Tara Charles
5-9, Junior, Guard
Marietta, Ga.
(Pope)

1998-99: Returned to full-time action for the first time since a back injury sidelined her as a freshman... Missed five games due to a knee injury... Second on the team with 97 assists... Ranked fourth in the Southern Conference in assists (4.2/game) and third in assist/turnover ratio with a 1.39 mark... Dished off a season-high seven assists on three occasions (Dec. 21 vs. Georgia Southern, Jan. 11 vs. Davidson, and Feb. 18 vs. Chattanooga) and scored 11 points twice... Also connected on 35 free throws and 15 three-point field goals... Claimed career-high five steals in Feb. 8 game versus Appalachian State.

1997-98: Re-injured her back early in season's first game and took a medical redshirt for the year... Scored five points and dished off three assists in game against Alabama -- her first competitive action since Feb. 3 of the previous season.

1996-97: Played in nine games, starting seven, before a back injury sidelined her for the remainder of the year... Attempted a return in February, but after two games returned to injured status... Scored a career-high 14 points on Dec. 20 versus Georgia Southern... Dished off a season-best five assists in career opener against UNC Charlotte on Nov. 30... Shot 83.3% (15-of-18) from the free throw line after sinking her first eight attempts of the year... Went seven-for-21 (33.3%) from three point range and 18-for-48 (37.5%) from the field... Claimed four steals on four occasions and averaged 2.3 per game.

High School: Named Cobb County Player-of-the-Year and earned Marietta Daily Journal all-county and Player of the Year... Also named all-metro and honorable mention all-state... Team Most Valuable Player and Most Athletic member of senior class... Named Cobb County Tipoff Club Player of the Month as a senior... Two-time Marietta Daily Journal Player of the Week and winner of the Kennesaw State Bailey Athletic Award... Holds school record for career points with 1,461, points in a season with 478, points in a game with 35, most steals in a season, with 66, and best three-point percentage at .487 (as a sophomore)... Recorded a 19.1 scoring average as a junior and dished off a school record 10 assists in one game... Made Cobb Holiday Classic All-Tournament Team as a sophomore, junior, and senior... Three-time letterwinner in softball and was most valuable player as a junior and senior... Named to academic honor roll.

Personal: Tara Beth Charles was born November 13, 1977, in Boston, Massachusetts... Daughter of Bob and Chris Charles... Majoring in communication.