EPHRAIM-   One word perfectly describes how Sammie Jensen felt the first time she set foot on the Snow College campus.

Home.

After meeting with the Badgers coaching staff and soaking in the atmosphere of the small-town junior college, Jensen knew that this was the place for her to set up shop as a college basketball player.

"I knew I would fit in here from day one," Jensen said. "I never really looked at any other school. I just kind of knew this was it."

If Jensen viewed playing for Snow as a perfect fit, it is a safe bet such a feeling is more than mutual these days.

The freshman forward has wasted no time emerging as a force around the basket for the Badgers. Jensen is averaging 12.8 points, 11.8 rebounds and 1.5 steals — leading her team in all three categories and helping Snow become the Scenic West Athletic Conference's hottest team over the past month.

The Badgers (18-6, 9-5) have won 10 of their last 11 games and Jensen has played a major role in making them virtually unstoppable. In Snow's most recent victory — a 70-67 triumph over Salt Lake Community College on Saturday — she scored 14 points and collected 13 rebounds.

Both were team highs against the Bruins.

"It's just rare to find an athlete of her caliber," Badger coach Cindy Lindsay said.

Jensen's biggest value comes from her domination of the glass. She leads the Scenic West in rebounding and ranks 8th nationally among all NJCAA players.

Going after rebounds is Jensen's way of acclimating to the more physical style of play she sees at the junior college level. The way Jensen sees it, if she can hold her own around the basket, it can only offer Snow an added dimension and give the Badgers an advantage over their opponents.

"It's huge for our team," Jensen said. "And so if I can get out there and try to get as many boards as I can, I know that we have a really good shot at winning."

For Lindsay, Jensen's prowess on the boards is a testament to her unselfish nature. Jensen, she said, is less concerned about how many points she can score than she is about how many loose balls she can corral around the rim. Because of that trait, Snow can always feel confident that it will be the team to set the tone around the basket.

"It's absolutely a bonus for us," Lindsay said. "There are very few teams that have out rebounded us this year and part of that is due to her ability to rebound inside."