NAIA Division I Men's and Women's Basketball Players of the Week

January 4, 2006

Josh Walker of Southern Wesleyan University (S.C.) has been named the NAIA Division I Men's Basketball Player of the Week and Kelly Schmidt of Vanguard University (Calif.) has been named the NAIA Division I Women's Basketball Player of the Week for the week ending January 1, 2006.

Walker, a 6-foot-3-inch senior guard from Moore, S.C., scored 28 points in the Warriors' 92-88 victory against Charleston Southern University (S.C.).  He also recorded six rebounds and three assists and shot over 70% from the field (10-for-14).  The win was Southern Wesleyan's first against an NCAA Division I opponent.  The Warriors are 6-3 overall.

Schmidt, a 6-foot junior forward from Glendale, Ariz., averaged a double-double as Vanguard went 2-0 on the week.  She scored 27 points and had seven rebounds in the Lions' 94-51 win against Indiana University-South Bend and then had 32 points and 14 rebounds in a 100-71 victory against Morningside College (Iowa).  Schmidt shot just under 60% from the field (23-for-39) in the two games and is the school's career points leader (1687).  Vanguard is 9-0 overall.

Other Division I Men's Nominees:

Bryant Chambly, Columbia College (Mo.); Dustin Patterson, Lubbock Christian University (Texas); Brian Silverhorn, Georgetown College (Ky.); Mersad Terzic, Mountain State University (W.Va.); Brandon Warner, Biola University (Calif.); Tyrone Witherspoon, University of Great Falls (Mont.).

Other Division I Women's Nominees:

Dana Davis, University of Texas-Permian Basin; Deana Duncan, Berry College (Ga.); Tabetha Eaton, Oklahoma Baptist University; LeAnn Fossum, Columbia College (Mo.); Meghan Fuqua, Lambuth University (Tenn.); Jaci Heny, Montana State University-Northern; Monica Wetbrook, Martin Methodist College (Tenn.).

NAIA Division II Men's and Women's Basketball Players of the Week

January 4, 2005

Andre' Lawrence of Oregon Institute of Technology has been named the NAIA Division II Men's Basketball Player of the Week and Brittany Smart of Cedarville University (Ohio) has been named the NAIA Division II Women's Basketball Player of the Week for the week ending January 1, 2006.

Lawrence, a 6-foot-1-inch senior guard from Portland, Ore., led the Hustlin' Owls to a 102-99 upset of then-#6 Warner Pacific College (Ore.).  He scored 42 points and had eight rebounds in the win, including the 38-foot game-winner as time expired.  Lawrence also had 16 points and six rebounds in an 85-78 win against Cascade College (Ore.).  For the week, he shot just under 60% from the field (20-for-34) and 60% from the three-point line (6-for-10).  Oregon Tech is 7-4 overall on the season. 

Smart, a 5-foot-9-inch junior forward from Springfield, Ohio was named MVP in the Golden State Athletic Conference Challenge.  Smart scored 40 points, one shy of her school record, and had five rebounds in an 85-88 .loss to The Master's College (Calif.).  She then rebounded with 23 points to help the Lady Jackets rally from a 14-point deficit to defeat Fresno Pacific University (Calif.) 73-61.  Smart shot 59% from the field (22-for-37) and 85% from the free throw line (11-for-13) in the two games.  Cedarville is 11-3 overall.

Other Division II Men's Nominees:

Jackson Capel, Evangel University (Mo.); Haze Massey, Ohio Dominican University; Marcus Moore, Grace College (Ind.); Michael Pyle, Embry-Riddle University (Fla.); Luke Ruter, Dordt College (Iowa); Marcus Thie, Grand View College (Iowa); Bryon Wesley, Menlo College (Calif.).

Other Division II Women's Nominees:

Jesi Barrett, Grand View College (Iowa); Whitney Clark, Albertson College (Idaho); Kepua Lee, Menlo College (Calif.); Dana Lehner, Briar Cliff University (Iowa); Jenna Matson, MidAmerica Nazarene University (Kan.); Abby Noll, Bethel College (Ind.); Karen Rugless, Davenport University (Mich.).