May 17, 2006
FAIRFIELD, Conn. -- Tara Hansen (Chandler, Ariz.) earned a spot on the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District 1 team for her outstanding achievement both on and off the diamond. The senior received the honor for the first time in her career. The award is based upon vote of the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).
Hansen ended the 2006 season as one of the team's top hitters and pitchers. She posted a .309 batting average with eight home runs and 38 RBI. Her homer and RBI total ranked second among her teammates, both of which represented career highs. She was also the team's top base stealer, registering 15 bases in 17 attempts.
On the mound, Hansen posted a 7-12 overall record with a 3.54 ERA in 118.2 innings pitched. She secured 74 strikeouts, which placed second on the team.
The Arizona native finished her career with 202 hits, only the second Stag to reach 200 hits in a career. She became the program's all-time leader with 40 doubles, and placed second all-time with 13 home runs.
The Academic All-District is one of several honors that the senior received this year. She was named to the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) All-Academic team for the third time this year. She picked up another All-MAAC award for her effort in 2006, as well as a spot on the MAAC All-Tournament team. The University's coaches selected her as the female scholar-athlete of the year for the second straight season.
An engineering major, Hansen will advance to the national ballot with the hopes of garnering a spot on the Academic All-America squad. Hansen was chosen to the District I team, which includes student-athletes from Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, and Quebec.
