Canisius College softball player Lauren Hope (Los Osos, Calif.) has been named the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference's Rookie of the Week, the league office announced Monday. Hope hit .538 (7-for-13) with five runs scored and five stolen bases last week as the Golden Griffins went 3-1 in a pair of doubleheaders against Buffalo and Saint Peter's.

In the Griffs' 6-2 win over Buffalo April 2, the 5-foot-2 freshman outfielder reached first base by beating out an infield hit, then moved around the base paths by stealing second, third and home to score the Blue and Gold's fourth run of the game. In Canisius' conference opening doubleheader at Saint Peter's April 6, Hope went a combined 5-for-8 at the dish with three runs scored and two stolen bases. Through her first 25 collegiate games, Hope is a perfect 15-for-15 in stolen base attempts and starts this week's action tied for the school record in stolen bases by a freshman.

Canisius will open a six-game homestand this weekend when the team plays host to Fairfield April 12, and Iona April 13.