NASHVILLE – With the start of summer practice this week, head coach
Lauren Sumski and the Lipscomb University women's basketball team have announced two transfer student-athletes that will join the herd for the 2025-26 season.
Four freshmen and two transfer student-athletes will join a team that is looking to build off a record-setting season in 2024-25 that saw the Bisons finish in the semifinals of the ASUN Tournament and the program's second-ever postseason berth, competing in the Women's National Invitational Tournament.
"We've always said that we are a Christian program that truly seeks to glorify the Lord in who we are and how we do things," said Sumski. "We've said it was the Lord's team and prayed over just about everything. About a year ago, we were at a crucial point recruiting wise, and we realized we had not ever prayed about recruiting. We decided to buckle down, ask the Lord to make clear to us who to pursue and that He'd deliver them here. Not that we deserve it, but the Lord did just that. Don't get me wrong, our staff worked extremely hard to evaluate and identify prospects but we just can't take any credit for this awesome class. It's truly the Lord."
Below are the new freshmen to the squad that includes name, hometown, high school and position.
Hope Counts - Crystal, Minnesota - 6-2 - Guard
- Member of four straight state championships for Providence Academy in Class AA, the first ever for a high school team in the State of Minnesota
- Nominated for McDonalds All-American Game
- First Team All-State selection
- 1,000 career points and rebounds
- Finished her career with a career-high 23 points and added 15 rebounds in the state championship game her senior year
- Along with four basketball varsity letters, she also earned two with volleyball and one on track
- Plans to major in Marketing at Lipscomb
Olivia Vinson - Manchester, Tennessee - 5-10 - Guard
- Member of four district championships, two region championships and two substate championships with Coffee County High School
- Favorite memory: winning back-to-back substate games on home floor to advance to the State Tournament in Murfreesboro
- Team qualified for two TSSAA State Championships (2024 - semifinals; 2025 - quarterfinals)
- Two-time All-State selection in Class 4A
- Three-time All-Region and All-District honoree; Was named District's Most Valuable Player in 2024
- Plans to major in Education at Lipscomb
- Sister of Bella Vinson, who played at Lipscomb from 2022-25
- Sister, Sophie, played women's golf at Trevecca Nazarene (2018-21)
Tess Wiczek - Greenfield, Wisconsin - 5-7 - Guard
- Scored 1,052 points in 100 career games, averaging 10.5 points per game at Pius XI Catholic
- Added 4.7 rebounds per game
- Named top-25 of area high school players to watch, according to Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Maris Zurliene - Aviston, Illinois - 6-1 - Guard
- Member of two regional championship, including a State Championship team her sophomore year at Mater Dei Catholic
- Also lettered with the volleyball program, where she was a member of a state championship team her senior year
- Three-time All-State selection
- Named All-Tournament with IHSA State Tournament
- Two-time Defensive Player of the Year
- Scored 1,000th career point her senior year
- Plans to major in Theology and Ministry at Lipscomb
Along with the four newcomers, Lipscomb added two from the transfer portal.
"We believe we hit the jackpot in the portal; we've added two bonafide shot creators with size and versatility to play multiple positions. Between the two of them, they could play all five spots for us on the floor. While talented, they have been even better teammates," said Sumski.
McKayla Miller - Cimarron, Kansas - 6-1 - Guard
- Played in 29 collegiate games between Tulsa (2025) and Creighton (2024)
- Has a 38.6% field goal percentage (17-of-44)
- Plans to major in Psychology at Lipscomb
HIGH SCHOOL
- Member of four substate runner-up finishes at Cimarron High School for a team that finished 66-25 in three seasons
- Two-time All-State
- Three-time All-Conference
- Two-time nominee for Class 3A Player of the Year
- Closed her career with over 1,400 points and 700 rebounds.
- Was her school's valedictorian with a perfect 4.0 GPA.
From Coach Sumski:
"McKayla is a smooth operator with a really mature game and elite feel. We knew we were getting a player out of her, but we've been impressed with her willingness to adapt, learn and grow in a new system. She's also been great at using her experience to provide insight to our younger players."
Hannah Richardson - Auckland, New Zealand - 6-1- Guard
- Appeared in 26 games last season with St. Bonaventure, averaging 4.9 points per game and adde 2.12 rebounds in over 525 minutes
- Plans to major in Neurobiology at Lipscomb
HIGH SCHOOL
- Graduated from the Hoosac School in New York
- Member of team that finished sixth in New England Preparatory Athletic Council rankings
- Helped her prep school qualify for the NEPSAC Playoffs for the first time in school history
From Coach Sumski:
"Hannah plays the game with tremendous force. She has an incredibly high motor, and she brings a unique combination of skill and physicality that we have not had before. She also brings a contagious joy to the game."
The women's program is coming off a memorable year that saw the team match its best win total with 20, and also set new program marks in scoring (74.53), field goals made (880) and 3-pointers made (306). Additionally, the 9.6 triples per game was the seventh-most in Division I last season.
"The Lord led six amazing young women here who are of upstanding character, work hard, want to grow and are great teammates. Even more so, they are perfect fits for our program's culture and the way that we play. We wanted to get bigger, longer and add more one-one-one shot creators in this class.
Between our incoming freshmen and our transfers, we've done just that. After having some time together in June, they've been a blast. I've been super impressed with the intentionality they've made on and off the court, as well as our returners ability to bring them into the fold. Overall, I'm thrilled about this group. Excited to watch them continue to improve every day."
