Classroom:Pluimer holds a 3.706 cumulative grade point average in communications studies. She was a 2007 and 2006 first-team Pac-10 All-Academic selection and a 2007 CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District second team selection. In 2006, she was picked for the CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District third team. She was a member of the 2007 UCLA Athletics All-Academic Team and is a two-time winner of the team's Academic Award; Pluimer has been on the Dean's List and UCLA Director's Honor Roll every quarter. She has finished the academic requirements to graduate in just three years and one quarter and is expected to graduate in March 2008.
Character:Ever since her freshman season, Pluimer has been a role model for her teammates. Unfailingly disciplined and prepared for everything, whether it be schoolwork or basketball, she lives up to the high standards she sets for herself. Education is one of her main priorities, and she is working towards graduate school and becoming a college professor in communication studies or women's studies. Pluimer is the only senior on a team with 10 underclassmen, including six freshmen. Now in her second year as team co-captain, Pluimer has actively embraced a leadership role for a very young and impressionable team and has provided a great example for her younger teammates both on and off the court. As good a player as she is, Pluimer is always working hard to improve her game and is known for being the first one in the gym shooting baskets before practice, shootaround and games.
Competition:Pluimer is the top returning scorer for UCLA after averaging 15.5 points and 5.7 rebounds in 2007. Last season, she earned honorable mention All-Pac-10 honors after ranking in the top 10 in the conference in six statistical categories: 9th in scoring (15.5), 5th in free throw percentage (.817), 9th in offensive rebounds (2.44), 10th in field goal percentage (.488), 10th in blocked shots (0.84) and 6th in minutes played (35.8). She had five 20-point games and scored in double digits in 29 of the 32 games and had two double-doubles on the year. Last year, she became the 23rd UCLA player ever to record 1,000 career points and the 16th to total 500 career rebounds. As a sophomore, she had 20 double-digit scoring games and tied for fourth in the Pac-10 in free throw percentage (.795) and was eighth in field goal percentage (.485). In her rookie campaign, she was selected to the Pac-10 All-Freshman first team and scored in double figures in 14 games, including 10 in conference play. She has started every game of her UCLA career, 92 consecutive heading into the 2008 season.