After leading Liberty to road wins over ASUN co-leaders Austin Peay and Lipscomb, the Lady Flames’ Emma Hess has been named ASUN Women’s Basketball Player of the Week for the first time in her career.

Hess is the second Liberty player to win this award in 2022-23, following Jordan Bailey’s recognition on Dec. 19. Hess was previously named ASUN Freshman of the Week once last season, on Dec. 6, 2021.

A sophomore guard from Beavercreek, Ohio, Hess averaged a team-high 21.0 ppg and made a team-best 11 three-pointers at a 57.9 percent clip for the week.

She tied for the team lead with 14 points at Austin Peay on Thursday, knocking down four triples and hitting two game-sealing free throws with 0.8 seconds remaining.

Hess then produced the best game of her career Saturday at Lipscomb, setting career highs for both points (28) and three-pointers (7). Three of her triples came during a 15-2 run to open the fourth quarter, which gave the Lady Flames a lead they never relinquished. With Liberty clinging to a four-point advantage and less than three minutes remaining, Hess came up with a steal and converted it into a three-point play, helping to close out the victory.

In total, Hess tallied 22 of her 28 points after halftime and single-handedly outscored Lipscomb during the fourth quarter, 14-12.

Hess’s 28 points were the most by a Lady Flame since Dec. 6, 2020, when Emily Lytle had 30 at Memphis.

Her 22 points in a half were the most by a Lady Flame since Jan. 16, 2012, when Avery Warley totaled 22 second-half points at Charleston Southern.

Hess’s seven triples were the most by a Lady Flame since Jan. 18, 1999, when Sharon Wilkerson hit a program-record eight at Charleston Southern.

Riding a season-best five-game winning streak, Liberty (13-7, 7-2 ASUN) will return home for a pair of games this week. The Lady Flames will host Jacksonville State Thursday at 7 p.m. and welcome Kennesaw State to Liberty Arena Saturday at 1 p.m.