(February 7, 2008) - Bridgette Hooker, co-captain of UMass Lowell Women’s basketball team, has found a way to manage a busy college basketball career while still maintaining excellent grades.  After completing her first semester as a junior at Lowell, Hooker has successfully secured a GPA of 3.88 as a nursing major. 

But she is no stranger to good grades, having accumulated 96 points in a point system as a student at Belmont High School in Belmont, NH.  At Belmont, she was also a standout basketball player for four years under head coach Toni Blair, breaking many records including games played, career points (1,439) and career rebounds.

A majority of Hooker’s motivation has been self-driven.  When asked if her parents were influential in her obtaining good grades Hooker responded, “They always encouraged me to do the best I could.”

That driven nature is dually applicable on the court as it is off.  Perhaps even more impressive than her GPA is Hooker’s versatility as a player.  She has had to adapt to the position of guard, having played the differing role of center in high school.  She has taken on the challenge, both of playing at the college level along with learning a new position.   It is obvious when she is on the court that she is out there to work hard and make the position her own.

Hooker expressed a strong desire to play at the college level early on in her career.  Hooker stated that it was not a difficult decision.  “Its (basketball) been a part of my life since elementary school.”

Coach Kathy O’Neil states, “Bridgette does all of the little things.  She’s smart.  She works hard.  She’s a good leader and a good defensive player.”

“The little things make a big difference,” responds Hooker.

Despite her good grades Hooker still lists time management as a challenge along with her hardest class so far, Concepts of Professional Nursing, which deals largely with theory.  The team camaraderie that is established is her favorite aspect.  Hooker lists 6 a.m. practices and 20-20 drills – 20 suicides in 20 minutes – as her least favorite.

Considering the profession she has chosen and its rigors, the 6:00 a.m. practices will undoubtedly pay off after graduation.   As for after graduation, Hooker doesn’t have any finalized plans yet.  She would like to work somewhere in New Hampshire, preferably not to far from where she grew up in the Lakes Region. 

“I have no desire to live in a large city,” she said.  “In larger hospitals you make more money but the money doesn’t matter to me. I want to go back to where I came from.  I know the area, I know the people and I enjoyed growing up there.”