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Why Dara Mabrey decided to return to Notre Dame women's basketball in 2022-23

IMG_9992by:Tyler Horka•02/26/22•

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Notre Dame Dara Mabrey
Notre Dame senior guard Dara Mabrey has decided to return to the Irish for a fifth collegiate season in (Photo by Jeffrey Brown/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Dara Mabrey‘s time with Notre Dame women’s basketball is far from finished.

Standing in the depths of Purcell Pavilion prior to Saturday’s practice in preparation for Sunday’s game against No. 4 Louisville, Mabrey told reporters she has decided to use the COVID-19 waiver to return to the Fighting Irish roster in 2022-23. It will be Mabrey’s fifth collegiate season and third at Notre Dame after transferring from Virginia Tech.

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The third sister from her family to suit up in blue and gold, Mabrey gives Notre Dame fans one more season to cheer for the lengthy list of Irish bloodline from those who bear her name. She said the main reason for making that happen was to build upon what Notre Dame has established in head coach Niele Ivey‘s second season; a top-four spot in the ACC standings, a potential top-four seed in the NCAA Tournament and a whole lot of positive momentum heading into Ivey’s third year.

“I kind of just knew all along,” Mabrey said of making her decision. “Especially since I transferred. I wanted to play here as long as I possibly could knowing that this program is only going to continue to get better. The fact that I have another year to accomplish everything we have on our list is super exciting.”

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Mabrey has started all 27 games for Notre Dame this season. She’s averaging 9.7 points per game and has made a team-best 56 three-pointers. She’s shooting 35.4% from beyond the arc. All 11 of her points against then-No. 16 Georgia Tech came in the fourth quarter and overtime in a nail-biting Irish victory on Feb. 17. She drilled three first-half threes in her most recent outing against Clemson.

The Mabrey sisters — Michaela, Marina and Dara — have made a combined 751 threes in their college careers. Dara has made 251 of those and counting. Marina holds the Notre Dame program record with 274. Only 96 of Dara’s threes have come in an Irish uniform, though, so she won’t catch her older sister in that regard.

She will have a chance to hit her 300th career triple in a Notre Dame uniform, however, which is a number neither of her sisters reached. Sure, the extra year aids in attaining such a lofty personal goal like that. But it also allows Mabrey the opportunity to chase an ACC title. And perhaps, an even bigger prize. If graduate senior center Maya Dodson is granted a waiver to return to Notre Dame as well, the Irish will have all five starters from this year’s roster back for the 2022-23 campaign. Plus, Notre Dame adds McDonald’s All-American freshman KK Bransford.

Notre Dame will have a stacked, more experienced roster next season. Mabrey will be a major part of it.

“I couldn’t imagine passing that up,” Mabrey said.

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