Rachel Baker graduated from Mexico as the high school's all-time leader in points, rebounds and steals. She was a three-time all-state player and a two-time district champion.

Now after a year away at Arkansas State, Baker is back in mid-Missouri as a sophomore forward for William Woods University and the school's early season wins could be just a sign of things to come.

"The family means a lot. I really wasn't a family person in the beginning and now I am. So, it meant a lot beause you miss them a lot. I didn't come home for three months and that was hard," Baker said.

So she left Division One basketball and her scholarship to play NAIA hoops at William Woods.

"Division One is a lot quicker and the girls are bigger and stronger and the competition is quite a bit harder in division one, but I like it here," Baker said.

William Woods named Dan Chapla its new women's basketball coach in may and his first recruit was his best ever.

"She does everything. She's the best player I've coached," Chapla said. "She's the team leader. She huddles the team. She'll cook the team meal and drive the bus as well. She's just a coach's dream."

Nine games into the season, Baker leads William Woods in points, rebounds, and steals.

"When she's playing defense on you, she's all up in your face and all you're seeing are long arms and hands," William Woods sophomore guard Julie Sutton said.

Her hands don't just dribble, shoot and pass a basketball. Baker uses them to communicate.

"When I was in elementary school, I had a summer school class that taught sign language and I loved it, but I never kept up with it and I only learned the alphabet," Baker said. "so, I wanted to learn more."

So Baker transferred to a school where she can major in sign language.

"My teachers are deaf, so I don't have a teacher where I'm able to speak to them. I have to sign if I want to ask them a question," Baker said.

Banners hang in Anderson Arena, but none of them are for basketball. Baker wants to help the school win its first ever conference championship.

"I would love to win conference. That is my main goal. If we go farther than conference it would be amazing, but my one goal is conference," she said.

Baker said when her playing days are done, she wants to use her hands as a coach for a school basketball team.

"I think that's great that is what she is really passionate about doing. We need more people like that," Sutton said.

"She obviously came here for the major and I think that was even more important than basketball," Chapla said. "That's what it's about at our level. She's here to get a degree and, what she does 5 or 10 years from now, she's going to be a success. I think that's what's important."

Baker said she wants to possibly work in a hospital or in the government as a sign language interpreter.

William Woods' sign language program is considered one of the best in the nation.

At 6 p.m. Monday night, William Woods takes on the University of St. Mary in Leavenworth, Kan.