INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – The NCAA announced today the list of nominee's their annual Woman of the Year award.  Among the record-setting 581 nominees was Notre Dame of Maryland University senior student-athlete, Zaria Comer.

In the 28^th year for the Woman of the Year program, Comer was one of the 199 student-athletes nominated from the Division III level and 109 two-sport student-athletes.  To be eligible for this award, student-athlete must demonstrate excellence in academics, athletics, service and leadership. 

Recent graduate, Zaria Comer, was Notre Dame's 2018 nominee for the NCAA Woman of the Year.  At Notre Dame, Comer was a two-sport student-athlete participating in both volleyball and basketball.
 

As a member of the NDMU volleyball team, she played in 31 sets, recording 15 kills and 10 blocks.  Zaria made a major impact for the basketball team, joining the team in 2014.  In her rookie season, Zaria averaged over 10 points and eight rebounds a game.  She earned CSAC weekly honors once in each of her four season, and this year was also named CSAC Defensive Player of the Week and CSAC player of the week. 

In her junior and senior seasons, Zaria was named to the CSAC Honorable Mention team and is now the most decorated basketball student-athlete at Notre Dame in the CSAC-era.  She finished her career fourth in the Notre Dame record books for career points with 1,221, first in field goal percentage at .500 (tied for seventh in the CSAC), first in total blocks with 179 (tied for fifth in the CSAC), and third in field goals made with 521.

She also finished her career with an impressive 33 double-doubles, eight of which came in her senior season. In the 2017-18 season, she had four top-50 national rankings including, ranked 20th in field goal percentage at 54.9%.

At the end of the season Student-Athlete Awards Banquet, Comer was awarded the Sister Bernice Feilinger Award, which recognizes the outstanding accomplishments of a senior student-athlete during her tenure at NDMU.  She was also named the 2017-18 Basketball MVP.
 

Comer was also active in her academics and leadership roles in her time at Notre Dame.  Majoring in Chemistry and minoring in Physics, Comer finished with a 3.06 GPA.  In the 2018 graduation ceremony, Comer served as the representation for the Bachelors of Arts and Sciences and was the first of the undergraduate students to be hooded by President Yam prior to crossing the stage and receiving their degrees.
 

While at Notre Dame she served as the Secretary of the Pre-Pharmacy Club, the Class of 2018 Vice President, a Trailblazers Leadership Board Member, a Residence Life Assistant, a Pharmacy Technician, and lead fundraising and community service opportunities for many groups.

As she described in her personal statement, Comer found her purpose in life through her experiences at Notre Dame. "Although it was a challenge, everything I was involved in allowed me to realize that my purpose in life is to help people," said Comer.  "As an athlete, I have learned to help my teammates understand and achieve our goals each season. As an employee, I have learned that optimal customer service consists of going above and beyond to assist your customers and ensure their happiness. Finally, as a student, I have learned to look for help and understand it takes true strength to humble yourself and seek assistance in anything you're struggling in."

Comer will be continuing her academic career at Notre Dame, as she will be pursuing her Pharmacy degree starting in the Fall.

Next, the Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) will select up to two conference nominees to move forward.  That announcement will come in August if Comer has been selected to move on.

For more information about the NCAA Woman of the Year nomination process, visit their page here.