Mary Clougherty finished 10th all-time in school history in 3-pointers made and helped the Lehigh women make their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2010 in her pandemic-shortened senior season. But she’s making sure her impact isn’t felt solely on the court. The 6-foot guard is co-captain of TIDE (Tackling Inclusion, Diversity and Equity) and has worked within the athletic department to make sure Lehigh’s athletes not only register to vote, but also are informed voters.
Major: Accounting and Business Information Systems
What’s your dream job?
To be the CFO of Tesla.
Is it safe to say the Model S is your dream car then?
100%. I have looked into financing options to buy one for myself, but it may be a few years.
What got you started in basketball?
I started playing basketball because my Papa [grandfather] used to play college basketball at Duquesne University. Ever since I was little, he used to talk about sports with me—specifically basketball. I always admired him and since I really enjoyed playing, I stuck with it.
What other sports have you played?
I swam and played soccer competitively through middle school. Sports has always been a driver in my life and I wanted to continue playing as many as I could until I had to pick one.
You wear No. 44. Any reason?
No. 44 is the number my sisters wore. We all played soccer and basketball and the three of us always wore 4 on the field and 44 on the court. It has always been our favorite number.
What’s your proudest athletic achievement?
I am most proud of having the opportunity to play college basketball. It isn’t just one moment in my game, but a compilation of the work I’ve put in and the goal I set for myself at a young age.
Do you have a nickname?
Mary Clougherthrees.
Was that given to you at Lehigh, or prior to college?
At Lehigh. A local fan actually started calling me this and our media team picked it up.
From the delays, to preparation, to a modified schedule with no fans due to COVID, how has this season been?
The season is very different for everyone. I think that we have learned a lot about what is important to us and how we want to continue to compete, even with the ups and downs. I am really proud of how everyone on the team has continued to be there for each other and compete every time we have the opportunity to play.
Can you at least temporarily forget about everything during games or do the cardboard cutouts in the stands still serve as a reminder?
Once I step on the court, I tend to forget everything else that is going on. Even before COVID, I didn’t typically hear the fans or taunts of opposing teams/coaches. In a way, playing basketball is the most normal part of my life. The games feel the same to me mentally.
I noticed on social media it appears there’s a new member on the team. Who is Frida and how did that come about?
Frida is my dog. I got her for myself over winter break as an Emotional Support Animal. When we were unable to go home for Christmas, I took my family dog for the holidays for some company. As soon as my family dog went home, we all felt like something was missing here at school. So, a few days later, I got Frida. Since we are very restricted in our ability to see anyone but our teammates—including family and school friends—she has been a really big support for the team. She comes to practices and loves being around the team. She is a very small dog so she travels easily and loves to be in people's laps or arms.