NASHVILLE – The Lipscomb University women's basketball team have announced four new additions as a part of the 2025-26 class as a part of the first National Signing Day on Wednesday.
Hope Counts, Olivia Vinson, Tess Wiczek and Maris Zurliene are the new players joining the women's basketball program.
Below are head coach
Lauren Sumski's thoughts on each new signee:
Hope Counts | 6-1 | Forward | Crystal, Minn. | North Tartan High School
We think she's the sleeper of the class and one of the better forwards in the country. She has an elite IQ and feel for the game at the post position, which is really special. She can impact the game with and without the ball.
One of the first plays I ever saw her make was perfectly executing two separate ballscreen coverages in the same possession, blocking the opponent's attempt at the rim and diving on the floor to retain the possession for her team. It's not easy to do all of that at 6'2. After seeing that, I knew we had to have her.
Offensively, she can lead the break, throw a 60 foot outlet pass, carve up defenses from the perimeter and the post. She also has a nice stroke. Most importantly, she's a great teammate that has fun with it. Her joy is contagious, and we can't wait to get to work with her!
Olivia Vinson | 5-9 | Guard | Manchester, Tenn. | Coffee County High School | Tennessee Flight
Our program certainly has some familiarity with the surname, Vinson. As Bella has helped to elevate the Bisons in her four years, we expect much of the same from Olivia - just in a different way.
Olivia has been a consummate teammate who has gladly embraced whatever role is needed from her, in her respective programs. She has an exceptionally high basketball IQ, and she always makes the right play. She has also shot the three at an incredible percentage throughout her career.
We think that Olivia will continue to grow and develop because she's a worker who will do whatever is asked and more. As she learns to assert herself more on the offensive end, I think she will become a reliable shot maker and decision maker at this level.
Tess Wiczek | 5-7 | Guard | Milwaukee, Wisconsin | Pius XI Catholic | Wisconsin Impact
Tess is a smooth operator from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She has a special confidence and a swagger about her, on and off the court. On the court, she shoots the ball at an extremely high level –considering how effective she is and the degree of difficulty of the shots that she is making.
She also sees the floor incredibly well and can make decisions at a rate we don't typically see in high school. We also love that Tess effortlessly slides on and off the ball, while still thinking several plays ahead on the offensive and defensive side of the ball. Off the court, Tess has distinctive leadership skills.
Maris Zurliene | 6-1 | Guard | Aviston, Ill. | Mater Dei High School | Southern Illinois Hawks
The story of Maris committing to Lipscomb is truly a God-story. She surprised us out of nowhere by attending our Elite Camp, unsolicited, and then dazzling us with her playmaking ability for her length and size.
At 6'1, she led her team at the point guard position for two-time State Champion Mater Dei in Illinois. She is one of those players who is best described as a swiss-army-knife. There's not a lot she can't do on the court, and what we love is that she gets her teammates involved early and makes winning plays consistently. She asserts herself when it matters most.
