INDIANAPOLIS (UBSWA) – Davidson Hubbard of Hampden-Sydney College (Hampden-Sydney, Va.) and Brianna Fitzgerald of SUNY New Paltz (New Paltz, N.Y.), were named the U.S. Basketball Writers Association Division III National Players of the Week for the period ending December 31.
Hubbard, a 6-5 senior forward from Charlotte, N.C., helped lead top-ranked (D3hoops.com) Hampden-Sydney to a pair of victories, including a win over then-No. 1 John Carroll on Tuesday, December 19. In that contest, Hubbard scored a career-high 31 points (13-of-23 FG, 2-of-2 FT, 3-of-9 3FG), including 20 in the second half as the Tigers overcame a 34-31 halftime deficit to post an 85-67 victory. He added nine rebounds, three assists and two steals in handing John Carroll its first loss of the season. Then, in a 64-58 win over Salisbury on Saturday, December 30, Hubbard recorded a double-double of 12 points (5-of-10 FG, 2-of-5 3FG), 10 rebounds and two steals as Hampden-Sydney earned its highest ranking since 2004. For the week, he averaged 21.5 points, 9.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 2.0 steals while shooting 54.5 percent (18-of-33) from the field, 100 percent (2-of-2) from the foul line and 35.7 percent (5-of-14) from three-point range. For his efforts, Hubbard, was also named the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) Player of the Week.
Fitzgerald, a 5-10 senior guard/forward from Bethpage, N.Y., averaged a double-double in leading SUNY New Paltz (receiving votes, D3Hoops.com) to a pair of victories at the Stevens Holiday Tournament last week. On Friday, Fitzgerald scored 27 points (10-of-24 FG, 4-of-6 FT, 3-of-4 3FG), including 11 of her team’s 16 in the fourth quarter, and added 11 rebounds, two assists and four steals as the Hawks defeated then-No. 3 (D3hoops.com, WBCA) Christopher Newport – the highest-ranked opponent SUNY New Paltz has ever beaten – by a score of 73-69. Then, against Middlebury on Saturday, she scored 25 points (10-of-31 FG, 3-of-3 FT, 2-of-7 3FG), including the 1,000th of her career, while adding 13 rebounds, two assists and three steals. For the week, Fitzgerald averaged 26.0 points, 12.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 3.5 steals, while shooting 36.4 percent (20-of-55) from the field, 77.8 percent (7-of-9) from the foul line, and 45.5 percent (5-of-11) from long distance. For her efforts, Fitzgerald was also selected the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) Player of the Week.
Each Tuesday (this week Wednesday due to the holiday), the USBWA is selecting men's and women's Division III National Players of the Week. This is the ninth 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.
2023-24 USBWA Division III National Players of the Week
• Week ending Dec. 3: Jeff Hunter, Keene State; Natalie Anderson, Trinity (Texas)
• Week ending Dec. 10: Jordan Oates, Salisbury; Lauren Klieber, Neumann
• Week ending Dec. 17: Bryant Smith, Manchester; Mary Schleusner, Washington and Lee
• Week ending Dec. 31: Davidson Hubbard, Hampden-Sydney; Brianna Fitzgerald, SUNY-New Paltz