Erica Hernandez

Erica Hernandez is a guard on the women’s basketball team. She is a junior from Floresville, Texas. Hernandez played in all 30 games of the 2013-2014 season. She was especially accurate from the Charity Stripe as she led the team with an 84.4 free-throw. Hernandez is currently averaging 7.4 points per game during the 2014-2015 season.

The Lion’s Roar: What do you love most about basketball?

Erica Hernandez: What I love most about basketball is that no matter what is going on in my life, I can always go out there, start playing and forget about things for a while. I can definitely say that it is my escape. 

LR: Is it difficult being away from home?

EH: It was very difficult being away from home at first. I knew coming to Southeastern was going to be challenging since I am very homebound. My family was always at all my games throughout the years and were there for me whenever I needed them. Getting very close to all my teammates, coaches and mentors helped me create a new home here. 

LR: In what ways have you grown since your time at Southeastern?

EH: The biggest growth I have made is being more responsible. Within the past two years being here, I have buckled down on my academics and have used my time management more wisely. 

LR: Who is your role model?

EH: My role model is Manu Ginóbili, guard for the San Antonio Spurs. I admire his passion and fearless mentality he has for the game of basketball. He’s a great team player that plays very hard, leaving everything he has in him on the court. 

LR: What are your hopes for after college?

EH: After college, I plan to move back home to San Antonio, Texas and be a personal fitness trainer or maybe eventually be a coach. 

LR: Is there anything about college basketball you did not expect?

EH: Honestly, there isn’t one thing that I can think of that I did not expect. I was very fortunate to have wonderful coaches that prepared me for many years in the greatest ways possible. They knew before I did that I was capable of playing at the next level, and from that day on they never took it easy on me to get me ready for college ball. 

LR: What advice would you give to a young girl hoping to play basketball?

EH: My advice to any young girl hoping to play basketball is to make sure you love the game, because when you love the game you will have fun and that’s all it is about. 

LR: What is your favorite hobby outside of basketball?

EH: My favorite hobby outside of basketball is camping. Playing an inside sport for half a year each season keeps you away from the outdoors, so when spring and summer rolls around, I look forward to spending plenty of time outside camping, fishing, swimming and hiking with my family and friends.