CCAA Hometown Heroes is a look at current and former CCAA student-athletes and staff who are now on the front lines in the worldwide fight against COVID-19.  Individuals from CCAA member institutions have answered the call to help battle the pandemic, whether it be in the field of healthcare, as a first responder, through volunteer efforts or a variety of other essential services being performed throughout communities around the state and globe. 

Today we take a look at the CCAA women's basketball leading scorer and two-time All-American Niki Bracken. After playing for Cal Poly Pomona from 1986-90, Bracken entered into a career in law enforcement.

Bracken currently serves as an operations lieutenant for the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department at the Twin Towers Correctional Facility in downtown LA. She assists the captains of her facility with all aspects of caring for and supervising the personnel under their command, and the inmates within the facility. 

"My motivation to help comes from my family upbringing, being the oldest of six children, and from playing basketball," Bracken notes. "I always wanted to set a positive example by being a leader, helping my family and the community, being a team player, while remaining humble and fair."

That mentality of leadership continues to guide her path, both personally and professionally.

Life for me has changed in 2020 starting from the death of Kobe Bryant to now this pandemic," she adds. "It has made me realize even more so how short life is.  My mother lives with me, and making sure I spend time with my family is so much more important to me now."

Earning a place on the NCAA Division II 25th Anniversary Team announced in 2006, Bracken enjoyed a prolific career on the court for the Broncos. In addition to her back-to-back All-American selections, Bracken is a three-time NCAA Tournament Team member and the 1989-90 CCAA Player of the Year. She closed her collegiate career in a select group of 35 Division II women to earn entry into the 2,000-point and 1,000-rebound club, with a conference-leading 2,246 points to go along with 1,053 boards. 

Bracken knows that the skills she perfected on the court continue to shine in her career in law enforcement.

"My participation in collegiate athletics during the current pandemic has allowed me to have compassion, patience, understanding, discipline, strength, and to always remain positive especially when encountering people from all walks of life as I do in my job."

The CCAA -- and Cal Poly Pomona -- salutes Niki and all those serving on the front lines, and all of our CCAA Hometown Heroes!

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