Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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44 AUGUST 2020 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED WOMEN'S BASKETBALL BY LOU SOMOGYI I t was a couple of years late, but the set is now complete for the Mabrey family at Notre Dame. Former Virginia Tech combo guard Dara Mabrey transferred and enrolled at Notre Dame this sum- mer, with two years of eligibility re- maining, to join first-year head coach Niele Ivey's program. The 5-7 junior will be reunited with older sister Michaela Mabrey, who played with the Fighting Irish from 2012-16 and last year was hired as an assistant by former head coach Muf- fet McGraw when Ivey took a post with the NBA's Memphis Grizzlies. Middle sister Marina Mabrey starred at Notre Dame from 2015-19, starting for the 2018 national champs, setting the school record for career three-pointers made with 274 — Mi- chaela is fifth with 228 — and becom- ing the No. 19 overall pick in the 2019 WNBA Draft. She is currently with the Dallas Wings and also plays pro- fessionally overseas. The youngest Mabrey built her own impressive résumé at Virginia Tech while starting every game of her freshman and sophomore seasons before entering the transfer portal this spring. As a freshman in 2018-19 she led the team in assists, averaged 11.2 points per game and finished third nationally in three-point percentage (46.2) while sinking a single-season school-record 80. This past season her three-point total (75) and shooting percentage beyond the arc (36.4) dipped, but the latter was still the third best in the ACC while helping the Hokies to a 21-9 record and what would have been an NCAA Tournament bid had it not been can- celed by the COVID-19 pandemic. She averaged 11.7 points as a sopho- more, and finished with 11 points, five rebounds, three steals and two assists in a 68-62 win at Notre Dame Feb. 20. Her 155 threes already ranked as the seventh-best total in school history, and Mabrey also was an ACC All-Ac- ademic Team selection both years. Far beyond the data to Ivey are the toughness, moxie and a winning spirit in the Mabrey DNA. "We have an incredible history of success with the Mabrey family," Ivey said in a statement released by Notre Dame. "Between her three- point shooting capability, competi- tive drive and ACC experience, I think she will be a great addition to the new era of Irish basketball." Barring a waiver from the NCAA, Mabrey will sit out the 2020-21 sea- son and then have two years of eligi- bility remaining thereafter. The combo guard opted for the fa- miliarity and championship pedigree at Notre Dame, while also having Ar- izona and UCLA among her finalists. Playing time will have to be earned because there are already a half- dozen guards on the roster — plus the nation's top point guard, Olivia Miles, will enroll in the 2021 class (when Mabrey is expected to be eli- gible), along with top-20 prospect/ wing Sonia Citron. Where Mabrey is expected to add instant impact is with her three-point shooting prowess. Among 349 Divi- sion I teams, Notre Dame this past season finished 317th in three-point field-goal percentage (27.1) and 309th in treys made per game (4.1). There were early indications that her preferred position is point guard. However, with Miles enrolling af- ter next season, Mabrey likely will be more of a combo guard who can assist at the point when needed, hav- ing handed out 145 career assists at Virginia Tech. ✦ Mabrey started all 64 contests, averaged 11.5 points per game and amassed 155 three-pointers on 40.9-percent shooting from long range during her two seasons at Virginia Tech. PHOTO COURTESY VIRGINIA TECH ATHLETICS The Third Shift Dara Mabrey joins Notre Dame as a transfer to complete the family trifecta