DANVILLE, Ky. - She has played in 73 games with 44 starts during her three years at Centre College but not once has scoring ever been Arin Nipp's focus when she's on the court.

Instead, the 6-foot forward is happy to rebound, play defense, pass or do anything else to help her team win and leave the scoring to others. She averages only 2.9 points per game but pulls off 7.6 rebounds per game.

"I've always had people on my team that like to score more than I did, and I've always liked defense more. I feel like I can excel in that category a little bit better," said Nipp, a 6-foot forward.  "I've also struggled with some confidence on the offensive end, and so I just tend to focus more on rebounding and defense because that's just all effort.

"I know I can give 100 percent effort all the time, and I just think it's more fun to play defense and get rebounds. I like seeing my friends score. It brings me a lot of happiness when I throw that extra pass and then they get the bucket."

Nipp's mother played basketball at Centre College — she wears jersey No. 22 just like her mother did — and her dad also attended Centre.

"I got my height from my dad and my athletic ability from my mom," the Brentwood, Tenn., native said.

Nipp leads the team in rebounding and averages about one rebound for every three minutes she plays. She's also third on the team in assists (32) and steals (21).

Nipp has always had a knack for anticipating where rebounds might come off the rim.

"My dad and I used to shoot a lot when I was younger and I would rebound. That's how I kind of know now where the ball might bounce when my team shots. My dad definitely helped me develop that skill," she said.

Her goal was to average 10 rebounds per game — a hefty number on a team that regularly plays at least 10 players per game. Centre is 14-2 (4-1 Southern Athletic Association) going into this weekend's road trip to Texas to play SAA foes Southwestern (Friday) and Trinity (Saturday).

Nipp was part of Centre's NCAA Tournament team last season that suffered major graduation losses but has bounced back nicely.

"I feel like we have a faster pace to us and play an exciting style. Returning players are a year older and it's our team now to lead, so this year has been very exciting to me," she said. "We have spread out the scoring more and can actually probably score in more ways this year and that makes it harder on teams playing us."

Junior Lilly Reid is Centre's leading scorer at 17.4 points per game and also leads the team in assists and steals. She understands how important Nipp is even with her limited scoring.

"She's definitely a very big vocal leader, for sure. She doesn't score as much and doesn't have as much desire to score as the rest of us. But if you know her off the court, she's the most selfless person. She would do anything for you," Reid said. "I think that translates on the court. She will get every ball she can get. She always has several fouls, but that just shows how hard she's playing every single possession.

"I think she trusts us to score but her rebound stats are insane. You can really tell how much effort she puts in based on her defense and rebounding."

She puts the same effort into her academics. She's a biology major and plans to be an oral surgeon. That will mean four years of dental school after graduation and then four to six years of specialized residency.

She chipped her two front teeth at a summer camp when she was in sixth grade when someone hit her in the face with an oar.

"I have spent a lot of time with my dentist and then an orthodontist and finally an oral surgeon," she said. "So that let me kind of know what I wanted to do. I know that means a lot of school ahead for me but I have always liked school. I like having that motivation and drive to accomplish something.

"I am the youngest of four siblings and they all wanted to be doctors but never made it. I feel like that gives me more fire to be the doctor and show them."

Her brother played Division I football and her oldest sister played Division I soccer.

"We always competed with each other. We would always play basketball. We take everything as a competition, even board games and card games. Nothing is just an easy game in our family," Nipp said.

"I try not to be too competitive. That can bring out like a monster in you and turn you into a scary person. I still want to see everyone succeed but I am competitive and I am always going to do my best to beat you."