NOTRE DAME, Ind. – The John R. Wooden Award announced its Late Season Top 20 Watch List for women’s basketball late last Monday night, with a pair of Irish women’s players making the cut. Notre Dame’s Arike Ogunbowale and Jessica Shepard moved on, making up half of the ACC’s representatives.
Ogunbowale continues to be Notre Dame’s dynamic scoring threat, averaging 21.0 points per game this season. The senior boasts 2,261 career points heading into the team’s next matchup at Miami, just 96 points off from Skylar Diggins-Smith’s all-time scoring record.
Ogunbowale continues to lead the ACC in overall scoring average and 20-point scoring performances with 14. Furthermore, since the turn of the year at 2019, Ogunbowale has recorded five instances in which she’s scored double digit points in a quarter.
Shepard’s stellar senior year is exemplified by the fact that she’s nearly averaging a double-double with 15.0 points and 9.3 rebounds per game. Shepard is shooting an efficient 61.2 percent from the field, which ranks ninth in the country.
The Nebraska native has notched seven consecutive games with double-digit points, has posted seven double-doubles on the year and recently surpassed the 2,000 career point/1,000 rebound milestone.
Lastly, a list of 15 finalists will later be revealed ahead of the NCAA tournament. The Wooden Award winner will be announced at the College Basketball Awards on April 12.
Women’s Wooden Award Late-Season Top 20
| PLAYER | SCHOOL | POSITION | CLASS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kristine Anigwe | California | C | So. |
| Kalani Brown | Baylor | F | Sr. |
| Bridget Carleton | Iowa State | G | Fr. |
| Chennedy Carter | Texas A&M | G | Fr. |
| Napheesa Collier | UConn | F | Sr. |
| Lauren Cox | Baylor | F | Jr. |
| Sophie Cunningham | Missouri | G | Jr. |
| Crystal Dangerfield | Connecticut | G | Jr. |
| Asia Durr | Louisville | G | Jr. |
| Megan Gustafson | Iowa | F | Jr. |
| Ruthy Hebard | Oregon | F | Fr. |
| Sabrina Ionescu | Oregon | G | Fr. |
| Tiana Mangakahia | Syracuse | G | So. |
| Teaira McCowan | Mississippi State | C | So. |
| Arike Ogunbowale | Notre Dame | G | Sr. |
| Katie Lou Samuelson | UConn | F | Sr. |
| Jessica Shepard | Notre Dame | F | Sr. |
| Destiny Slocum | Oregon State | G | So. |
| Alanna Smith | Stanford | F | Fr. |
— ND —