WePlayed Sports Players of the Week - Jan. 12

Men's Basketball

ROCK HILL, S.C. (TheSAC.com) – Newberry forward Drake Downs has been named the South Atlantic Conference WePlayed Sports Men's Basketball Player of the Week for games played during week eight of the 2025-26 season, the Conference announced today.

Downs, a senior from Simpsonville, S.C., put together an efficient and impactful week for Newberry College, averaging 20.5 points and 7.0 rebounds per game while shooting 56.3 percent from the field in two South Atlantic Conference contests. In just 25.5 minutes per game. Downs opened the week with 16 points, nine rebounds, and three blocks at Lenoir-Rhyne. He followed with a standout performance in an 82–72 victory over Lincoln Memorial, scoring 25 points on 11-of-18 shooting (61.1%), while adding five rebounds and a steal. 

Basketball Players of the Week

Nov. 17 – Drake Downs, Newberry
Nov. 24 – Jack Browder, Carson-Newman
Dec. 1 - Conrad Luczynski, Lenoir-Rhyne
Dec. 8 – Yoro Diallo, UVA Wise
Dec. 15 – Osmar Garcia-Araujo, Anderson
Dec. 22 – Osmar Garcia-Araujo, Anderson
Jan. 5 – Jordan Simpson, Catawba
Jan. 12 – Drake Downs, Newberry

Women's Basketball

ROCK HILL, S.C. (TheSAC.com) – Lenoir-Rhyne forward Abigail Brown has been named the South Atlantic Conference WePlayed Sports Women's Basketball Player of the Week for games played during week eight of the 2025-26 season, the Conference announced today.

Brown, a freshman from Cary, N.C., led the Bears to a 2-0 week with wins over Newberry and Carson-Newman. She scored a career-high 42 points and hit seven threes in a huge win over Carson-Newman, the 42 points is the most by a Bear since 2000 and the most for an NCAA Division II freshman in nearly three years.It also tied for sixth in SAC history. Brown also led the team in scoring against Newberry with 16 points. For the week, Brown shot 51.4% from the field and 57.1% from three and added 10 total boards, four blocks, three assists and three steals.

Basketball Players of the Week

Nov. 17 – Caroline Mullins, UVA Wise
Nov. 24 – Lexi Patty, Lincoln Memorial
Dec. 1 – Lyndie Ramsey, Emory & Henry
Dec. 8 – Kamari Thompson, Coker
Dec. 15 – Caroline Mullins, UVA Wise
Dec. 22 – Kamil Collier, Lincoln Memorial
Jan. 5 – Jada Brown, Newberry
Jan. 12 – Abigail Brown, Lenoir-Rhyne