Two hours before every game, Mindy Nielson starts mentally preparing for another competitive BYU women's basketball matchup.

Zigzagging, running up and down the shiny hardwood floors and warming up her fingers through dribbling drills gets Nielson pumped and ready for the night's competition. To keep calm and collected, Nielson listens to slow music to ease herself before another battle in the Mountain West Conference.

Through 29 games, more than 50 team practices, and regular weight lifting sessions, freshman Nielson still finds time to balance school and social life and loves every minute of it. Nielson joined BYU coach Jeff Judkins' program this season.

"She is a perfect BYU mold," Judkins said. "Good student -- hard worker who wants to play."

In her first season, tough challenges arose with the task of heading up BYU's offense at the point guard position. Nielson, normally a forward in high school, had to cover for Haley Hall, who was out for the season with a reinjured knee.

Stephanie Nielson, Mindy's mother, said learning to dribble the ball well was the greatest challenge this season.

"It was very hard for her," she said. "She played forward -- he was completely out of her element."

Forced into the playmaker spot, Nielson's impact on the Cougars' offense was impressive. She was the third leading scorer for the Cougars, averaging 7.3 points per game. She also racked up 80 assists to give her teammates opportunities, and was aggressive on defense with 46 steals.

"Boo", as her family calls her, grew up surrounded by the leather ball and white lacey net. Basketball was everything to the Nielson family. Her grandfather Duke Reid coached at Utah Valley State, and if that wasn't enough, her uncle Roger Reid coached men's basketball at BYU and now coaches at Southern Utah University. Basketball was something her family enjoyed and celebrated.

"Mindy is fun," Stephanie Nielson said. "She is always up for a good time. As long as there are people around her. She loves to be outside playing."

According to Nielson's mother, gracious is the word that best describes her daughter. Her family would come to the BYU home games and even though they had a tough season, Mindy would thank them for coming and always be grateful for their support.

Nielson's brother, Jake played a major role in who she is today as a person and player. She remembers playing street ball with her brother in her backyard beginning at age five. Her relationship with her brother continued to grow since they were born only 17 months apart. Growing up, her brother made her a better basketball player through his example. To Nielson, her brother was her mentor and role model.

"We would work hard and try to better ourselves," Nielson said. "He has always been a successful player. I really admire that and his work ethic."

Determined is another word that describes Nielson's personality on and off the court.

"When she puts her mind to something, she will do everything she can to get to that goal," Regis Jesuit High School coach Carl Mattei said.

Nielson played three years on varsity at Regis Jesuit, a private catholic all-girls school in Aurora, Colo. The school is regularly among the best of the competition in the area and is known for producing Div.1 college basketball players. Mattei was impressed with Nielson from the very beginning. He described Nielson as a talented, athletic and extremely quick player. He described Nielson's role on his squad as a mother hen.

"She set the standard," Mattei said. "She made sure the younger kids followed her example. She is a great example of what an athlete can be."

Nielson's hard work was not just felt on the courts of her high school gym. She made an impact on her fellow teammates with her spirituality, work ethic and academics.

"She was so incredible as a leader," Mattei said. "Mindy played on a talented team. She was the best. She is a good one."

Her senior year, Nielson had several offers to play at the college level. Mindy felt BYU offered something different that stood out from the rest.

"He is a great coach [Judkins]," Nielson said. "He knows what he is talking about. He is a part of a winning program. When I came here it just felt right."

What Nielson learned about work ethic early in high school continued to her first year on Jukdins' squad. Judkins saw future potential in Nielson, coming from a top-three high school team at Regis.

"She is a winner," Judkins said. "Winning is important to her. She wanted to be on a good program where she would be coached and pushed."

Coaches of Nielson such as Mattei and Judkins describe Nielson as a hard worker who will give effort every time on the court.

"She is a very hard worker," Judkins said. "One of the hardest workers on her team."

Looking back at the tough season for the Cougars, Nielson's highlight was against then No. 15 Wyoming at the Marriott Center.

"We all had a good time," Nielson said. "It was a fun atmosphere to play in."

Nielson contributed 13 points and five assists in the contest to help her team pull off the victory, 56-42. Judkins thought Nielson competed well, guarding one of Wyoming's best players and penetrating and driving to the basket on offense.

"She didn't have a horrible game all season," Judkins said. "She took it upon herself to be more consistent. She is the best freshman in our conference. She made some big plays for us."