It's a few minutes before midnight. The Xavier University campus is deserted during these late summer months, save for a few souls.

Lauren Wasylson is inside the Cintas Center, putting up shot after shot.

Earlier in the day, the Mars graduate and freshman on the Xavier women's basketball team had another intense workout and a lengthy trip to the weight room.

But she wanted to get in a little extra work.

Can never take too many jumpers.

“In the back of my mind I knew it was going to pay off eventually,” Wasylson said. “If I took a day off I felt like I would be behind.”

Wasylson's work ethic was legendary even before she stepped foot on the Xavier campus. A self-professed gym rat, Wasylson isn't happy unless she can cut, dribble and shoot.

She said she knew when she committed and then signed to play Division I basketball in the Big East that she needed to get stronger and faster.

And better.

That work, it seems, has indeed paid off.

Wasylson has emerged as one of the best freshmen in the Big East through seven games this season for the Musketeers.

She's already earned Freshman of the Week honors in the conference, leads the Big East in 3-pointers made (16) and ranks 10th in that category nationally.

It's left Wasylson, a 6-foot guard from Valencia who helped Mars win a PIAA 5A title last season, with a surreal feeling.

“I'm kind of surprised, but at the same time I almost expected it,” she said. “I've really been blessed with all these opportunities, especially starting. I'm just trying to do my best every game.”

Wasylson had no inkling of what her role would even be leading up to the season opener. Xavier coach Brian Neal kept that information close to the vest.

The Musketeers are a young team without a senior on the roster, but had an influx of talent.

When Wasylson showed up to the arena for the season opener, she found her name jotted down in the starting five.

Her name has never left.

“When I saw that, my reaction was, 'Wow. This is actually real,'” Wasylson said.

The sharp shooter began her career with eight points against Chicago State in a rout.

She had 16 points and four 3-pointers against Wake Forest Nov. 21 in her first breakout game of her career.

Wasylson is averaging 9.1 points and 28 minutes per game for the 6-1 Musketeers, who went 10-20 last season.

“We're a very young team, but we're also very skilled,” Wasylson said. “We're taking all these non-conference games and using them to get better for when the Big East schedule begins.”

That will be the true test for Xavier and Wasylson. Things figure to get more difficult when the rigors of the conference slate begin.

Wasylson is prepared for that. She's already got a taste of what Division I women's basketball is all about.

“It's a whole different atmosphere,” Wasylson said. “The first time I went out into the arena for a game, I was like, 'Whoa. This is the real deal.'

“It was definitely something to get used to,” Wasylson added. “I found out very quickly you have to get your shot off much faster. You have to use your screens and use your dribble and find extra ways to evolve your game. I just remember thinking, 'Wow, these girls are so quick.' The game has gotten slower for me.”

Neal had little doubt Wasylson would be a good fit at Xavier since he first received her verbal commitment.

“I like the fact she can shoot from that NBA range,” Neal said. “She's got deep range and she can affect the game very quickly, banging in three 3s over a minute-and-a-half. Things like that. That changes games.”

It was the intangibles, though, that drew Neal to the Mars star.

“The thing I love the most about Lauren is she has this energy about her,” Neal said. “I can remember she was sitting up in the office on her visits and her knees were shaking and she's talking loud. She has this presence and every time you're around her there's this energy exuding for her. It's hard to be in a negative mood when you're around her.”