Hall of Fame
Tara Leavitt ’96 was a two-sport athlete at Husson University, earning six varsity letters from 1993-1996.
Regarded as one of the premier interior players in women’s basketball program history, Leavitt finished her career with 1,131 points, 904 rebounds, 139 steals, 94 assists and 99 blocks, while shooting 45.8 percent (504-1100) from the floor and 58.7 percent (122-208) from the free throw line in 99 career games played for hall of fame member Kissy Walker ‘03G from 1993-1996. She averaged 11.4 points, 9.1 rebounds, 0.9 assists, 1.4 steals, and 1.0 blocks per game in her career.
At the time of her induction, Leavitt ranked among the program’s top-25 career leaders in points (ninth), scoring average (15th), field goals made (fourth), field goals attempted (fifth), field goal percentage (ninth), rebounds (ninth), rebounding average (fourth), blocked shots (tied for fifth), blocked shots average (eighth), steals (16th), steals average (tied for 17th) and games played (tied for 22nd).
Her best season in a Husson uniform came during her sophomore season when she tallied 346 points, 302 rebounds, 54 steals, 32 blocks and 25 assists, earning Maine Athletic Conference All-Conference First Team honors and Maine Women’s Basketball Coaches Association All-State First Team accolades. During the 1993-1994 season, Leavitt averaged 13.8 points and 12.1 rebounds per game, while shooting 45.2 percent (157-347) from the field and 52.5 percent (31-59) from the free throw line.
The senior captain helped the Braves post an 88-27 (.789) overall record, including a 34-8 (.816) mark in conference play. She contributed to one Western Maine Athletic Conference Championship in 1992-1993, two MAC championships in 1994-1995 and 1995-1996, one National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics District 5 title in 1992-1993 and three berths into the NAIA national championship in 1992-1993, 1994-1995 and 1995-1996. Additionally, she helped the 1992-1993 team earn a trip to the NAIA division II national championship Fabulous Final Four in Monmouth, Oregon, the longest postseason run of any athletics team in Husson University history - at the time of her induction.
Off the hardwood, Leavitt was named a NAIA academic All-American following the 1995-1996 season, becoming the first player in women’s basketball program history to receive this honor.
Leavitt was the eighth member of the 1993 women's basketball team - that was inducted into the hall of fame in 2011 as a team - to be inducted as an individual, joining Walker, assistant coach Sharron Siebert ’91, Vicki Mazerall '93, Kristi Wildman ‘93, Darci Collins ‘93, Steph Shaw ‘95, Amy Dyer ‘95 and Stacy Hafford ’95.
She also played two seasons of volleyball for coach Dan O’Connell ’72 from 1993-1994
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Leavitt graduated from Husson in 1996.
A native of Hampden, Maine, Leavitt attended Hampden Academy.
