But sometimes there’s a bit of a transition period when attempting to adjust to the pace and style of play at the college level regardless of division.

Well, for some that’s the case. For Parlante, it’s just basketball.

“I was nervous coming onto Penn College’s team because I knew some of the girls already on the team were really good and coming from a smaller school, I didn’t really know (how it’d be),” Parlante said. “I’m fitting in pretty well and just working hard every day.”

Fitting in pretty well may be under-selling it just a little bit.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Penn College’s Gigi Parlante (22) moves the ball around Penn State Harrisburg’s Jordan Carpenter (15) during Saturday’s game.

Penn College has played 13 games entering this week, and the former Golden Knight is already a three-time United East Player of the Week recipient.

“Just having a good support system around me, good coaches and teammates,” Parlante attributed to her success as a freshman early on. “That’s really the only difference. They always have my back and without them I wouldn’t be getting any awards.”

Parlante has played in all 13 games this year for the Wildcats and leads the team in rebounds per game (10.5), total rebounds (137), defensive rebounds (76), offensive rebounds (61) and has a team-high 22 steals and six blocks.

Her 137 rebounds are nearly 60 more than the second-leading rebounder. Oh, and Parlante also leads the team in scoring with 14.3 points per game and has scored 186 points.

Add it all together, and Penn College has an outstanding well-rounded player in Parlante who makes an impact game in and game out.

“I think one of the things about Gigi — and I don’t think people talk about this as much because all they see is the numbers — but just how great of a teammate she is. She doesn’t like the accolades, she doesn’t want that name out there, she wants to see the team succeed,” Mohney said. “I think her coming in and being a humble freshman, understanding the role on the team that she can compete, she can make a name for herself.

“But also knowing she has teammates she can pass the ball to and still have that success,” Mohney continued. “She wants team success more than she wants her own success and she’s an incredible player, incredible leader, incredible kid. If people got to know who she was off the floor, they’d get to know how amazing she is.”

And Mohney was glad to see how well Parlante easily transitioned from high school to college to make an immediate impact for the Wildcats.

“I think having that presence on inside of the paint, I think she was nervous at the beginning of the year. She’s a freshman, she’s starting, she’s never seen what college game is like,” Mohney said. “She got that taste and realized I can hang with the big dogs even as a freshman. I think we’re going to see something really special with her over these next four years with what she can do as she gets older.”

Penn College opened this season 1-4, but instead of allowing that to get the players in a losing mindset, Penn College knew the talent it had and kept playing their style of basketball. And Parlante’s a big reason for why the Wildcats won five straight games before having that streak snapped on Saturday with a 53-50 loss to PSU Harrisburg at Bardo Gym.

What’s the main reason for that 5-0 run to get above .500?

“Heart and accountability. We see and know our potential and I think what we needed to do was start doing it together. To be the hero, we have to do it all together and in those games, our assists were always greater because we shared the ball,” Mohney said. “We have so much talent on this team, but the more that we can contribute as a whole for the five on the floor, we’re going to continue to succeed. I think them seeing that and knowing they can do it, they just had to put it out there. Once they did, it just became a domino effect.”

“Just playing together, sticking together no matter what. I think in previous years we lacked that collective feeling,” Teats said. “I think this year we just all want it for each other and we’re not selfish. It’s very much a team effort every time and I think that’s what puts us ahead of other teams.”

That unselfish type of play and team-first mentality is a large reason as well why Parlante is as much of an impact player as she is. Just watch her play and you’ll see.