Emily (Marini) Tatsch (1994-1998) was an outstanding four-year basketball player for the Behrend Lions and Head Coach Roz Fornari.  

Tatsch developed in the women’s basketball program and became a physically tough player. She was listed at 5-5 but played much bigger. During her four seasons in Behrend blue and white, she owned the paint. In her first season, Tatsch led the team with 8.2 rebounds per game and added 7.5 ppg.  As a sophomore forward, she led the blue and white to an 18-9 record and the ECAC South Region Tournament title.   As a junior, she averaged 8.9 ppg, and worked for 6.9 rpg while leading the team in steals.

Tatsch’s senior year was terrific as she guided the program to the third most wins in program history with a 19 win season, and another ECAC Tournament appearance. She was named to the first-ever AMCC All-Conference squad in 1997-98 after averaging eight points per game and hauling down six rebounds per game over 28 games.  Tatsch was also voted the program’s MVP in 1997-98.

Her versatile skills enabled her to excel in multiple facets of the game. Tatsch, who had a knack for drawing fouls, racked up 838 career points—280 from the charity-stripe. She also pulled down 686 career rebounds and earned 252 career steals. Tatsch ranked atop the career free-throws made and steals column, while her rebounding totals were second, and her scoring was eighth all-time at the conclusion of her illustrious career.

Tatsch, a graduate of Mercyhurst Prep High School, is a teacher at Ligonier Valley S.D.