INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - Just days after cementing himself in the annals of Norwich University men's basketball, Owen Liss (West Suffield, Conn.) made history yet again, becoming the first student-athlete in the Maroon and Gold to ever be named the U.S. Basketball Writers Association (USBWA) Division III National Player of the Week (for the period ending Dec. 8), as announced by the USBWA on Tuesday afternoon.

Liss, a 6-6 senior forward, helped lead Norwich to a pair of victories last week.  In the Cadets' 96-65 win over Vermont State University Randolph on Tuesday, Dec. 3, Liss established a career-high with 32 points (11-15 FG, 9-9 FT, 1-3 3FG), while pulling down seven rebounds, dishing out a pair of assists, recording a steal, and adding two blocks.  He scored 22 points in the second half, which Norwich entered trailing, 40-39.

Liss scored another 32 points (14-21 FG, 3-4 FT, 1-3 3FG), including the 1,000th of his career, in Saturday's 88-71 win over Elmira in the opening men's game of the 2024 Ed Hockenbury Classic.  He added nine boards, five assists, two steals, and five blocks in the contest.  He became the 29th student-athlete in program history to join the 1,000-point club.

For the week, Liss averaged 32.0 points, 8.0 caroms, 3.5 assists, 1.5 steals, and 3.5 blocks while shooting 69.4% (25-36) from the field, 92.3% (12-13) from the foul line, and 40.0% (2-5) from three-point range.

For his efforts, Liss was also named the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Player of the Week on Monday, Dec. 9.  Last season, he became Norwich's first GNAC All-Conference First Team honoree since Rene Cheatham received a GNAC First Team nod at the conclusion of the 2006-07 season.

Since the USBWA began honoring Div. III student-athletes with weekly awards prior to the 2014-15 season, Liss is just the fourth GNAC men's basketball player to be recognized by the national organization.  Mike Rapoza of Anna Maria College was tapped with the honor on Feb. 18, 2018, while Andrew Romero III of JWU (Providence) received recognition on Feb. 3, 2019.  Billy Ray Barnes III of Dean College was named the USBWA Div. III National Player of the Week last Tuesday, on Dec. 3, 2024.

Liss joins Lucas Lesko of Wilkes University, Adam Brazil of Hampden-Sydney College, Octavio Brito of Keene State University, and Billy Ray Barnes III of Dean College as the male Div. III athletes to receive this honor this season.  Kendall Harris of Hamilton College was the women's student-athlete who earned USBWA Div. III National Player of the Week plaudits alongside Liss today.

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.

A large portion of this release is courtesy of Jeff Bernstein of New York University and the U.S. Basketball Writers Association.