Dec. 17, 2010
Senior guard Brittany Mallory and the Notre Dame women’s basketball team is off to an 8-3 start with a 1-0 record in the BIG EAST as the team finishes finals this week. Mallory, a team captain, has seen action in nine games, making seven starts and is averaging 6.0 points per game this season. She is second on the team with eight three-pointers and leads the squad with a .421 shooting percentage (8-for-19). The Baltimore, Md., native has dished out 21 assists in her nine games and her 1.9 assist/turnover ration is second on the team. The No. 17 (AP)/#16 (USAToday) ranked Irish return to action on Monday, Dec. 20th when they travel to Valparaiso, Ind., to face the Crusaders. Game time is 7:05 p.m. (CT). Following the team’s 91-54 win over Creighton on Dec. 11, und.com’s Briana Coyne talked with Mallory about herself and her career at Notre Dame.
How did you start playing basketball? My older brother Bobby played and my dad coached him so I went to his practices all the time and had to do ball handling if I went.
What is your earliest basketball memory? My earliest basketball memory was when I made my first 3-pointer when I was eight or nine.
Who were your sports idols as a kid and why? My brother was my sports idol, because I always looked up to him when I was growing up. Also, Diana Taurasi was another sports idol, because she was such a great basketball player.
What was your favorite TV show growing up as a kid? And nowadays? I loved “Recess” on Saturday mornings and I loved pretty much any cartoon on Nickelodeon. Now, I love “Grey’s Anatomy” and “The First 48.”
What is the best part and the worst part of being a guard? Shooting is definitely the best part of being a guard. The worst part is that when the team isn’t performing well, it is usually our fault because we have the ball the most.
To date, what has been the highlight of your Notre Dame career? Winning the tournament in the Virgin Islands last season!
What is the best way to fight off boredom on road trips? I either listen to music or watch movies…or sleep!
Where is your favorite place to shop? My favorite places to shop are Forever 21, Express, and Buckle.
If you could vacation anywhere, where would you go and why? I would go somewhere tropical, because I love the sun and the beach or Australia, because I’ve always wanted to go there.
What is one thing about you that might surprise people? I am very OCD and a clean/neat freak. Everything has to be in its place and I also have some weird phobias, but I can’t share those because people may use them to their advantage!
What is your favorite movie and why? My favorite movie is Shooter or anything with Mark Wahlberg in it. I’m a huge fan!
What would be your dream job? I would be a homicide detective, but since I have a weak stomach that would never work out.
What four people, living or dead, would you have dinner with? I would have dinner with Mark Wahlberg, Michael Jordan, Oprah, and Ellen.
What is your favorite thing about the holidays? My favorite thing about the holidays is getting to go home and spending time with my family even though it’s only for a few days.
What do you want for Christmas? I got a new computer as an early gift, but I just usually ask for clothes.
What has been your favorite memory with the team? My favorite memories with the team are all of the fun times in the locker room and dying laughing at funny things that have happened. Also, the Virgin Islands tournament was another one of my favorite memories with the team.
If you could trade places with any other person at Notre Dame, who would it be and why? I would trade places with a member of the women’s soccer team, because they just won a National Championship!!!! Go Irish!!!
What is your favorite thing about playing for Notre Dame? We have a great, Hall of Fame coach, who really knows what she is talking about. She makes everyone a better player and want to be a better player.
How do you think you’ve grown as a person since coming to Notre Dame? I think I have matured so much. I’ve been through a lot with school and with basketball and injuries. With all the things that we have going on, you have to grow up and take care of yourself and your problems, because if you don’t you could lose your spot or fail out of school. I’ve really just learned to take care of myself.
What is the most important thing you’ve learned while playing at Notre Dame? The most important thing I’ve learned while playing at ND is that you have to work hard every single day. There is no time to take days off and you always have to be on your game.