Women’s basketball has record-breaking season, awaits invitation to WNIT

Team looking to advance to the postseason for the first time since 2004.

Kim Chaudoin  |  03/12/2025

When the 2024-25 Lipscomb women’s basketball team took the court for their first game on Nov. 4, they did so with a commitment that extended far beyond wins and losses.

This year, they dedicated their season to God, vowing to use basketball as a platform to share their faith while competing at the highest level. Now, with their second 20-win season in three years, the best win-loss record in the DI-era and their second trip to the ASUN Tournament semifinals since 2022 this is a season that has been one for the record books. And, with a possible Women’s National Invitation Tournament (WNIT) bid on the horizon, the program is on the verge of making it to the post season for the first time in 20 years.

A culture of excellence

Under the leadership of Head Coach Lauren Sumski, the Lipscomb women’s basketball program has undergone a remarkable transformation over the last six seasons. Once a struggling program ranked at the bottom of Division I, the women’s basketball team is now a force to be reckoned with, consistently finishing in the top tier of the ASUN conference.

This season also marked the third consecutive year with more than 17 overall wins and 10 or more ASUN conference victories. In scoring, the team ranked second in the ASUN and in the top 50 nationally in scoring at 74.9 points per game. The team’s three-point shooting ranked among the top 10 in NCAA Division I in three-pointers made (9.7 per game) and attempts (27.6 per game). In addition, Lipscomb was second in the conference and top 50 in the nation in fewest turnovers per game (13.6) and was the ASUN leader and top 50 nationally in fewest personal fouls per game (14.1). 

The Lady Bisons also rewrote the program record books this season, setting new highs in scoring average (74.9 points per game), field goal percentage (44.7%), three-pointers made (277) and three-point attempts (800).

“It’s amazing to see how far we’ve come,” Sumski said. “Considering where we were just a few years ago and for us to now be consistently competing for championships is amazing. It is a testament to the hard work of the team this year and I could not be more proud.”

Team leadership defines the season

While team success is built collectively, the contributions of three players have been particularly instrumental in shaping the trajectory of the program this season.

Graduate student guard Jalyn Holcomb, who set the program’s DI all-time points record this season, has been at the center of Lipscomb’s resurgence.

“Jayln has been a player through all of our success. She's been a large part because of her tenacity, her buy in, her selflessness, her desire to make people around her better and her ability to step up in big moments and not shy away from challenges,” reflected Sumski. “I’m most impressed with how she's grown as a leader and as a young woman. We cannot be more thrilled with who she is, but our program would not be where it is without her.”

Senior guard Bella Vinson, who earned her second All-ASUN First Team selection this season and topped 1,000 career points, chose to remain at Lipscomb for her career even as she had opportunities to transfer to Power Five schools, buying into the vision of the program and excelling in every role she has taken on.

“Bella has played so many roles for us, on and off the court. She's grown tremendously in her leadership. She just shows up every day to do what she is supposed to do and is the most consistent practice player and in games,” Sumski shared. “She is the most low maintenance player of all time. She's the the superstar who has no idea that she's a superstar! We've asked her to shoulder a lot, starting as a freshman, and she's done that without complaint through some really hard times. She just contributes to winning in every way, all the time, and extremely selfless.”

Murray State transfer Claira McGowan, a senior guard who also notched her 1,000th career point this season, also provided critical contributions, particularly during the 2023-24 season when injuries left the team shorthanded. Sumski said she immediately bought into what was asked of her and was able to carry the team when Holcomb and Vinson were both out with injury.

“She was a big reason we won 17 games last year. She stepped up in big, competitive moments, and where I'm really proud of her as we've seen her down the stretch grow as a leader,” she said.

Sumski credits Holcomb, Vinson and McGowan with not just leading the program to an outstanding season but also making a lasting impact on the culture of the women’s basketball program.

"What those three young women have done for our program — and for women's basketball, especially in the South but now reaching across the nation — is incredible,” she explained. “Lipscomb has become an attractive destination where a lot of people want to be a part of it. We can now be selective with recruiting, whereas before, we had to work hard just to make sure people even knew who we were or where we were located.”

She continued, “In the women's basketball community, we're actually having trouble getting teams to play us, which is a compliment. That first year, we had no problem filling our schedule — everyone wanted to play us and pay us. They have truly changed what it means to be a Lady Bison.”

Sumski said the program’s success this year is the result of a culture change that has been in motion since her first season in 2019-20 due to the efforts of then-seniors Carleigh Short, Emily Kmec and Kaylee Cotton along with Sydney Shelton, who played for the Bisons and has served on the coaching staff for the past three years, with playing a crucial role in establishing the team’s culture.

“Though they didn’t experience immediate winning success, they paved the way for our program’s foundation,” said Sumski. “They embodied the toughness, competitiveness and desire to win that we wanted to instill, not just in basketball but in every area of life — spiritually, academically and personally. They embraced challenges head-on and set the tone for what our program would become. Sydney’s transition from player to coach has helped further transform our program, reinforcing the values and culture that began with that first senior class.”

Faith at the core

Beyond their on-court achievements, the women’s basketball team has embraced a mission that extends beyond basketball. This season, they committed to playing for a greater purpose — using their platform to honor God and share their faith.

“This team understands that basketball is a gift,” Sumski said. “They’re playing for more than themselves. They want to make an impact, not just on the scoreboard, but in the lives of others.”

“We dedicated our season to God for the first time as a team, and we decided that we all were committed to playing for Him,” she continued. “We weren’t playing for ourselves. We weren’t playing for our families. We weren’t playing for any other reason than to bring glory to God and to play on the largest platform we could so that we can talk about God and how good He is, to try to share His life and what He's done for us in our lives through the basketball and try to lead others to Christ. That's been our goal from the onset.”

That mindset has led the team to engage in community service initiatives, including working with refugee families, supporting local food banks, serving at a nearby public elementary school and leading team-organized Bible studies.

“When you're establishing culture, you're building habits and teaching young women how to lead. Two years ago, we reached a point where Jayln and Bella were naturally taking the lead in ways we weren’t even aware of — holding meetings, leading Bible studies and organizing devotionals on their own,” said Sumski. “That’s the coolest part. In practice, before I can even correct a player, Jalyn and Bella are already on it. As a coach, there’s nothing more we could ask for. Their success on the court is one thing, but more importantly, they are incredible young women who love the Lord with all their hearts. It has been a joy to coach them every single day."

Looking ahead

With the ASUN Tournament in the rearview mirror and the anticipated WNIT selection coming Sunday, March 16, the Lady Bisons are ready for their next challenge. The opportunity to compete in the WNIT is not just about adding another accomplishment to their resume — Sumski sees it as a stepping stone toward even greater goals, including a return to the NCAA tournament as the team did during the 2003-04 season.

“We know this is just the beginning,” Sumski said. “We’ve earned the right to be here, and we’re ready to compete at the highest level.”

This postseason opportunity represents a culmination of years of hard work, perseverance and faith.

“To have the chance to keep playing together, to represent Lipscomb on this stage, it means the world to us,” Sumski said. “Our goal has always been to compete on the biggest stage possible so we can share God’s goodness in our lives. Earning a postseason opportunity is a testament to the hard work, sacrifice, and investment from our players, coaches, trainers, administration and staff — it’s a huge accomplishment. But more than anything, the opportunity to be together is a blessing, and we don’t take that lightly.”

“This is a group that loves to compete, and getting to showcase that beyond our region is an opportunity we won’t turn down. Playing in a prestigious tournament like the WNIT is an honor, especially knowing that many teams who compete in it have gone on to make deep NCAA Tournament runs in future seasons, and we see this as an important step to set us up for future success,” she continued. “This is a great opportunity to sending those seniors out on a great note by being the first team to play in the postseason in over 20 years. I think it's an incredible feat.”