#Campbell21 | Graduate shines on and off the basketball court

Lauren McNamara-Clement has made an impact on Campbell’s campus from her first day on the women’s basketball team. She’s suited up for 114 games throughout her undergraduate career and was influential on both ends of the court. She shot at least 40 percent from the field each season and is a career 44.3 percent shooter. She also pulled down 432 rebounds and blocked 101 shots in her time as a Camel.

But her record off the court might be even more impressive. The Raleigh native was active in Campbell Spiritual Life programming and a Campbell Youth Theological Institute leader. She served as president of the Campbell SAAC in 2020, and represented the Big South Conference in the NCAA Student-Athlete Engagement Group as colleges navigated COVID-19 protocols. She was also named the 2020-21 Big South WBB Scholar-Athlete of the Year, making her the first in program history.

The oldest of five siblings, McNamara-Clement has often been called the older sister or mother hen of the basketball team, and takes the role to heart.

“Knowing that I was once a freshman trying to figure out life in the Creek, I really try to remind the underclassmen that they are more than just athletes,” she says. “That usually looks like checking in on them, getting to know their interests off the court and making sure they know that they are loved and valued — that we care about more than their performance.” 

Her leadership style of connecting with her teammates has affected the entire campus community. Aside from leading the women’s basketball team to two Big South tournaments, she led campaigns for voter registration, civic engagement and mental health awareness for student athletes, and is passionate about engaging all in their campus communities.

After graduation, McNamara-Clement will spend her last year of athletic eligibility at Mercer University, where she plans to study higher education leadership. 

“We are very excited about Lauren coming to Mercer as a grad transfer,” said Mercer Women’s Basketball Head Coach Susie Gardner. “Not only will she add to our depth in the post, but she is an exceptional person. We have an amazing culture at Mercer, and as I recruit one of my main goals is to bring in players that will represent our program well in all facets. Lauren is someone who I think will make a difference from day one.”