Sports capsules BENNETT NAMED WIAC PLAYER OF THE WEEK: For the first time in his career, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point (UW-SP) junior forward Nick Bennett has been named the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference men's basketball player of the week. He also was the Pointer player of the week for men's basketball. Bennett, a Stevens Point native, averaged 18.5 points over four games during the holiday break in victories over Kalamazoo (Mich.), UW-Oshkosh, Edgewood and UW-Eau Claire. He equaled his career-high with 29 points on eight-for-16 shooting against Kalamazoo at the Desert Classic in Las Vegas. Against Edgewood, he hit four three-pointers, had five rebounds and 22 points in the Pointers' victory. For the four games over holiday break, Bennett scored 75 points on 19-for-43 shooting, including nine-for-24 from the three-point line and 90.3 percent (28-for-31) from the free throw line. It marks the second straight week the Pointers have landed the honor as Jason Kalsow received the award for the week prior to the holiday break. UW-Stevens Point is currently 11-0 overall and ranked second in the NCAA Division III. * * * POINTER PLAYERS OF THE WEEK: UW-SP has announced the players of the week for the teams during the week ending Jan. 5, in addition to Nick Bennett for the men's basketball team. Women's basketball: Tara Schmitt shot 19-for-25 over three games at the San Diego Surf n' Slam Tournament and was named Most Valuable Player of the event. Schmitt scored 19 points on eight-for-11 shooting against Point Loma (Calif.) in a 75-59 championship game victory. She made all three of her three-point shots against Thomas More (Ky.). Schmitt played all 40 minutes in the Pointers victory over 10th-ranked UW-Eau Claire. Schmitt scored 52 points and made nine of 12 three-point shots as the Pointers claimed the Surf n' Slam championship. * * * BRUCE LEADS THREE SOCCER PLAYERS ON ALL-CENTRAL REGION ACADEMIC SQUAD: Pointer senior Jenny Bruce was named a third-team Scholar All-American by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America, leading three UW-SP selections to the All-Central Region Scholar Athlete team. The teams are selected among all divisions and Bruce was one of just six Division III players selected to the All-American team. The Menasha native was a first-team All-Region scholar athlete with a 3.93 grade point average in sociology and was a four-time All-Conference selection as the conference's all-time assists leader. She was named the CoSIDA Academic All-American of the Year for all Division II, Division III and NAIA athletes earlier this fall. Joining Bruce on the All-Region squad were second-team selection Kelly Fink and third-team honoree Tara Schmitt. The trio were among only four Division III athletes to receive mention. Loras (Iowa) forward Michelle Wieser was the other. Fink, a senior from West Bend, was a third-team Scholar All-American last year and carries a 3.58 grade point average in elementary education. She was the WIAC Player of the Year and ranks fourth in WIAC history in career goals. Schmitt, a junior from Brookfield who attended Waukesha Catholic Memorial High School, has a 3.82 grade point average in physical education and is a three-time All-Conference selection. * * * POINTERS RANK FIFTH IN USSA DIRECTORS' CUP AFTER FALL SEASON: On the strength of a pair of high national finishes in men's and women's cross country, UW-SP ranks fifth overall in the first United States Sports Academy Directors' Cup standings. The award measures the top overall NCAA Division III athletics programs. Points are awarded based on NCAA tournament performances. The Pointers have 225 points, earning 90 points from a second-place finish in men's cross country and 85 points from a third-place finish in women's cross country. A second-round appearance in the women's soccer playoffs yielded 50 points. Williams (Mass.), which has won seven of eight all-time titles, leads with 359 points. The College of New Jersey is second with 281.5 points, UW-La Crosse is third with 275 points and Wartburg (Iowa) is fourth with 265 points. UW-SP placed 16th in last year's overall standings and placed among the top seven the previous three years.