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ATLANTA - Lipscomb's Claira McGowan (Player) and Bellarmine's Paetynn Gray (Newcomer) were joined by Kennesaw State's Sophia Rueppell (Freshman) in earning this week's Atlantic Sun Conference Women's Basketball weekly honors, announced Monday by the league office.
Women's Basketball Player of the Week
Claira McGowan, Lipscomb
Junior | Guard | Murfreesboro, Tenn.
- First Career ASUN Player of the Week award; 24th all-time honor for the Bisons
- Averaged 19 points and 5.5 rebounds leading Lipscomb to a 2-0 week on the road
- Shot 48% from the field while knocking down a team-best seven treys during the two-game stretch (39%)
- Opened the week with 15 points and four rebounds against Mississippi Valley State
- Dropped a career-high 23 points in the 68-45 win over ETSU to cap off the week
Other Nominees: Shamarre Hale, Austin Peay; Kinley Fisher, Central Arkansas; Brylee Bartram, FGCU; Prencis Harden, Kennesaw State; Rhema Pegues, North Alabama; Kaila Rougier, North Florida.
Women's Basketball Newcomer of the Week
Paetynn Gray, Bellarmine
Sophomore | Forward | Austin, Texas
- First Career ASUN Newcomer of the Week award; second nod for the Knights in program history
- Averaged 12.0 points, 8.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.5 blocks per game while shooting 40% from the field
- Helped Bellarmine notch a pair of road victories, the first two of the season, against Evansville and Wofford
- Had 13 points and six rebounds against Evansville; hit one of three treys with 26 seconds left to make it a two-possession game
- Posted first career double-double as a Knight with 11 points and 11 rebounds against the Terriers; had a go-ahead three-pointer with 55 seconds left
Other Nominees: Abby Cater, Austin Peay; Leah Mafua, Central Arkansas; Ajulu Thatha, FGCU; India Howard, North Alabama.
Women's Basketball Freshman of the Week
Sophia Rueppell, Kennesaw State
Freshman | Guard | Jacksonville, Fla.
- First Career ASUN Freshman of the Week award; 17th all-time honor for Kennesaw State
- Averaged 9.0 points, 3.0 rebounds and 2.0 steals per game in a 2-0 week for the Owls
- Earned her second and third career starts and shot 50% from the field (8-of-16) for KSU
- Opened with a seven-point outing against Chattanooga while adding her first career steals (2)
- Finished the stretch with 11 tallies and four rebounds in the win over Coastal Georgia
Other Nominees: La'Nya Foster, Austin Peay; Katie Criswell, North Alabama.
2023-24 Season Award Winners
Dec. 4 | Player: Claira McGowan, Lipscomb; Newcomer: Peatynn Gray, Bellarmine; Freshman: Sophia Reuppell, Kennesaw State
Nov. 27 | Player: Alexis Callins, North Alabama; Newcomer: Dolly Cairns, FGCU; Freshman: Veronaye Charlton, North Alabama
Nov. 20 | Player: Antwainette Walker, EKU; Newcomer: Dolly Cairns, FGCU; Freshman: Saniyah Craig, Jacksonville
Nov. 13 | Player: Alice Recanati, EKU; Newcomer: Sierra McCullough, EKU; Freshman: Alexa Washington, North Florida