Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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WOMEN'S BASKETBALL Ogunbowale and Mabrey each made instant impact for the 33-2 Irish this past season, averaging 11.4 and 10.7 points per game, respectively, while Patberg was sidelined with a preseason ACL tear. This year, the Irish signed Gato- rade National Player of the Year Erin Boley, a 6-2 forward/wing, and Na- ismith National Player of the Year Jackie Young, a 5-11 guard. Outside of Turner, Notre Dame has no other proven post players. One senior, 6-4 Kristina Nelson, averaged 8.4 minutes per game this past sea- son, while another senior, 6-5 Dia- mond Thompson, averaged about 3.3 minutes in the 23 games in which she appeared. Furthermore, Turner underwent shoulder surgery in April to cure a lingering problem that forced her to miss about a dozen games the past two years and led her to wear a shoulder brace. Her recovery will last several months, which will in- hibit her weight room work. While reaching five straight Fi- nal Fours from 2011-15, Notre Dame eventually lost to teams such as Bay- lor and UConn that had much more dominant and deeper inside post play (one of those years the Irish lost center Natalie Achonwa to knee surgery). In 2016-17, Baylor again will have excellent size with a front line that includes 6-7 Kalani Brown and 6-4 Beatrice Mompremier, who as freshmen combined for 16.5 points and 10.4 rebounds per game. Brown was the No. 1 center recruit in 2015, and Baylor also landed the No. 1 post player last year in 6-4 Lauren Cox, Notre Dame's top target at the position. PRIME PROSPECTS Notre Dame's recruiting emphasis this year is to land at least one "big," preferably two, to go with another guard/wing. The targets are listed 2016-17 Roster Notre Dame will have 11 scholarship players on the 2016‑17 roster, and no more than three players in each class. Although the NCAA permits 15 scholarship players, head coach Muffet McGraw has indi‑ cated she prefers not to get past 12, because that can create discontent with playing time. (Eleven‑time national champion Geno Auriemma had only 10 scholarship players at Connecticut last year.) Notre Dame is likely to sign three again in the 2017 recruiting cycle, with a higher premium on frontcourt players. SENIORS: Guard Lindsay Allen, and posts Kristina Nelson (eligible for a fifth season in 2017‑18) and Diamond Thompson JUNIORS: Forwards Brianna Turner and Kathryn Westbeld, and guard Mychal Johnson SOPHOMORES: Guards/wings Marina Mabrey, Arike Ogunbowale and Ali Patberg (sidelined with injury as freshman) FRESHMEN: Forward Erin Boley and guard Jackie Young