Xavier University Athletics
Hall of Fame
- Induction:
- 2009
- Class:
- 2001
Taru Tuukkanen, one of the most dominant players in Xavier's women's basketball history, led the team in scoring and rebounding her freshman, junior, and senior seasons. During the 2000-2001 season, Tuukkanen set the then single-season record in points (648), field goals (259), and rebounds (289). That same year, Tuukkanen ushered the Musketeers to a second consecutive A-10 Championship, averaging 17.3 points over the three tournament games.
Tuukkanen's feats during NCAA tourney play are nothing short of amazing. During the team's first ever NCAA tournament victory, on March 12, 1999, against Florida International, Tuukkanen went 8-of-10 from the field, leading the team in scoring with 19 points. Tuukkanen then turned in a 12-point, nine-rebound performance during the program's most celebrated win in the 2001 NCAA Mideast Regional Semifinal versus No. 3 Tennessee.
Tuukkanen is fifth on XU's all-time scoring list with 1,785 career points sixth on XU's all-time rebounding list with 823 and is third on the school's all-time blocks list with 103. In addition, she was selected to the 2001 NCAA Tournament All-Mideast Region Team and was an Associated Press Honorable Mention All-American following the 2000-01 season. Tuukkanen was also selected to the All-Atlantic 10 First Team following both the 1999-00 and 2000-01 seasons.
