JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Announced by the Atlantic Sun Conference office on Monday, Hope Counts from the Lipscomb University Women's Basketball team has been chosen as the league's Freshman of the Week. 

In three games last week, Counts scored 23 points, grabbed 18 rebounds and swatted away 14 shots, averaging 7.7 points, 6.0 rebounds and 4.7 blocks. 

After scoring seven points each against Tennessee Tech and UT Martin, the Crystal, Minnesota native nearly missed a triple-double against Tennessee State with nine points, 10 rebounds and a school record 11 blocks, becoming the first Lipscomb player in the program's Division I era to total double-digit blocks in a game. 

Additionally, it is the first double-digit blocking effort for the ASUN since DeeAnna Hanscom's 12 with Florida Atlantic against Eastern Michigan on Dec. 19, 2002. 

Now one month into the season, Counts is the first NCAA Division I player in 2025-26 to have double-digit blocks in a game. 

Her 14 blocks last week led the nation, one ahead of freshman Uche Izoje of Syracuse, who had eight on Sunday against Southern Methodist. 

Counts and the rest of the Bisons return to the hardwood on Thursday at Purdue.