WINFIELD, Kan. — For Southwestern College senior Allyson Frank, basketball has always been about more than statistics.

It began in second grade, sitting at home watching the University of New Mexico women's basketball team on television.

"I don't remember who they were playing," Frank said. "But I remember the first thing I thought was, 'I want to play.' Everything about the game looked fun."

That moment sparked a journey that has led the 5-foot-10 center from Rio Rancho, New Mexico, to a leadership role with the Moundbuilders in her final collegiate season.

Frank has emerged as a key interior presence during the 2025-26 campaign. She has appeared in 26 games with 22 starts and is averaging 20.8 minutes per contest while providing steady production in the paint.

She is averaging 4.5 points and 4.5 rebounds per game, totaling 116 rebounds, including 43 offensive boards, while shooting 47.4% from the field. Her efficiency and willingness to battle inside have made her an anchor in the post.

A self-described "physical, calm, patient" player, Frank embraces the demands of playing center.

"I've always played with the thought, 'I would rather take every hit so my guards can play untouched,'" she said. "Whether it's getting rebounds, pushing other players out so my guards can get rebounds, or catching it in the paint and drawing defenders so I can kick it out to shooters."

Her presence in the paint has provided stability for a team she describes in one word: resilient.

"No matter what, we always show up the next day," Frank said. "This has been one of the hardest years for us as a team, but nobody has quit."

Frank's path to Southwestern was not a straight line. After initially attending Keystone College out of high school, she began searching for a better fit.

"I knew this was probably my last chance to play, so I just went for it," Frank said. "Before I even got to campus, everyone was so welcoming. Once I got here, the environment was everything I was looking for."

Her basketball journey was shaped largely by her father, who introduced her to the game and supported her development at every stage.

"Before I even understood the game, he was always teaching me," Frank said. "It didn't matter if practices were late at night or hours away, he always found a way for me to play."

Her earliest basketball memory reflects the persistence that has defined her career. In her first season, playing on an all-boys team, she rarely touched the ball. In what she recalls as her fifth game, she grabbed a loose ball and scored her first basket.

"When it went in, I was shocked," Frank said. "My parents were screaming. For the first time, my teammates acknowledged me for something."

That perseverance now defines her senior season.

Frank tapes her left wrist before every game, what began as a necessity has since become a superstition, and approaches each practice with gratitude.

"Being able to play basketball every day is my motivation," she said. "There are hard days that make you feel like you want to quit. But at the end of the day, I get to play the sport that I love."

Off the court, Frank is majoring in sports management and plans to begin her coaching career after graduation while working toward a master's degree. In five to 10 years, she sees herself coaching at the collegiate level or working toward that goal.

She also enjoys writing in her free time, a quieter outlet that contrasts with her physical presence on the floor.

As one of two seniors on the roster, Frank has embraced her role in helping guide the team. She points to fellow senior Macey Pond as the on-court leader but understands her own responsibility as a veteran presence in the post.

Her goal for the season is simple.

"Finishing out the season with as much effort as I can," she said.

And for younger players following a similar path, her advice is rooted in experience.

"Fall in love with the process, not just the results."

For Frank, the numbers tell part of the story, the rebounds, the physical battles, the minutes played. But her legacy at Southwestern is defined by something deeper: resilience, presence and the willingness to show up every single day.