A junior co-captain on the Union College women’s basketball team, Natalie Leone has helped spark the Dutchwomen to a 14-6 start.

The 5-foot-10 wing was leading the Dutchwomen in assists (2.9) and blocks (0.5) per game, was second in steals (1.3) and third in rebounds (5.9) and scoring (9.6). Shooting 78 percent from the free throw line and 44 percent from beyond the arc, Leone scored a career-high 20 points in a 77-69 loss to St. John Fisher on Nov. 29.

“Natalie has the athleticism to take over a game both off the dribble and with her 3-point shot,’’ said Union College head coach Mary Ellen Burt. “And she’s a great leader day in and day out at practice and in our strength and conditioning center.’’

An economics and math major, Leone will study abroad in Florence this spring.

On the Schenectady, N.Y., campus she volunteers at the Kenney Community Center and is an orientation advisor and head of standards for her sorority. Leone also volunteers for the Homework Help Program at area elementary schools. At Ashland High, she captained the basketball and field hockey teams and was cleanup hitter on the softball team.

Q. What do you consider the high point of your athletic career at Ashland High?

A. Defeating top-seeded Abington at their gym in the Division 3 South Sectional basketball quarterfinals my senior year. We were the ninth seed and had finished second in the Tri-Valley League. We made it to the sectional finals, which was a great accomplishment. My sister, Samantha, was a freshman on that team and is a two-time captain on the Ashland team that has just qualified for the postseason.

Q. Your father, Rob, was a two-sport athlete at Watertown High. How has he influenced your athletic career?

A. He’s been there every step of the way. He coached me since I was in second grade and through six seasons of AAU basketball until I was a high school junior. He always told me to never settle for just average and we still joke how harder he was on me than the other players.

Q. You were a unanimous selection for co-captain. How has that resonated with you?

A. It’s truly an honor to have your team look to you as a leader and someone they can confide in. It’s a lot of responsibility. When we go through adversity, I have to set the tone for keeping the team focused. As the face of our team all the captains want us to represent Union in the best possible way.

Q. In high school, you sang in the chorus for four years. Has that love of music carried over to` college?

A. I’m the first one in the locker room singing and dancing before a game when the music is blasting to get everybody pumped up. Music has always been a part of my life. I learned to play piano when I was younger but sports took over.

Q. What did you do last summer?

A. I had an internship at Fidelity Investments in Smithfield, R.I. with their customer experience team. I worked out every day at Gold’s Gym in Ashland after work and then I’d either shoot at my house or play pickup at an outdoor court in Framingham.

Q. What will you be doing in Florence?

A. I’ll be taking classes in Italian, Architecture and Art and Renaissance through Eurocentres (an intercultural language program). Our family visited Florence in 2010 and we still have family in Italy I hope to visit.

Q. Is your height an advantage at the guard position?

A. I’m able to post up against the smaller guards and call for the ball in the post. It’s also an advantage when I crash the boards on both ends of the floor.

Q. Between basketball, studying and volunteering, how do you manage your time?

A. I write a to-do list every day and cross out the tasks as they get done. I’m up early and in class all day. Then I go back to my room, have a quick snack and head to practice. I spend the evening in the library studying. I usually volunteer out of season.

Q. What was behind your decision to attend Union?

A. I loved the campus and it’s a close-knit community which reminded me of Ashland.

Q. What has been your favorite subject in college?

A. Spanish, every semester since I came here. I carry a minor in that language. When I’m abroad this spring I hope to spend time in Spain, engage in conversation and learn more about the country.

MARVIN PAVE

For full interview go to bostonglobe.com/west.