After her school-record setting performance last Tuesday, and three efforts of 20 or more points over a five-day stretch, Case Western Reserve University senior guard/ forward Abbey Lawrence was named the U.S. Basketball Writers Association (USBWA) Division III National Player of the Week.

This is the second time over her career that Lawrence has been named the USBWA Player of the Week, after previously claiming the honor on February 4, 2020. Lawrence and former Spartan Kara Hageman are the only two players in CWRU history to receive the honor.

During the team's 91-67 win at Waynesburg. In the game, Lawrence set school records with 45 points and 17 made shots on 25 attempts (68.0%). She shot three-of-eight from long range in the game and eight-of-nine from the free throw line, while collecting six rebounds, five assists and three steals. The 45 points were the most in a game by an NCAA women's basketball player at any level this season.

Lawrence's stellar week continued, as she added a 31-point effort with six rebounds and a steal in a 72-63 loss to La Roche on Friday, playing all 40 minutes and shooting 10-of-20 overall, one-of-five from long range, and 10-of-10 from the free throw line, and then finished a 79-74 loss to Denison on Saturday with 20 points on a six-of-20 shooting effort, including four-of-seven from three point range and four-of-four from the line, while adding seven rebounds, three assists and two steals.

Over the three contests, Lawrence averaged 32.0 points per game, while also leading all CWRU players with 6.3 rebounds per game during the week and shot 50.8% (33-for-65) overall, including 40.0% (eight-for-20) from three-point range, and make 22-of-23 attempts from the free throw line (95.7%). She also collected eight assists and six steals over the three games.

Lawrence, who was also named the UAA Women's Basketball Athlete of the Week on Tuesday, is ranked sixth among Division III players and leads all UAA players this season with 26.0 points per game (10 more than the next player), while also averaging 5.5 points and 2.2 assists per game.

Each Tuesday, the USBWA is selecting men's and women's Division III National Players of the Week. The program has resumed after a one-season hiatus and this is the seventh 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.

The Spartans now stand at 2-4 overall this season. CWRU will return home this week, hosting Albion College at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 24.

Case Western Reserve women's basketball players have earned the following weekly honors this year:

USBWA Division III National Player of the Week
Nov. 23: Abbey Lawrence

UAA Athlete of the Week
Nov. 22: Abbey Lawrence