The list of accolades that Jolene Anderson has received in her three years at Wisconsin reads more like a novel: Preseason First Team All-Big Ten; two-time Big Ten Player of the Week; 2006-07 Naismith Player of the Year Candidate; two-time gold medal winner as a member of the USA Basketball teams; 2006 Rebel Shootout MVP; fastest UW player to reach 1,500 points… The list goes on.

To the humble junior from Port Wing, a small town in extreme northwestern Wisconsin, all the awards are more of an afterthought.

"It probably means more to my family, being that I came from a small town," Anderson said. "A lot of people probably didn't think I would succeed as much as I have."

Like many other athletes of her caliber, Anderson insists on not taking full recognition for what she has done on the court, choosing instead to credit her coaches and teammates.

"It's just a tremendous accomplishment," Anderson said. "I can't take any credit for it. The coaching staff and my teammates put me in a good position every day. I just take the opportunities."

One of the opportunities Anderson gladly accepted was the chance to represent her home state by playing for the Badgers, something she knew she wanted to do while growing up on her family's farm in a town of fewer than 500 people.

"If you have an opportunity to represent your home state, why not?" Anderson said. "I always told my parents growing up that I wanted to be a Badger."

In fact, Anderson took a slightly different path to UW than a typical star on the hardwood: getting her start by shooting baskets in a barn.

"Our family had a farm, and I asked my dad if he could put a basketball hoop up [in the barn] for me, and he said he would as long as I helped him clean it out." Anderson said. "It was a little chilly, so I had to wear gloves and a hat, but it was well worth it."

For Wisconsin head coach Lisa Stone, it was well worth it, also. Stone originally recruited Anderson while still coaching at Drake. Shortly after Anderson committed to the Badgers, Stone became UW's new head coach.

"It sort of worked out great," Stone said. "I recruited her to Drake, but she wanted to be a Badger, and then I became the Badger coach, so it all worked out well."

Anderson has seen the progression of the program at Wisconsin in her three years with the team and has been perhaps the most pivotal reason for its recent success. She has led the team in scoring each year, and has continued to get better.

"People were adjusting to the new coaching staff," Anderson said. "I just came in willing to do whatever I could to help the team win. Obviously, we had ups and downs the first two seasons, but this year, I think we stepped up to the challenge."

Stone feels the same way.

"The best thing about Jolene Anderson is that every year she's gotten better, and that's what's scary," Stone said. "Freshman year, she led us. Sophomore year, she led us. Junior year, she's leading us, and then some.

"She is getting better all the time."

Aside from leading the team in most statistical categories, Anderson has become a leader, both on and off the court. While it took her some time getting used to the added pressure, she's grown into the role.

"She makes you comfortable out there," freshman point guard Rae Lin D'Alie said. "She doesn't necessarily lead vocally, but she definitely leads by example."

Off the hardwood, Anderson has taken the team's eight new players under her wing, providing a strong sense of team chemistry.

"There's not a thing that Jolene wouldn't do for her teammates," Stone said. "She never leaves a teammate behind. She's always got everybody's back. She's a quiet individual, yet very, very giving."

Guard Janese Banks has come through the program alongside Anderson, and with all the time the two spend together, a strong relationship has developed.

"She's a loving person," Banks said. "She'll do anything you ask of her. She's been a great teammate and friend since I've been here."

As two of the team's veteran players, Anderson and Banks have been looked to for guidance. With Banks playing the vocal role and Anderson as the lead-by-example type, the guard tandem has guided the team to its first winning season under Stone.

"I think we both complement each other," Banks said. "I think I'm more of the vocal [leader], and she does more of the action. She just goes out there and people follow her steps. I think we've both matured as players to do things to help this team."

Anderson still has one year left in her storied career at Wisconsin, but Stone already foresees great things for her in the years to come.

"Absolutely no question, she'll be in the WNBA," Stone said. "There's just no question. She's that good."

For Anderson, playing professional basketball would be a dream come true.

"I hope to see myself being successful," Anderson said. "Obviously, my dream would be to play in the WNBA, but if I don't make it, then I don't make it.

"Wherever I am, hopefully I'll be successful."