Natalie Novosel

Classroom

Novosel is currently enrolled in Notre Dame’s College of Arts and Letters, where she is an anthropology major. She has also has taken numerous courses in pre-professional studies with an eye on eventually going into a career as a physical therapist or personal trainer. She is in the midst of her strongest run in the classroom at Notre Dame, most recently posting a 3.889 GPA during the summer 2011 session despite missing time while attending USA Basketball trials and subsequently representing Team USA at the World University Games in China.

Character

Novosel was voted by her teammates as one of three team captains for 2011-12 season. She is averaging less than two fouls per game in her career (has fouled out only once in 105 career games and has not missed a game in her first three seasons at Notre Dame, playing 105 of a possible 105 games despite chronic knee problems and aggressive style of play at both ends.

Community

Novosel is one of the driving forces behind Notre Dame’s community outreach program the past three seasons. Originally called “Spirit of Giving” and renamed this year as “Heart of the Irish”, Novosel and the ND women’s basketball program have organized donation drives for books for local public schools and toys for area pediatric cancer patients, as well as making regular appearances at local grade schools (talking about mentoring, the importance of education, anti-bullying messages and sportsmanship) and participating in area youth basketball clinics. She also has been a key contributor to Notre Dame’s record-setting Pink Zone campaign (done in conjunction with the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association initiative of the same name) to raise funds and awareness for breast cancer research, as the Fighting Irish have generated more than $270,000 in donations for that cause during Novosel’s first three years. Novosel and her teammates also support Operation Jumpball, an overseas basketball clinic program for disadvantaged and underprivileged children in Jamaica.

Competition

Arguably the nation’s most improved player in 2010-11 - more than tripling her scoring average (15.1 ppg.), while adding 4.0 rpg. and 1.9 spg. with team-high .413 3FG%, - Novosel set school records for free throws made (183) and games started (39), and second in school history with 33 double-digit scoring games (including seven 20-point games) and 232 free throw attempts. She ranked among BIG EAST leaders in scoring, three-point percentage and steals. She is poised to become the 29th ND player to score 1,000 career points (needs 22 points entering season). Last year, Novosel factored into three game-tying shots (made two, assisted on one) in the final 30 seconds against top-25 teams (UCLA, Connecticut, DePaul). She spent the summer with the USA World University Games Team, helping the United States to a gold medal and 6-0 record (started all six games and averaged 4.6 ppg). Her awards/honors include — 2011: State Farm Coaches’ All-America Team (honorable mention) … BIG EAST Most Improved Player … First-Team All-BIG EAST … WBCA Classic Most Valuable Player … NCAA Dayton Regional All-Tournament Team … BIG EAST Championship All-Tournament Team … State Farm Holiday Hoops Classic All-Tournament Team … Three-Time BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll selection (Nov. 29, Feb. 7, March 1). 2009: BIG EAST All-Freshman Team … BIG EAST Freshman of the Week (Dec. 29, Jan. 12).