Senior Paige Greiner always felt like the basketball court was her place, one of comfort, familiarity and solace. While basketball always stood out, it never stopped her from playing a variety of sports growing up including softball, soccer and track and field. Ironically, a high school track meet at no place other then the Drake Relays brought her one step closer to her dream of playing college basketball. 
 
"I just knew that this was where I wanted to be," said Greiner. "The first time I talked to the coaches I knew almost immediately that this was the kind of place I wanted to be at. About midway through my junior year I committed here and never looked back." 
 
Head coach Jennie Baranczyk was quick to point to the same conversation more than six years ago at the Drake Relays as a difference maker for the Drake women's basketball program. For Baranczyk, Greiner became the kind of player the coaching staff could put anywhere on the floor, including in the post against players nearly a foot taller than her. 
 
"She obviously has her trademark shot but she also just has this spunk about her and she's so much more than that," said Baranczyk. "She's so all in, she's someone that you just have to have on your team for your team to be successful. She's the consummate teammate who has a willingness to do whatever we ask."  
 
As a Williamsburg, Iowa, native, it was a crucial part of Greiner's recruiting process to stay close to her hometown and her family. She admits, it probably limited her recruiting options but for Greiner none of that mattered when a first-year head coach just 90 miles away gave her the call. 
 
"She had a vision for this place," Greiner said of Baranczyk. "Everything she said I believed to be true. I thought, yes we are going to do that."
 
And they did. Since Greiner's debut in the Bulldog blue, Drake is on pace to put together its fourth-consecutive 20-plus win season, recorded six wins over six Power 5 teams, made two appearances in the WNIT and produced the most successful season in Missouri Valley Conference history a year ago. The 2016-17 team spent four consecutive weeks ranked in the AP Top 25 poll, went undefeated in the MVC regular season, claimed a MVC tournament title and earned a trip to the NCAA Tournament.
 
"There's no question that since she's been here we've competed for conference championships," Baranczyk said. "I think she's a huge reason why." 
 
Greiner came in as a part of a dynamic freshman trio that included Maddy Dean and Becca Jonas. While Greiner had her signature shot, basketball fans took quick notice to Dean and Jonas who both had success early in their careers. 
 
"Paige is a confident person and a confident basketball player," said Baranczyk. "I think it takes a really special player to stay confident in her own right when you have everyone around you getting awards and everything. But it's never bothered her, and its never affected her. She's happy for their success and she just wants to win." 
 
Medical redshirts for Dean and Jonas left Greiner in an unexpected position this season as the program's lone graduating senior. Despite taking on the role of a senior leader, Greiner hasn't spent her season focusing on that – instead trying to enjoy every moment she has left on the basketball court. 
 
 "A lot of times you get into a routine and its easy to take some stuff for granted and just try to get through practice," Greiner said. "I've really focused on understanding that my days are limited and I'm trying to enjoy that as much as I possibly can. I want to have fun with it and enjoy the people I'm with and it's made the season way less stressful than I expected." 
 
Since day one, Baranczyk has focused on building more than just a competitive basketball team, but on building an incredible team culture full of players with a passion and commitment for the game, their team and Drake. The team asks one thing of every player, to be all in and give everything they have each and every step of the way. 
 
"It's so easy to say that you're all in," said Baranczyk. "But to live it every day – that's completely different. She [Greiner] lives it every day and is a shining example of that." 
 
"Paige is one of the best teammates I've ever had," said Jonas. "She's really selfless, super hardworking and genuinely wants the best for everyone. She wants everyone to be really good and expects everyone to be really good." 
 
In her senior season, Greiner is playing what her coaches and teammates describe as the best basketball of her career shooting better than 60.0 percent while passing the ball better than ever before and limiting turnovers. While her performance on the court has helped boost the team, its been her leadership, energy, and hardwork that has made her teammates take notice. 
 
"This year she has taken on an entirely new leadership role," said Jonas. "She embodies to the fullest what our program is about and that's just loving the people you're with, loving Drake and loving to compete."
 
A college basketball career is made up of four seasons, more than 100 games and thousands of hours of practice. But for Greiner her college experience adds up to so much more than that. 
 
"Trying to tell people what this place means is impossible, it really is," Greiner said. "I made the decision to come here when I was 16 or 17 and it's definitely changed my life and been the best decision I've ever made. It's a community and place where people have your back. I've gotten a world class education, which I never in a million years could have done without basketball." 
 
There's a whole world of uncertainties that comes for the average college graduate, and while Greiner is no different there are a few things that she is certain about. She loves calling Des Moines home and doesn't have plans for that to change any time soon, she wants to pursue a career in human resources and still loves basketball more than ever. While her post-graduation plans aren't yet solidified, Greiner does know exactly where she will be when the 2018-19 basketball season kicks off.  
 
"I'll definitely be involved in basketball, and definitely Drake women's basketball," she said. "I'll be back for all the games next year. I think it's so important to stay involved and give back to a game and a place that's done so much for me." 
 
Oh, and for her sky-high, ceiling-scraping, rainbow three-pointers? 
 
"I honestly don't know why they're so high," Greiner said. "I had no idea they were that special until I got here but apparently they are really really high. But if I have to be remembered for something, I have no problem with it being for that – as long as they go in that is."