Honors: 2021 and 2022 Academic All-Big Ten
2021-22: Played in all 28 games, averaging 12.8 minutes per game ... averaged 2.0 points per game ... tied her career high with nine points vs. Illinois (Feb. 6), shooting 4-5 (80%) from the field, including 1-2 (50%) from 3-point range ... adds 1.7 rebounds per game ... pulled down a season-high five rebounds at Illinois (Jan. 9) ... had a season-high three assists vs. Michigan State (Feb. 16) ... had a career-high three steals vs. Green Bay (Dec. 12) ... tied her career high with one block vs. Illinois
2020-21: Played in 24 games, starting three, averaging 16.6 minutes per game ... averaged 2.7 points per game ... scored a career-high nine points vs. North Dakota (Dec. 13 ) ... hit 3-5 from 3-point range vs. the Fighting Hawks for career highs ... added 1.9 rebounds per game ... pulled down a season-high six rebounds vs. North Dakota (Dec. 13) ... dished off 0.3 assists per game ... added 0.2 steals and 0.1 blocks per game ... had a season-best two steals vs. Michigan (Jan. 14) ... recorded her first career block vs. Northwestern (Jan. 6)
2019-20: Played in all 30 games, averaging 11.6 minutes per game ... made collegiate debut against North Florida (Nov. 5), scoring season-high seven points... also scored seven points against Eastern Illinois (Nov. 26), Ball State (Nov. 29) and Michigan (Jan. 16) ... shot 84% (21-25) from the free-throw line ... added 1.8 rebounds per game ... pulled down a career-high 10 rebounds against Eastern Illinois ... added 0.4 assists per game, tallying a career-best two assists in two contests ... added five steals on the year
High School: Ranked as the No. 1 player in the state of Wisconsin by MaxPreps.com ... three-time first-team all-conference selection and three-time offensive player of the year at Beaver Dam High School ... scored the most 3-pointers in school history ... two-time Division 2 All-State ... aided Beaver Dam High School to three-straight Wisconsin State Championships for coach Tim Chase ... the Beavers went 104-5 with just two in-state losses over four seasons ... averaged 11.4 points and 3.6 rebounds per game as a senior ... finished her career with 1,125 points ... talented three-sport athlete ... four-year letter winner in volleyball, earning first-team all-conference honors ... also three-year letter winner in track and field ... named to the high honor roll every semester of her high school career ... member of the National Honor Society ... starred for the Wisconsin Lakers for coach Mike Elles on the AAU circuit ... team won the 2018 Blue Star National Championship ... was named to the Gateway Challenge, Battle of the Programs and Summer Final Midwest All-Star teams
Personal: Parents are Jaclyn and Rodney Stauffacher ... has three siblings- Logan (30), Marin (19) and Nolan (16) ... born Oct. 10 ... majors are kinesiology and exercise movement sciences ... goal is to become a pediatric physical therapist
Why Wisconsin?
"I'm a Wisconsin Badger fan born and raised. I was also hoping that by making the choice to go to Wisconsin, other in-state players would also join me."
Career Highs
Points: 9 (2x; MR vs. Illinois, 2/6/22)
Rebounds: 10 vs Eastern Illinois, 11/26/19
Assists: 3 vs. Michigan State, 2/15/22
Steals: 3 vs Green Bay, 12/12/21
Blocks: 1 (2x; MR vs Indiana 02/24/21)
FG Made: 4 vs. Illinois, 2/6/22
FG Attempts: 7 vs North Florida 11/5/19
3FG Made: 3 vs North Dakota 12/13/20
3FG Attempts: 5 (2x; MR vs Michigan 01/14/21)
FT Made: 4 vs Ball State, 11/29/19
FT Attempts: 4 (3x; MR at Nebraska 01/28/21)
Min: 33 vs. Valparaiso, 12/20/20
Off the court with Tara
Most influential person in your life: Joe Ellis, director of the Wisconsin Lakers
Dream Job: Pediatric physical therapist
Volunteer Experience: Worked the state fair in the youth center, Link Crew Leader for incoming freshmen, refereed Special Olympics track meets and basketball games
Favorite Charity/ Non-Profit: Humane Society
If you could have dinner with three people, who would you invite? Kevin Hart, Kobe Bryant, Nikola Telsa
If you’re stuck on an island, what are the three things you would NEED: SUNSCREEN, a book, and a boat
If you could only listen to one musical artist for a year, who would it be: Kenny Chesney
Name three people you most admire: Trae Young, Sabrina Ionescu, JJ Watt
Hobbies/Interests: Sewing with my grandma, painting, drawing, woodworking with my grandpa, walking dogs for the Humane Society because my dad won’t let me have a dog, photography
Favorite Book: "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone" by JK Rowling
Favorite Song Lyric: “Today is where your book begins the rest is still unwritten” -Natasha Bedingfield
My secret addiction is: popcorn
My bucket list includes: scuba-diving with sharks
Jersey Number significance: I wore 40 all through high school and wanted to keep it in college
If I did not play basketball, I would play: men’s Lacrosse
If you could play 1 v. 1 against anyone, who would it be? Giannis Antetokounmpo but I know he would dunk over me every time
If you could have any current or former WNBA player on the roster, who would you choose? Courtney Vandersloot
How would you describe your playing style? Defensive-minded
Before each game, I: always eat a package of fruit snacks before the game
Favorite thing to do off the court with my teammates is: painting and watching The Bachelor/Bachelorette
What has been your favorite memory as a Badger to date? The first time I put on the uniform for a game
If your teammates gave you a superlative it would be: loudest or most energetic
Three words to describe Wisconsin: exciting, loud, red
