Sara Tarbert is a junior forward on Stevenson University’s women’s basketball team. Throughout her basketball career at Stevenson, Tarbert has broken many records and become the second player in school history to average a double-double in a season.
Tarbert grew up in Delta, Pa., where she began playing basketball in the third grade. “When I started, it was just something to keep my sister and me busy; no one could have known where it would take me,” Tarbert said.
After graduating from Kennard-Dale High School, Tarbert went to the University of Maryland, Baltimore County before transferring to Stevenson in 2014.
As a nursing major, Tarbert has learned how to balance a heavy course load while playing basketball.
“It can get stressful at times, as I’m sure it can for any student. The coaches are extremely helpful in making sure we are where we need to be in terms of academics,” she explained.
Tarbert has reached many milestones while playing basketball at Stevenson. During the 2014-2015 season, she started all 28 games and set single season records in nine categories. This season, Tarbert was selected as the 2015-2016 MAC Commonwealth Conference women’s basketball Player of the Year and reached her 1,000th career point as a Mustang.
“Reaching my 1,000th career point was very special. I feel like reaching 1,000 points is not something people can nominate you for or vote for you to win. It’s something you have to work hard to earn and for me those are the most rewarding things,” Tarbert said.
With her help, the women’s basketball team won the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) championship on March 6 against Washington and Jefferson College. “It was such an honor to win the entire ECAC South,” Tarbert said.
She credits all of the players on the team for their hard work. “I would not be where I am today without my entire team,” she said. “I am so lucky to call them my teammates.”
Once she graduates, Tarbert hopes to work at a hospital as a nurse. While she is still narrowing down the particular nursing field, Tarbert plans to stay in the Baltimore area. With a few years to decide what her future holds, Tarbert said, “As long as I am happy, I’ll be good.”
