Editor's note: Fresh Eyes is a series following four freshmen basketball players as they navigate being a student-athlete. You can find earlier installments here.

As the first semester of the school year draws to a close in Nampa the cold weather is settling in.

Erin Jenkins and Jordan Pinson are less than pleased. Both cited the cold weather as their least favorite part of their first semester of college life.

The two freshmen come from warm weather locales –Lompoc, Calif., and El Paso, Texas, respectively – and are not thrilled to be learning about inversions, freezing fog and that biting wind that whips across campus.

"In California, the coldest I've been in is 40 degrees," Jenkins said. "I have the heater on, sweatshirt and lots of blankets."

Jenkins lived in Rigby, Idaho, before moving to California, but said it was long enough ago that she doesn't remember the cold weather.

Pinson, meanwhile, strolls into the gym most days wearing a beanie, mittens and a giant fluffy coat.

"I drive everywhere," she said. "I don't walk. From the dorm to the gym, I don't walk anymore. I like seeing the snow, but I refuse to go out there in it."

Luckily for both of them Christmas break is coming which includes a 10-day trip home to see family in warmer locales.

The best part of their semester is pretty obvious: basketball.

The Nighthawks are off to a 9-0 start – the best in program history – are ranked No. 10 in the country and both freshmen are getting significant minutes.

"Everything is so good, honestly," Jenkins said. "I'm not really struggling with anything."

Jenkins is averaging 6.8 points per game and 2.3 rebounds in 15.2 minutes, while Pinson is third on the team in scoring at 10.4 a game and nearly three assists per contest.

"It's been a lot of fun and the girls have been a lot of fun too," Pinson said. "It's been nice to be around the girls and the coaches. They are all so caring. They genuinely care about how we are doing."

Now, if spring would just hurry up and get here the two would be truly happy.

Gabe Murphy
High point of first semester
"Definitely when we were doing our Midnight Madness stuff. Hanging out with all the students and doing all the events at the beginning of the semester."
Low point of first semester
"Pondering the decision to redshirt. It was a hard decision to make. I wasn't upset by it, but it was a difficult thing to swallow after I worked really hard to play."
 
George Reidy
High point of first semester
"Figuring out living on your own. That state of independence, having a lot more responsibility in the day-to-day stuff – being on time, getting work turned in, getting to the gym, extra study time. Just figuring that out and getting that stuff handled."
Low point of first semester
"Probably missing my family and friends back as well as not being able to get in the games. It is tough for (basketball) to be the No. 1 passion for your life and not being able to do it."