GOSHEN — Sometimes, freshman college basketball players have a chance to get their feet wet gradually, learn a new system and get to know new coaches, and adapt to the higher level of competition at a more low-key pace.

And sometimes they don’t.

On the 2011-12 Goshen College women’s basketball team, freshmen Jaime Stack, a 5-foot-7 forward from Fairfield and Sierria Burlage, a 5-11 forward from Columbia City, fall into the latter category.

Both have found themselves getting major playing time in their rookie campaigns. And playing some pretty good basketball, thank you very much.

For Stack, the adaptation to the higher intensity and speed of the college game was made smoother by playing in a high-level Falcon program headed by Steve Proctor.

“There’s always an adjustment, because the level of competition is so much better,” Stack said after a recent practice. “But the way we practiced at Fairfield was great preparation.

Stack — who does double duty for the Maple Leafs, also playing volleyball — said she arrived at Goshen with no expectations.

“I just wanted to come in and play hard,” Stack said. “Coming in after volleyball, I was two months behind everyone else.”

That seems to have worked out pretty well so far: Through Saturday’s game against Grace College, Stack is the Maple Leafs’ leading scorer, averaging 10.1 ppg.

She is the only Goshen player averaging in double figures. And she is also Goshen’s leading rebounder, pulling down 6.0 boards per game. She has recorded five double-doubles on the season.

Stack said she did not initially consider coming to Goshen, since the school was just five minutes from her house. But she is glad she decided to give the school a look, and credits that to former coach Steve Witkorowski. The scholarship offer from the Maple Leafs was the first one Stack received, and she accepted right away.

“It’s been a great decision,” Stack said. She is studying physical therapy.

Burlage, meanwhile, has seen her playing time increase exponentially lately with an injury to 5-10 junior forward Samantha Hawk. Burlage, at 5-11, is the Maple Leafs’ tallest player, so she has found herself playing the “5,” or center position.

A four-time Northeast Hoosier Conference selection at Columbia City, Burlage is averaging 7.0 ppg and 5.1 rpg.

She also has a double-double this season, with 11 points and 10 rebounds Feb. 1 on the road at Marian.

Burlage was not expecting the kind of playing time she has recorded so far in her freshman season. But she feels she has been up to the challenge.

For Burlage, the toughest part of the transition has also been the higher level of competition and pace of the game.

“At this level, everyone was a star in high school,” Burlage said. “The girls are so much more aggressive, and it’s very different. It’s much more fast-paced.”

Burlage wants to improve her defense. “I feel like I get beat too much,” Burlage said.

Burlage is majoring in nursing.

She and Stack knew each other from their travel team, the Fort Wayne Gym Rats.

Maple Leafs coach Stephanie Miller has been very happy with the progress both freshmen have made in their first season.

“I’ve been pleasantly surprised,” Miller said.

Stack, especially, has been playing a position — the “4,” or power forward — that constantly has her in a disadvantage size-wize: Stack is just 5-7. In  high school, Stack most often played the “2” — shooting guard — or “3” — small forward.

But she has been more than holding her own among the other “bigs,” Miller said.

“She’s been one of our strongest post defenders,” Miller said.

“She’s got great leadership skills, and she’s not afraid to be vocal in practice.”

As for Burlage, Miller said she has done extremely well after coming in with a back injury that limited her offseason work.

“Sierria has started showing her potential,” Miller said.

“I wasn’t sure we would get to that potential this season. But these past few weeks, she has really come on. She’s one of our best players in pressure situations.”