Hood College

Rita Willis graduated in 2006 with a bachelor of arts degree in psychology. A three-time Atlantic Women’s Colleges Conference first team performer, Willis was voted the most outstanding player in the league as a sophomore and junior. She led the Blazers to two AWCC team titles which resulted in two trips to the Division III NCAA women’s basketball tournament. An exceptional all-around player who excelled in all areas of the game, Willis is one of eight Hood women’s basketball players to score at least 1,000 career points. She currently lists seventh all-time at Hood in scoring (1,170), second in assists (315), third in blocked shots (68) and third in steals (200). Her 118 assists in 2004-05 are still a single-season school record today and her 35 point-performance against Mary Baldwin on Feb. 28, 2004 stood as a school record until 2008. During her four years at Hood, the Blazers posted an overall record of 66-38 and went 43-5 in AWCC games, including two perfect seasons in 2003-04 and 2004-05. Willis overcame academic adversity her freshman year and maintained a solid GPA her final three years. Willis currently resides in Hyattsville, Md., and works as a police officer with the Washington D.C. Metropolitan Police Department.