Oct. 19, 2017
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – The Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) announced on Thursday morning that both the Blue Ribbon Panel and head coaches’ poll were in agreement – Notre Dame women’s basketball returns as the preseason favorite for the 2017-18 season.
In addition, Notre Dame junior guards Arike Ogunbowale and Marina Mabrey received Preseason All-ACC nods for the first time in their respective careers while senior transfer Lili Thompson was named to the Newcomer Watch List.
Preseason Poll
For the fourth consecutive year, Notre Dame was recognized as the team to beat in the ACC. The Irish claimed 35 first-place votes and 858 points to claim the top spot. Meanwhile, Louisville (5 first-place votes, 809 points), Duke (10, 799) and Florida State (10, 752) followed in said order.
Since joining the conference for the 2013-14 season, the Irish have posted an impressive 62-2 record in regular season league play.
Last season, the Irish secured their fourth consecutive conference regular season and tournament title sweeps, and if the Irish were to claim its fifth straight in 2018, a new record would be set.
Preseason All-ACC
Ogunbowale returns after leading the Irish in scoring last season with her 15.9 points per game (ppg). The Milwaukee native started in 36-of-37 games, where she tallied seven 20+ scoring performances along with three double-doubles. Ogunbowale finished the year ranked fifth in the ACC in total points (588), 13th in field goal percentage (.449) and 15th in three-point field goals made (64).
Mabrey followed right behind with 14.6 ppg in 37 games played (36 started), registering nine games of 20+ points. The Belmar, New Jersey, native ranked fifth in the league in three-point field goal percentage (.383), 10th in field goal percentage (.471), 11th in three-point field goals made per game (2.0) and 14th in points per game.
Furthermore, Ogunbowale (986 career points) and Mabrey (913 career points) are near locks to join Notre Dame’s 1,000-career points club this season.
Newcomer Watch List
After transferring from Stanford, Thompson looks to bring plenty of veteran leadership and experience to this year’s squad. A two-time All-Pac-12 selection, Thompson became the 36th Stanford player to reach 1,000 career points during the 2015-16 season after averaging 14.7 ppg on 37.5 percent shooting. The Mansfield, Texas, native ranked fourth in the Pac-12 in free-throw percentage (.777), eighth in three-pointers made per game (2.0), 11th in scoring and 11th in assists (3.6).
For a complete look at all the ACC Preseason honors, please see the list below:
2017 Preseason Honors as selected by the Blue Ribbon Panel
Predicted Order of Finish
1. Notre Dame (858 points, 35 first-place votes)
2. Louisville (809 points, 5 first-place votes)
3. Duke (799 points, 10 first-place votes)
4. Florida State (752 points, 10 first-place votes)
5. Miami (515 points)
6. Virginia (505 points)
7. Syracuse (497 points)
8. NC State (463 points)
9. Georgia Tech (456 points)
10. North Carolina (434 points)
11. Virginia Tech (334 points)
12. Wake Forest (316 points)
13. Pittsburgh (193 points)
14. Clemson (164 points)
15. Boston College (86 points)
Preseason ACC Player of the Year: Lexie Brown, R-Sr., G, Duke
Preseason All-ACC Team
Lexie Brown, R-Sr., G, Duke
Rebecca Greenwell, R-Sr., G, Duke
Shakayla Thomas, Sr., F, Florida State
Asia Durr, Jr., G, Louisville
Myisha Hines-Allen, Sr., F, Louisville
Stephanie Watts, Jr., G, North Carolina
Paris Kea, R-Jr., G, North Carolina
Arike Ogunbowale, Jr., G, Notre Dame
Marina Mabrey, Jr., G, Notre Dame
Chanette Hicks, Jr., G, Virginia Tech
Newcomer Watch List
Mikayla Boykin, Fr., G, Duke
Bego Faz Davalos, R-Sr., C, Duke
Dana Evans, Fr., G, Louisville
Janelle Bailey, Fr., C, North Carolina
Lili Thompson, GS, G, Notre Dame
Preseason ACC Honors as selected by the Head Coaches
Predicted Order of Finish
1. Notre Dame (212 points, 8 first-place votes)
2. Louisville (205 points, 1 first-place vote)
3. Duke (200 points, 3 first-place votes)
4. Florida State (188 points, 3 first place votes)
5. Virginia (148 points)
6. Georgia Tech (141 points)
7. Syracuse (122 points)
8. Miami (113 points)
9. North Carolina (103 points)
10. NC State (97 points)
11. Wake Forest (90 points)
12. Virginia Tech (82 points)
13. Clemson (43 points)
14. Pittsburgh (37 points)
15. Boston College (19 points)
Preseason Player of the Year: Asia Durr, Jr., G, Louisville
Preseason All-ACC Team
Lexie Brown, R-Sr., G, Duke
Rebecca Greenwell, R-Sr., G, Duke
Shakayla Thoams, Sr., F, Florida State
Francesca Pan, So., G, Georgia Tech
Asia Durr, Jr., G, Louisville
Myisha Hines-Allen, Sr., F, Louisville
Paris Kea, R-Jr., G, North Carolina
Arike Ogunbowale, Jr., G, Notre Dame
Marina Mabrey, Jr., G, Notre Dame
Elisa Penna, So., G, Wake Forest
Newcomer Watch List
Mikayla Boykin, Fr., G, Duke
Lorela Cubaj, Fr., F, Georgia Tech
Dana Evans, Fr., G, Louisville
Janelle Bailey, Fr., C, North Carolina
Lili Thompson, GS, G, Notre Dame
–ND–
Josh Bates joined Fighting Irish Media as associate athletics communications director in July of 2017, serving as the women’s basketball and men’s golf contact. Bates earned both his bachelor’s (2011) and master’s (2014) degree in sports management from the University of Illinois. He also worked as a grad assistant at Illinois from 2012-14 and worked full-time at Tulane University from 2014-17.