From Case Western Reserve University Athletics
Case Western Reserve University sophomore guard/ forward Abbey Lawrence became just the second player in program history to be named the Division III Women's Basketball National Player of the Week by the United States Basketball Writers Association (USBWA), earning the honor after averaging 29.0 points over a pair of Spartan wins at Brandeis University and New York University last weekend.
The award is just the latest to come in for Lawrence this week, after she was named the University Athletic Association Athlete of the Week for women's basketball on Monday, and claimed a spot on the D3hoops.com Team of the Week on Tuesday.
Lawrence joins former Spartan Kara Hageman as the only two players in CWRU history to receive the honor. Hageman was named the Division III National Player of the Week during the 2016-17 campaign.
Lawrence shot 57.6% (19-of-33) from the floor overall and 40.0% (four-of-10) from behind the three-point line, while going a perfect 16-for-16 on free throw tries. She added 7.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.0 blocks and 1.0 steals per contests during the two victories.
Lawrence scored a career-high 30 points on Friday night to lead the Spartans to an 80-68 win at Brandeis, connecting on 10-of-18 shots, three-of-seven three-point attempts, and all seven of her free throw tries, while accumulating seven rebounds, five assists and a steal. On Sunday, she netted 28 points during the Spartans' 87-75 win at NYU, making nine-of-15 shots overall and one-of-three from long range, while making all nine of her free throw tries and collecting seven rebounds, an assist, two blocks and a steal.
Lawrence is second among all UAA players with 17.8 points per game this season, and is averaging 18.3 in league games, also the second best mark in the conference. She is shooting 45.9% overall this year, 37.2% from three-point range and 87.7% from the free throw line, while averaging 4.2 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.1 steals.
Each Tuesday, the USBWA is selects men's and women's Division III National Players of the Week. This is the sixth season that the USBWA has recognized national players of the week from Division III.