Wisconsin-La Crosse’s Greiger, Washington & Lee’s Schleusner are USBWA Division III National Players of the Week

Wisconsin-La Crosse’s Greiger, Washington & Lee’s Schleusner are USBWA Division III National Players of the Week

 

INDIANAPOLIS (USBWA) – Sam Grieger of the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse (La Crosse, Wisc.) and Mary Schleusner of Washington & Lee University (Lexington, Va.) were named the Basketball Writers Association Division III National Players of the Week for the period ending November 9.

Grieger, a 6-4 junior guard from Randolph, Wisc., opened the season with a pair of outstanding performances as Wisconsin-La Crosse won the TowneBank Tipoff Tournament at Virginia Wesleyan University. In the opener on Friday, Grieger scored 36 points (14-of-26 FG, 6-of-9 FT, 2-of-5 3FG), including the game-winning tip-in, as the No. 7 (D3hoops.com) Eagles defeated No. 17 Hampden-Sydney 77-75 in overtime. Grieger, who scored all of his team’s seven points in overtime, added two rebounds, two assists and a block in the contest. The next night, he totaled 27 points (9-of-16 FG, 8-of-11 FT, 1-of-2 3FG), three rebounds, four assists, and a steal in a 74-71 victory over the host Marlins. For the week, Grieger averaged 31.5 points, 2.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 1.0 steals, while shooting 54.8 percent (23-of-42) from the field, 70 percent (14-of-20) from the foul line and 42.9 percent (3-of-7) from behind the arc. For his efforts, Grieger was selected Most Valuable Player of the TowneBank Tipoff Tournament and was named the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Player of the Week.

Schleusner, a 6-1 senior forward from Charlotte, N.C., produced a pair of dominant games as Washington & Lee defeated both opponents at the Women Leaders Tip Off Tournament in Meadville, Pa. She scored 35 points (14-of-33 FG, 6-of-10 FT, 1-of-5 3FG), including the game-winning free throw with three seconds remaining, and amassed 26 rebounds (the highest total in NCAA Division III this season) as the No. 6 (D3hoops.com/WBCA) Generals defeated host Allegheny 78-77 on Saturday. Schleusner added six assists, five steals and two blocks as she recorded her 23rd career 20-20 game. On Sunday, she finished with 24 points (10-of-14 FG, 4-of-9 FT, 0-of-1 3FG), 17 rebounds, seven assists, one steal, and six blocks in a 77-65 win over Chatham. For the week, Schleusner averaged 29.5 points, 21.5 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 3.0 steals, and 4.0 blocks, while shooting 51.1 percent (24-of-47) from the field, 52.6 percent (10-of-19) from the foul line and 16.7 percent (1-of-6) from behind the arc. For her efforts, Schleusner was also selected the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) 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