#5 Irish Down Duke, 89-61

NOTRE DAME, Ind. – History was made on Thursday night inside Purcell Pavilion as a new Notre Dame all-time scoring record holder was crowned in senior guard Arike Ogunbowale. The No. 5 Fighting Irish (25-3, 12-2) scored 52 first half points against the Duke Blue Devils (11-13, 3-9) before rolling to the 89-61 final.
 
For the second time this season, three Irish players scored over 20 points, led by the new scoring leader in Ogunbowale. The Milwaukee native tallied 25 points and now possesses 2,371 in her career, flying past Skylar Diggins-Smith’s record of 2,357 points.
 
Joining Ogunbowale in the spotlight tonight were posts Brianna Turner and Jessica Shepard. Turner tied her season high of 21 points while setting a new season best in rebounds with 15, achieving her seventh double-double. Shepard notched 24 points and 10 rebounds, earning her 11th double-double on the year and her fourth in the last five games.
 
“I’m really happy for Arike. She didn’t waste any time and didn’t keep us in suspense too long. What a momentous day,” Karen & Kevin Keyes Notre Dame head coach Muffet McGraw said. “Offensively, we were really on point today.”
  
How It Happened
The Irish scored seven of its first 12 points off of turnovers, claiming a narrow 12-9 lead at the 3:38 mark. Then Notre Dame recorded a 9-0 run in less than a two minute stretch before extending its lead to 27-15 at the end of the quarter. Both Shepard and Ogunbowale boasted 10 points after the first, as the latter sat one point away from tying the scoring record.
 
Then at the 8:49 mark in the second, history was made – Ogunbowale surpassed the record with a pull-up jumper at the free-throw line, bringing the crowd to its feet. The senior went on to score the first six points of the quarter before ending the half with 19 total points, tying her first half season high.
 
Furthermore, Notre Dame ended the last 4:43 of the half on a 16-0 run, claiming a 52-25 advantage at the midway point. The Irish forced 13 first half turnovers in which they converted into 18 points. Both Shepard (14 points) and Turner (13 points) joined Ogunbowale in double figures, as Turner already achieved a double-double with 10 rebounds.
 
The Irish, who kept the Blue Devils off the board for the final 5:07 of the half, extended the scoreless streak for the first 3:42 of the third, scoring the first six points of the second half.
 
However, the Blue Devils displayed some fight over the second half of the third quarter, scoring 12 straight points, before an Ogunbowale buzzer-beating layup ended the run to remain up 64-44 heading into the fourth. Duke’s run marked the first time the Irish defense had surrendered a 10-0 run or higher this season.

Notre Dame responded by recording a 17-3 scoring stretch in the fourth, before picking up win No. 25 overall and No. 12 in league play. 
 
“It’s really a blessing (to become the all-time scoring leader),” Ogunbowale said. “To think of all the great players that have come through this school, to be at the top of that list is an honor, especially to do it at Notre Dame.”
 
Notes

  • With the win, Notre Dame moves to 17-1 all-time in the series against Duke, including a perfect 6-0 mark at home.
  • Irish also move to 88-5 all-time in ACC play since joining the league for the 2013-14 season.
  • Irish have won 57 straight conference games at home, which dates back to 2012.
  • Arike Ogunbowale became Notre Dame’s all-time scoring leader tonight, surpassing Skylar Diggins’ top mark of 2,357. Ogunbowale scored 25 points tonight, moving her career total to 2,371.
  • Ogunbowale tallied her ACC leading 18th game with 20-plus points. It also marked her 51st of her career, which ranks as the second most in Irish history, trailing just Beth (Morgan) Cunningham’s 56.
  • Ogunbowale poured in 19 points in the first half, which tied her first half season high.
  • Turner posted a double-double by halftime with 13 points and 10 boards. Turner finished with 21 points and 15 rebounds – her seventh double-double on the year and 28th of her career.
  • Turner tied her season high of 21 points and set a new season best of 15 rebounds.
  • The Irish defense surrendered their first 10-0 run of the season, when Duke scored 12 straight in the third quarter.
  • Shepard recorded her 11th double-double with 24 points and 10 rebounds. It marked her fourth double-double in the last five games. It also marked her highest point total this year when recording a double-double.
  • Shepard tied her career high of seven assists and thus was three assists shy of a triple-double.
  • Mabrey tied her career high of 10 assists for the third time and tied her season high of five steals for the second time.
  • Young tied her season high of four steals for the third time.

Up Next
The Irish hit the road for their final regular season away game to take on No. 18 Syracuse on Monday night. Tip is set for 6 p.m. ET, airing live on ESPN2.   
 –ND–