regular-season title since 2013.

Smith, a 6-3 junior forward from Plaistow, N.H., recorded career highs, averaged a double-double and helped lead Williams to a pair of conference victories on the road. In the Ephs’ 73-63 win at Hamilton on Friday, she scored a career-high 30 points (14-of-22 FG, 2-of-2 FT) and matched a career best with 19 rebounds while adding two assists and a block. The next day, in a 59-44 victory at Amherst, Smith double-doubled with 14 points (7-of-11 FG) and 13 rebounds to go with one steal. For the week, she averaged 22.0 points, 16.0 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 0.5 steals, and 0.5 blocks while shooting 63.6 percent (21-of-33) from the field and 50.0 percent (2-of-4) from the foul line. For her efforts, Smith was also selected the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) 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 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
• Week ending Jan. 25: Darren Rubin, New York University; Mary Schleusner, Washington & Lee University
• Week ending Feb. 1: Zevi Samet, Yeshiva University; Madi Zancan, Regis College
• Week ending Feb. 8: Reem Welch, Plattsburgh State University; Riley Brady, Hendrix College
• Week ending Feb. 15: Aaron Coston, SUNY Cortland; Kathleen Smith, Williams College