« Women’s Basketball 2013-14

Sarah Hansen

School
Florida Gulf Coast
Position
Guard
Major
Chemistry
PPG
13.8
RPG
6.6
APG
1.9

Classroom

As a chemistry major, mathematics minor and honors student, Hansen currently holds a cumulative grade point average of 3.92.  The fifth-year student-athlete has received a perfect 4.0 in four semesters at FGCU and earned Dean’s list or higher distinction in every semester of her academic career.  In 57 credits of chemistry coursework, Hansen has compiled 18 A’s and just two grades lower for a 3.89 grade point average in her major.  Hansen was named the program’s first ever Capital One Academic All-America Division I Second-Team member after earning Capital One Academic All-District 4 honors two years in a row.  She also earned a position on the Division I-AAA Women’s Scholar-Athlete team in 2012 and 2013 and was named the Division I-AAA Women’s Basketball Scholar-Athlete of the Year in 2012.  Additionally, Hansen has earned four-consecutive Atlantic Sun Academic All-Conference team nods, was named the Atlantic Sun Women’s Basketball Scholar-Athlete of the Year in 2012 and was unanimously chosen as the Atlantic Sun Scholar Athlete of the Year last season.

Character

Hansen has served as the captain of the FGCU women’s basketball team for three years and as this year’s only senior strives to set a good example, on and off the court.  She is aware of her responsibility as a leader on a perennially strong team and has not hesitated to be a vocal leader in team activities and to show the team, the university and the surrounding Fort Myers area what it means to be a strong citizen.  Hansen is described by 12th-year FGCU head coach Karl Smesko as “the brightest, most intellectual student-athlete I have ever witnessed.”  Smesko went on to say that Hansen is easily the most competitive athlete on the team and has an incredible desire to succeed, but only if winning is achieved with the highest ethical standard.  Coach Smesko describes Hansen’s biggest strengths as her focus, determination, decision making and leadership.  She is a true leader in words and actions.  Hansen is unquestionably the most respected athlete at FGCU, has an incredible energy about her and an unparalleled consistency in effort.  Hansen relentlessly pursues excellence and uses her drive to encourage the energy of others.

Community

Hansen has compiled over 120 hours of service learning experience during her time at FGCU, meaning she has dedicated her time to organizations in the local Fort Myers area as a representative of FGCU.  Hansen’s community experience is centralized on the youth of Fort Myers.  She has worked with Imaginarium of Fort Myers, an interactive museum and aquarium where she organized trips for pre-school aged children and assisted in the Autism classrooms at San Carlos Park Elementary School.  Hansen also helped organize a prom-type event called the ‘Spring Bling’ at the Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida and has recently organized and developed a new tutoring program that involved FGCU Athletics and the Quality Life Center, an organization dedicated to creating a climate of opportunity for at-risk youth in the area.  Most recently, Hansen led a team initiative to fight hunger in Southwest Florida by donating time to the Harry Chapin Food Bank.

Competition

Hansen enters her senior campaign as one of FGCU’s most decorated athletes.  She currently stands as the all-time program leader with 1,439 career points and ranks among the top three in 15 career statistical categories including field goals made (536), free-throws made (315), free-throw percentage (.784), rebounds (644), blocked shots (66), steals (185) and games played (98).  Hansen earned Atlantic Sun Conference Player of the Year and College Sports Madness Player of the Year awards after a phenomenal junior year.  Last season, the guard was a first-team all-conference honoree after ranking among the top statistical performers in the league.  Hansen averaged 16.3 points per game with 7.5 rebounds per contest and shot over 48 percent from the field, while grabbing 74 steals and recording 28 blocks in 34 games.

In addition to the Player of the Year awards, Hansen’s junior year ended with an abundance of accolades.  The awards include an Atlantic Sun Player of the Week nod, three College Sports Madness Player of the Week awards, a Full Court Mid-Major All-American Honorable Mention, a position on the 2013 Capital one All-District-4 First-Team and her second-consecutive FGCU Most Outstanding Student-Athlete Award.

To begin her senior season, Hansen has already been named the Atlantic Sun Preseason Player of the Year and the College Sports Madness Preseason Player of the Year.