Jordan Cruz, the only senior on University of the Pacific’s women’s basketball team, is a natural leader.

She has been a strong force for the team, battling several significant injuries while playing some of the best basketball of her career.

Cruz has suffered concussions that started in high school. “It does change the way I play,” she said. “I have to play smarter. I can be afraid of contact sometimes because I don’t want to get hit in the head again. But I always go 100%. That is something that will never change.”

As Cruz and the Tigers prepare for the West Coast Conference Tournament in Las Vegas, she is playing some of the best basketball of her career. She has scored 20 points in an outing twice versus—Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and San Diego. She has scored in double figures seven times and is setting a foundation for the team’s freshmen and sophomores.

“I like helping the newcomers,” she said. “I teach them the plays and do anything I can to support them.”

“She’s made an impact on this program in so many ways,” Pacific Head Coach Bradley Davis said. “When she moves on to the next chapter, the example of her resilience and determination will leave a lasting impression with her teammates and this program.”

For Cruz, the desire to play for Pacific came on her first recruiting visit to campus.

“One of the best parts is the campus,” Cruz said. “I love the campus because it’s small. One of my favorite things is the smaller the class size, the more one-on-one time you can have with your professors.”

Cruz is also passionate about her family. Growing up in Sacramento, she has family throughout Northern California and the Bay Area.

“You don’t want to take that time for granted,” Cruz said. “They have been my number one supporters since I was a little kid. They are the ones who got me where I am today.” 

Cruz wants to play basketball overseas following graduation. As an Italian-American, Cruz would love to play in Italy, but would take any opportunity. She also hopes to eventually coach.