North Carolina State University Athletics
Bell, Tasler Enjoy One Final Season at NC State
12/6/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Dec. 6, 2011
RALEIGH, N.C. - For NC State women's basketball players Emili Tasler and Tia Bell, surgery has been an all too familiar word in their careers as members of the Wolfpack women.
The two redshirt seniors have combined to have a staggering eight surgeries during their collegiate careers that began all the way back in the fall semester of 2007.
Tasler's injuries began back in high school when an Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) tear ended her senior campaign and ultimately delayed the start of her college basketball career by two full seasons.
Since that initial injury at nearby Apex High School, Tasler has undergone four additional surgeries - an ACL reconstruction, surgery on her meniscus, surgery for compartment syndrome and a bypass surgery on the back of her leg because of a blocked artery.
"After sitting out those two and a half years and not playing, they say it's like riding a bike, but you're a little rusty and your reactions are much slower," Tasler said. "Your confidence is to the ground when you first start playing, but it came back quickly."

She was able to play in all 34 games as the back-up point guard in what turned out to be her first college basketball season as a redshirt sophomore during the 2009-10 season.
After playing in parts of the first 13 games of last season, a somewhat rare surgery was performed to clear an artery block in the back of the same left leg that had given her so much grief over the years.
Although she missed the final 18 games of last season, the resilient guard, who grew up in Iowa, is back and ready for her final season.
"Right now, Emili Tasler is doing well," head coach Kellie Harper said. "Throughout the season, we may have some maintenance issues, but she looks good in practice. She's had some tough times, but that kid is a fighter."
Those maintenance issues Harper referred to include limiting Tasler's reps and practice time to make sure that her knee stays healthy all season.
Bell had three surgeries later in her collegiate career - an ACL and meniscus repair and another procedure for instability in her knee last year.
Bell's ACL injury came at the end of January in her junior year, putting her out for the season. At the time she was having the most productive season of her career as a key reserve for a club that went on to play in the 2010 NCAA Tournament.
Bell worked her way back in the offseason and returned for her senior season, ready for the start of game one. However, just three minutes after entering the game off the bench, the Washington, D.C. native went down with another injury.
"At the beginning of last season, I wasn't feeling all that comfortable with my game and I thought if I played through it that would change," Bell said.
Since that first injury took place at Virginia on Jan. 27, 2010, Bell has only played those measly three minutes in the season opener last season against College of Charleston. But once again with grit and determination, she is back for a fifth and final season, though she continues to battle back to 100%.
"Tia's recovery is going to take some time," Harper said. "She's in practice and working hard, but she's not 100 percent. Hopefully we are able to find a way throughout the season that she can help us."
For Tasler, making the ACC Championship game and the NCAA Tournament during the 2009-10 season was the most memorable moments she has had so far at NC State.
The Wolfpack entered the ACC Tournament as the sixth seed and made a run to the title game against top-seeded Duke, becoming just the second team in league history to win three games in three days to make the championship game.

The strong finish down the stretch that season saw the program land a No. 9 seed in the NCAA Tournament, and though the Pack bowed out in the opening game to UCLA, it was a feeling that both players want to experience one more time.


"The atmosphere of being in the ACC Tournament, being an underdog and going to the championship game was a great feeling that I've never experienced before," said Tasler. "And then to make the NCAA Tournament- I couldn't have been more proud of what we accomplished that season."
Unfortunately for Bell, she missed out playing in the NCAA Tournament because of injury and would love one more opportunity at postseason play.
"I want to win," Bell said. "Since, I've been at NC State, I've been to the NIT and watched my team play in the NCAA Tournament, but I haven't played. I'm looking forward to winning and I'm doing whatever I can to contribute to my team."
With five new players on the team, four freshmen and a sophomore transfer, Harper sees the effect of the two seniors on the younger players.
"They do have a maturity level that you like to have in front of your players," Harper said. "They've been through a lot and I think our younger players can respect them from that. They see them going through a lot every single day on the court. Their presence alone is a positive."
By Will Toman, NC State Media Relations
