Jun 19, 2015 4 min read

Mary Dunn felt the added pressure whenever college basketball coaches watched intently from the stands. The Trinity senior center, a perfectionist in every sense of the word, wanted to impress scouts with her post moves while helping the Hillers win.

Frustration was difficult to avoid, especially in a tough section that included three of the top teams in WPIAL Class AAA.

When her final season of high school basketball begins this winter, Dunn will no longer have to worry about earning a Division I scholarship. How she handled the pressure helped her earn a chance at playing college basketball.

She committed to the women’s basketball program at Youngstown State, a member of the Horizon League, where she plans to major in communications.

Dunn chose the Penguins, who went 21-11 last season and lost in the first round of the WNIT, over offers from Mount St. Mary’s and Davidson, as well as interest from several schools, including Kent State, Akron and Buffalo.

“When I went there, I just had a feel for it,” Dunn said. “I really liked the coaches and style of play. It was really everything about it – the distance from home, too.

“It was pretty nerve-racking because you never know if it’s the last game they are going to come to. I would just try to let it go and just play for my team. I think this will help me without the pressure.”

Now, Dunn can focus on building on an impressive junior season where she overcame being double-teamed by opponents every game. Regardless, the 6-2 forward averaged 14.6 points and 7.7 rebounds per game for Trinity, which finished with a 17-9 overall after losing in the WPIAL Class AAA quarterfinals and missed the state playoffs with a loss to McGuffey in the PIAA’s new play-in process.

Dunn’s varsity career took off during her sophomore season, when the Hillers defeated Hampton in the first round of the WPIAL playoffs. She scored 17 first-half points to propel Trinity to victory. Few teams have been able to defend her over the past two years. It was a performance that dotted a strong season, in which she averaged 13.1 points per game.

Youngstown State, led by third-year head coach John Barnes, runs an up-tempo offense relying on two post players. The style fits Dunn perfectly.

“It’s a great opportunity for Mary and it’s certainly well-deserved,” Trinity head coach Bob Miles said. “She has great potential with great hands and very good footwork for a post player. I think she made a wise choice. She seemed to really like the style they play and it’s close to home.”

Dunn began playing basketball in the first grade and the thought of a Division I scholarship never came to mind, not even when she played at Trinity as a freshman.

Working relentlessly and having a passion for basketball – rooted in growing up around the sport – translated to success. The Hillers’ center developed a mid-range jumper, improved her shot selection and was quick to make accurate outlet passes last winter. College coaches marveled at her potential. The thought is that with more strength and an aggressive drive to the basket, Dunn could make a big impact at the next level.

She is trying to get a head start to the season. Dunn is attending open gym sessions with Trinity, as well as performing crossfit workouts with the Hillers. She also has practice with her AAU team and gets extra work in with her father, Joe Dunn, who was a WPIAL boys basketball head coach for 25 years, including 12 seasons at Trinity.

“It was always my dream, but I never thought it could happen,” Mary Dunn said. “It’s just really exciting. I know I need to get better for college. It’s just crazy. I don’t know how else to describe it.”

Now her sole focus is helping the Hillers reach the state playoffs.

“We can be really good. A lot of the winning teams had more seniors and we were more of an underclassmen team,” Dunn said. “Now, we are ready to win states.”