TAMPA – For the second year in a row, the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) has recognized Arike Ogunbowale as one of the top ten players in the nation with its All-America award. Ogunbowale joins Skylar Diggins-Smith, Jewell Loyd, Kayla McBride and Brianna Turner as a multiple WBCA All-America winner.
Joining Ogunbowale on the 10-player list was: Baylor’s Kalani Brown, Iowa State’s Bridget Carleton, UConn’s Napheesa Collier, Louisville’s Asia Durr, Iowa’s Megan Gustafson, Oregon’s Sabrina Ionescu, Mississippi State’s Teaira McCowan, UConn’s Katie Lou Samuelson and Stanford’s Alanna Smith.
Fellow Irish teammates Marina Mabrey, Jessica Shepard, Brianna Turner and Jackie Young were named 2019 WBCA NCAA Division I Coaches’ All-America Honorable Mention.
Ogunbowale has topped her memorable junior campaign with a record-breaking senior season. Ogunbowale is on pace to break her own season average scoring record, currently at 21.5 points per game. Furthermore, she is one-of-five active Division I players over 2,500 career points.
Heading into the Final Four weekend, Ogunbowale is averaging 25.3 points per game, which is the highest of any player in Tampa.
This season, Ogunbowale has previously garnered All-America honors from espnW, Associated Press and USBWA.
In addition to the WBCA Awards ceremony, the Senior CLASS Award named Brianna Turner a First Team All-American. The Senior CLASS Award focuses on the total student-athlete and encourages students to use their platform in athletics to make a positive impact as leaders in their communities. To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I senior and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence: classroom, community, character and competition.
On the court, Turner is the only player in the country averaging over 14 points, seven rebounds, 2.5 blocks and shooting over 60 percent from the field. In fact, Turner is shooting 64.5 percent from the floor, which ranks fifth in the nation.
Turner recently broke the all-time rebounding record at Notre Dame, surpassing Irish great Ruth Riley with her now 1,021 boards. Turner is now four blocks away from tying Riley’s all-time blocks recod of 370.
Off the court, Turner has spent ample time volunteering at Oaklawn Children’s Campus working with preteen boys, while also mentoring a young girl. Turner has volunteered once a week, only missing when basketball travel interfered.
Oaklawn’s programs are designed to support youth in developing healthy coping skills so they can return to and live successfully in their community. As a faith-based organization, they believe in treating the whole person—mind, body and spirit.
Last season, Turner also volunteered at the local animal shelter and the local food bank, and she visited Saint Joseph’s hospital and performed several school visits as well.
2019 WBCA NCAA Division I Coaches’ All-Americans:
| Name | School |
|---|---|
| Kalani Brown | Baylor University |
| Bridget Carleton | Iowa State University |
| Napheesa Collier | University of Connecticut |
| Asia Durr | University of Louisville |
| Megan Gustafson | University of Iowa |
| Sabrina Ionescu | University of Oregon |
| Teaira McCowan | Mississippi State University |
| Arike Ogunbowale | University of Notre Dame |
| Katie Lou Samuelson | University of Connecticut |
| Alanna Smith | Stanford University |
Senior CLASS Award First-Team All-Americans
| Kalani Brown | Baylor |
| Bridget Carleton | Iowa State |
| Megan Gustafson | Iowa |
| Teaira McCowan | Mississippi State |
| Brianna Turner | Notre Dame |
Senior CLASS Award Second-Team All-Americans
| Kristine Anigwe | Cal Berkeley |
| Allazia Blockton | Marquette |
| Asia Durr | Louisville |
| Jessica Kovatch | Saint Francis |
| Alanna Smith | Stanford |