Meunier plays through the pain

Many people cry out in pain when they stub their toe, get a paper cut or burn their tongue. Some would just give up and wallow in self-pity until someone gave them a pretty band-aid for the shallow slice or offered pretzels as an appetizer at the pity party.

Brooke Meunier doesn't throw pity parties. She doesn't want sympathy for her injuries. She just wants to ball.

Meunier, a 5-foot-9-inch guard from Saginaw, Mich., has shown perseverance through various injuries, the worst of which was a torn labrum in her shoulder. Meunier, who suffered the injury during the Empire State Games this past summer, had surgery in August and had to stay off the court for months.

"I get frustrated because I get hurt and then I can't play the way I want to play," said Meunier. "I couldn't play basketball for four months. They'd put me in drills but no one could touch me so it really wasn't like basketball to me."

Meunier, a junior communication major, started to learn basketball by shooting hoops with her older brothers when she was a kid. Her love for the game started at the age of five and continued to grow with the help of her childhood coach, her dad.

"My parents are really supportive," said Meunier. "They come to my games still. It's very rare that they miss a game."

It is also rare that Meunier misses a game. She has played in every game but three since she joined the Bulls. Currently, the junior leads the team in points per game, with 10.6, and has the highest percentage in shooting from beyond the arc at 38.6 percent.

While the women's basketball team is struggling in the Mid-American Conference, Meunier holds spots on five of the conference's individual leader lists. She is sixth for 3-point percentage, in the teens for number of 3-point shots made, assists, and assist to turnover ratio, and ranks in at number 20 for overall scoring.

Even though the team's record may not reflect it, Meunier points out the hard work and dedication that she and her teammates have when it comes to the game.

"I think a lot of people look at our record and think we don't work hard but that's definitely not the case," said Meunier. "When we have days off, everyone is still in there shooting, trying to work on stuff. This year has been rough. We're still working hard and putting in the time and effort."

Meunier also puts in extra time and effort to her game-day apparel. In addition to her number 22 uniform, she feels the need to keep everything she wears consistent.

"I have to wear the same stuff each game, like the same cutoff, the same socks, the same Under Amour, the same arm band," said Meunier.

Meunier, who describes herself as sarcastic and laid-back, hopes to one day be known as Coach Meunier.

"I want to be a basketball coach," said Meunier. "I want to coach. I am still kind of thinking about the idea of going and playing in Europe, obviously not in a high-paying league but just for the experience. Then I want to get a grad job somewhere and then hopefully become a coach."

For now, Meunier is one of UB head coach Cheryl Dozier's players and will hopefully be beside her team on Tuesday when the women face Akron at Alumni Arena. Meunier did not make the team's latest game versus Ohio due to a hamstring pull she suffered late last week.

While her status is unknown with regards to Tuesday's game, her reputation shows that she will do whatever she can to be out there for her teammates, especially if it means playing through the pain.

Five Random Questions

1.What is the best concert you went to?

Tim McGraw.

2. Your birthday was earlier this month. What kind of cake did you have?

Baskin Robbins ice cream cake.

3. What would be your dream vacation?

My brother just went to St. Lucia for his wedding, so I'd go there.

4. Who is one celebrity you are sick of hearing about?

Brittany Spears or Ashlee Simpson.

5. Can you name the seven dwarfs?

Do you even know them? Sneezy, Sleepy, Bashful, Dopey ... No, I can't.