Meet the Panthers: Sophomore Abbie Ackerman

Abbie Ackerman will be putting on a different kind of Northern Iowa jersey this season. Ackerman started her athletic career as a member of the UNI track and field team last year and will be a two-sport athlete this season.

The Rock Rapids, Iowa native spent four years at Central Lion High School competing in track and field, basketball, volleyball and softball. For the basketball team, Ackerman averaged 15 points per game and holds the school record for most points scored.

She began playing basketball when she was younger because both of her parents coached and played basketball. Her parents influence helped her get involved in a sport that she grew to love.

"I love the team aspect of basketball," Ackerman said. "I love being able to help the team with my individual talents."

Since Ackerman took a year off from playing basketball competitively, she has several individual goals she hopes to achieve.

"Since this is my first year, I want to be able to individually get better on all levels of the game," she said. "I think my individual goals will become clearer to me as the season goes on. I do know that I want to help improve my team whether it's in practice, during a game or off the court. I want to be a dependable teammate to everyone."

As far as team goals go, the consensus on the team is the same as Ackerman's team goals - win the MVC title and make the NCAA tournament.

"We don't want to just stay at the same level of play," Ackerman said. "We want to keep pushing ourselves to get better and excel on and off the court."

Getting to know Abbie:

Q: What is your favorite color?
A: Yellow

Q: What is your favorite athletic team?
A: The Broncos

Q: What is your favorite sport to watch besides basketball?
A: Football

Q: Who is your favorite athlete?
A: For basketball, Mya Moore, and for football, Tim Tebow.

Q: What is your favorite sport to play besides basketball?
A: Track and Field

Q: Who is the funniest person on the team?
A: Moran Lonning

Q: What is your favorite movie?
A: The Help

Q: Who is your favorite actor/actress?
A: Ryan Gossling

Q: What is your favorite type of music?
A: Country

Q: What are the top-five songs on your iPod?
A: Come Wake Me Up by Rascal Flatts, Blown Away by Carrie Underwood, Wanted by Hunter Hayes, Some Nights by Fun and Time is Love by Josh Turner.

Q: If an actress would play you in a movie, who would it be?
A: Emma Stone

Q: What would the theme song to your life be?
A: Eye of the Tiger

Q: Do you have any hidden talents?
A: I'm good at memorizing.

Q: What is your favorite post-game food?
A: Chocolate milk

Q: If you could choose to have dinner with three people, dead or alive, who would they be?
A: My grandpa Nagel, Barack Obama and Blake Shelton.

Q: If you won the lottery, what would you do with the money?
A: I would give most of it away to charities and pediatric health research. I would then give some of it to my parents and siblings and then have the rest for myself and in savings.