KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Natalie Shumpert of Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.) has been named the NAIA National Division I Women's Basketball Player of the Week, the national office announced Tuesday. Shumpert was selected based on her performances from Jan. 9 - 15 and was chosen out of a pool of conference/independent/unaffiliated groupings.

Shumpert fueled the Lady Lions to a 66-54 victory over then-No. 2 Union (Tenn.) on Jan. 14 in the NAIA Game of the Week. She exploded for 20 of Freed-Hardeman's 26 first-half points before scoring 12 more in the second half to allow the Lady Lions to pull away. The win pushed Freed-Hardeman from No. 3 last week to the school's first-ever No. 1 ranking this week. Shumpert finished the game 10 of 18 (.556) from the field, a scorching 4-for-5 (.800) from 3-point range and a perfect 8-for-8 from the charity stripe. She also added three rebounds and one steal to her career high 32-point afternoon.

The 5-foot-4 junior guard from Paducah, Ky., is averaging 13.5 points per game in 17 contests and ranks 39th in the NAIA in free throw percentage (.794) and 44th in steals per game (2.41). She has led the Lady Lions to a 16-2 overall record and 4-0 TranSouth Athletic Conference mark.

For a complete listing of all the national statistical leaders, click here.

The next Player of the Week announcement will be on Jan. 24.

Nominees: Jennifer Hicks, LSU Shreveport (La.); Kezia Ford, Great Falls (Mont.); Victoria Murillo, Avila (Mo.); Kelly Ellison, Shorter (Ga.); Megan Lloff, Talladega (Ala.); Ashley Rainey, Lindsey Wilson (Ky.); Julie Teeple, Columbia (Mo.); Esther Timmermans, Vanguard (Calif.); Sarah Rogers, Robert Morris (Ill.); Brittany Roberts, Lubbock Christian (Texas).

2011 Composite Award Winners (Schedule)
Week 1: Amber Williams, Azusa Pacific (Calif.)
Week 2: Keiva Council, Loyola (La.)
Week 3: Natalie Shumpert, Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.)