BALTIMORE – Notre Dame of Maryland University basketball was picked as the favorite to win the Colonial States Athletic Conference after missing the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

When last seen in action under first-year head coach Kalin Wynn, the Gators won 13 games against conference opponents. Notre Dame concluded the season with a trip to the CSAC playoffs as the third seed. NDMU ended the 2019-20 season with a 17-9 overall record and a 13-6 finish in the CSAC for the most CSAC wins in school history.

2021-22 Outlook

The Gators return the best fort-court in the conference in Senior Daija Fitchett and junior Ayana Brim. Fitchett comes in averaging a double-double over her two years of play. Now a senior with an extra year to play, the reigning CSAC Defensive Player of the Year has her eyes set on leaving Notre Dame a 1000 points, 1000 rebounds player. Brim, her running mate, took the league by storm winning Rookie of the Year while also earning a spot on the First-Team All-CSAC.

Notre Dame returns only three players from the 2019-20 team but Wynn and staff are expecting the seven newcomers to contribute early. Freshman guards Alexis Durham, Bethani Newbold and Amya Durham will be counted on early and often to replace the backcourt production the Gators must replace from the 2019 team.. 

The Gators were selected to finish at the top of the conference by the coaches in the 2021 Preseason Women's Basketball Poll. The Gators received 84 points and two first-place votes, while defending conference champions Keystone was second with 81 points and six first-place votes. 

Clarks Summit University was third with 69 points and one first-place vote. Saint Elizabeth came in fourth with 61 points, followed by Cairn with 48 points and Rosemont with 45 points.
Bryn Athyn was seventh with 45 while also receiving a first-place vote. Valley Forge had 32 points for eighth and Wilson was ninth at 29 points.

UP NEXT

Notre Dame (Md.) will visit Washington College of Maryland on Saturday at 2 p.m for its season-opener. Watch on the Gators Network and follow live stats at Notredamegators.com.