Top scorer and guard Jennifer Towne has been a key leader in the successes of the women’s basketball team this season.

Nicknamed “Jenn” or “JT” on the court, the Jonesboro, Ark. native had athletic and academic offers from several colleges and universities but decided to come to UNA for the Lion experience.

She met the UNA basketball coaches at an Amateur Athletic Union basketball tournament in Franklin, Tenn. her junior year of high school, where she verbally committed to join the Lions’ team.

“I second-guessed myself after I verbally committed, but after getting to know the coaches I decided UNA was a perfect fit for me,” Towne said. “I really just wanted to get out of Arkansas.”

Division-I prospects picked up on Towne’s talent after she was named four-time team MVP for her high school and gained All-State recognition. She was offered athletic scholarships to play basketball for top-name programs like Arkansas State University and University of Oklahoma.

Towne is a public communication major and aspires to go on to law school to become either a negligence or family lawyer.

Towne strives to be the best she can be in the classroom and is always there to help others in any way she can, said teammate Corinne White.

“She is one of the most positive and uplifting individuals I have ever met,” White said. “She always comes to practice with a positive mindset of getting better and she pushes her teammates to do the same.”

She averaged 7.4 points per game last season and is eager to break her own record this season, she said.

Towne believes her team-oriented skills will allow her and the team to overcome mistakes and achieve common goals, she said.

“Our team knows each other so well, simply because we’ve been through so much,” she said. “It’s really amazing how we can take the camaraderie off the court and transfer it to the court so easily.”

First-year head coach Missy Tiber said Towne is an overall great person.

“Jennifer has a lot of high expectations and plans both on and off the court,” she said. “I can count on her to be consistent every single game.”

Playing basketball and balancing schoolwork has taught Towne a few necessities about her future career, she said.

“One thing I have learned throughout my professional career both on and off the court is that punctuality and discipline are vital to success,” she said.

Outside of basketball, Towne enjoys singing, writing and eating delicious foods, she said.