Meet the Panthers: Freshman Jessie Pauley

Jessie Pauley will suit up for the UNI women's basketball team after a successful high school career at OA-BCIG in Ida Grove, Iowa. The 2012 Miss Iowa Basketball winner started playing basketball at a young age.

"I started playing basketball because I wanted to be just like my brother Ben," Pauley said. "He is nine years older than me."

Once she started playing the game, she couldn't get enough. In high school, she averaged 21.4 points per game and a 49 percent field goal average along with setting the school record for most points in a single game, most rebounds in a game, most steals in a game and most steals in a season.

Playing sports is an opportunity for youth to get active in their community and in their schools, which is one of Pauley's favorite parts about basketball.

"My favorite part about basketball is that it puts me into a position to meet so many different people," Pauley said. "I get to form life-long relationships with my teammates and coaches."

For someone who averaged over 20 points a game in high school, Pauley wants to focus on the other side of the ball this season.

"My goal for the season for myself is to become defensively smart," she said.

Pauley will start her freshman campaign at the Panthers' exhibition match on Nov. 4 and is excited about what the team can do this season.

"My favorite part of being at UNI is being looked at as a family member on the team, instead of just a freshman," Pauley said.

Getting to know Jessie:

Q: What is your favorite color?
A: Purple

Q: What is your favorite athletic team?
A: Chicago Bulls

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

Q: Who is your favorite athlete?
A: Candice Parker

Q: What is your favorite sport to play besides basketball?
A: Golf

Q: Who is the funniest person on the team?
A: The funniest person on the team is Sharnae Lamar, but we all feed off one another.

Q: What is your favorite movie?
A: Happy Gilmore

Q: Who is your favorite actor/actress?
A: Jennifer Aniston

Q: What is your favorite type of music?
A: I really listen to anything. It just depends on what kind of mood I am in.

Q: What are the top-five songs on your iPod?
A: Firefly by Sister Hazel, Your Guardian Angel by Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, Wonderwall by Oasis, Storm by Lifehouse, and Happiness by the Fray.

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

Q: What would the theme song to your life be?
A: If Today Was Your Last Day by Nickelback

Q: Do you have any hidden talents?
A: I can make a pretty loud popping noise with my mouth.

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

Q: If you could choose to have dinner with three people, dead or alive, who would they be?
A: Michael Jordan, Jesus and Steve Jobs.

Q: If you won the lottery, what would you do with the money?
A: I would buy my mom a house and I would build a lake house in Colorado for my family and me. I would also put money away for my kid's college and go on a big family vacation.