| Game 3: #1/1 Notre Dame (2-0) at #15/15 DePaul (1-0) | |
| When: | Saturday, Nov. 17 | 2:00 pm ET |
| Where: | Chicago, Ill. | Wintrust Arena (10,387) |
| Watch: | DePaul All-Access Stream ($) |
| Listen: | Pulse FM 96.9/92.1/103.1 | Bob Nagle (PxP) | Listen Online |
| Live Scoring: | Sidearm Stats |
| Notes: | Notre Dame | DePaul |
| Social: | @NDWBB | #GoIrish ☘️ |
| Tickets: | Click Here |
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – The No. 1 University of Notre Dame women’s basketball team will not only have its first road test on Saturday in Chicago, but also its first ranked matchup of the season in No. 15 DePaul. The Fighting Irish (2-0) will tip off against the Blue Demons (1-0) at 2 p.m. ET/1 p.m. CT, inside Wintrust Arena, and will only be available to watch via DePaul’s All-Access stream linked above. For tickets, fans can visit DepaulBlueDemons.com or click the link here.
THE SERIES
Notre Dame leads the all-time series with DePaul, 25-19. The Irish have won 10 straight. The two last squared off in December of last year in Purcell Pavilion, when the Irish won 91-82. Jessica Shepard broke the women’s Purcell Pavilion scoring record with 39 points and earned a double-double with 11 rebounds. Shepard converted 17-of-22 shots from the field.
The Irish are 9-11 against the Blue Demons in Chicago, but have won three straight.
PICKING UP WHERE THEY LEFT OFF
2018 NCAA All-Final Four selections Ogunbowale & Shepard have picked up right where they left off last season.
In the season-opening win over Harvard, Ogunbowale poured in 30 points while Shepard tallied 28 points. The combined 58 points marked the best duo performance of all Division I in the opening weekend of play.
Individually, Ogunbowale’s 30-point performance was the fifth of her career and two points shy of her career. high. The senior was 1-of-14 players to score at least 30 points in their respective season opener and 1-of-3 from the ACC.
The duo were also the top-two point getters in game two vs. Penn, as Ogunbowale tallied 21 points, followed by Shepard’s 17. The pair now rank 2nd & 3rd in the ACC in scoring and 16th and 38th in the nation, respectively.
WELCOME BACK
The Irish welcomed back two players from injury in graduate student Brianna Turner and sophomore Mikayla Vaughn.
In Turner’s first game back, she responded with an 11-point, 11-rebound, double-double. The second game had the same result in a double-double, this time earning 16 points, 10 rebounds. Turner’s two double-doubles ranks 10th in the nation. Furthermore, she is 1-of-5 players in the ACC to have two. In addition, her now 23 career double-doubles ties Dev Peters for 10th all-time. Katryna Gaither holds the top spot with 40.
Vaughn, who is still eligible this season for ACC Rookie honors, re-emerged on the scene with career highs in points (12), made field goals (6) and blocks (4) in the season opener vs. Harvard. She’s been highly efficient from the field, knocking down 7-of-9 to start the year. Her .778 shooting percentage leads the team and ranks 4th in the ACC.
UNSELFISH PLAY
Last season, the Irish averaged 18.8 assists per game. Through two games, they are averaging 22.5 assists, which ranks 12th in the country. Leading scorer, Ogunbowale, who averaged 2.8 assists per game last year, is the team leader at 5.5 per game, which ranks 3rd in the ACC.
In addition, both Jordan Nixon (4.0 apg) and Jackie Young (4.5) are averaging at least 4 assists per game.
RANKED OPPOSITION
Last season, the Irish finished with 13 ranked wins, including 11 of which came away from home — both stats led the nation. In addition, the Irish earned six victories against top-10 ranked teams. No. 15 DePaul will mark the first ranked opponent for the Irish this season.
20-POINT GAMES
After shattering the Notre Dame single season record for 20-point games with 25, Ogunbowale is back off to the races, going 2-for-2 this season. Ogunbowale now has 35 career games with 20-plus points, which ties Jewell Loyd for fifth all-time. Next up is Ruth Riley with 37.
STARTING FIVE WATCH LISTS
The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame and Women’s Basketball Coaches Association released its preseason watch lists for each end of the year positional awards known as the ‘Naismith Starting Five.’ In unprecedented fashion, each of the five Irish starters were named to each of the 20-player watch lists for their respective positions.
Marina Mabrey — Nancy Lieberman
Arike Ogunbowale — Ann Meyers Drysdale
Jackie Young — Cheryl Miller
Jessica Shepard — Katrina McClain
Brianna Turner — Lisa Leslie
No other program in the country even had four players on the watch lists. Meanwhile, six different teams boasted three: UConn, Duke, Maryland, Oregon, Texas and Baylor. In addition, the Naismith Trophy and Wooden Award Watch Lists had the exact same results, with the Irish being named and no other teams even with four.
— ND —