HAFNARFJORDUR, Iceland — There are times when the reality hits Jence Rhoads like a jump shot at the buzzer.

She is playing professional basketball.

It's something Rhoads dreamed of as a little girl growing up around the sport in Slippery Rock.

Now, she is doing it as a guard on the Haukar women's basketball team in the Express League in Iceland.

“All I have to do is play basketball,” says the Slippery Rock High and Vanderbilt University graduate. “All I have to focus on in a day is practicing and coaching basketball. For this period in my life, it can't get any better than that.”

Rhoads, who graduated from Vanderbilt as the only women's basketball player in school history with 1,100 points, 500 assists and 400 rebounds, is 15 games into her professional career abroad. She has adapted well to life in a foreign land — on and off the court.

There are times when she gets home sick and misses her family and friends.

“Also, I miss American food,” she says.

On the court, Rhoads hasn't missed anything. She is dominating in the same way she did in the states.

Rhoads is averaging 17.4 points, 7.7 assists and 6.4 rebounds per game for Haukar.

“I played pretty well right from the get go, but it did take some getting used to — the different style of play and a few rule changes,” Rhoads said.

There is a 24-second shot clock in the Express League. There also is more passing, less dribbling and fewer one-on-one opportunities than in the United States.

Defenses also use different tactics, Rhoads said.

It didn't take her long to adjust, however. Rhoads is among the league leaders in points and assists.

“I am generally happy with my play, but there is always room for improvement,” Rhoads said. “I would like to leave Iceland a better player than I was when I arrived here.”

Rhoads is hoping her strong play will draw interest from leagues like the WNBA.

“You can never be sure,” Rhoads said. “It depends on what other teams need and if they are interested in your style of play. All I can do is work hard and hope for the best.”

It's not that Rhoads is itching to leave Iceland. After a short adjustment period, she said she is very happy living in Hafnarfjordur, a town about 15 miles from downtown Reykjavik.

“Living in a different culture has been awesome,” Rhoads said. “I like experiencing different things and learning about different ways of life. In Iceland, I am able to do that.”

In Iceland, basketball is a distant third in the race for most popular behind handball and soccer.

Handball is by far the most popular sport.

“What I find funny is basketball is not very popular in Iceland,” Rhoads said. “It's probably the third most popular. Coming from a basketball family and growing up playing, watching, living and breathing basketball, this is strange.

“I love watching and playing both handball and soccer,” added Rhoads, who was a standout soccer player at Slippery Rock and whose mother, Melinda, was on the 1984 United States Olympic handball team. “But I'll stick with basketball as my favorite.”