GREENSBORO, N.C. – For the third time of her storied career, Notre Dame graduate forward Brianna Turner has been named the Atlantic Coast Conference Defensive Player of the Year. Turner joins Irish Ring of Honor inductee Ruth Riley has the program’s only three-time conference defensive player of the year award winners.
On Tuesday, the ACC announced Turner as an all-conference selection along with bestowing all-defensive team honors. Both were accolades Turner has received all four years at Notre Dame.
Turner is averaging 2.7 blocks per game which leads all players in the ACC and ranks 10th in the country. In league play, Turner’s average was even higher at 3.1 blocks.
The Texas native has collected a season high total of five blocks on four separate occasions this year. Since Feb. 1, Turner has averaged 3.63 blocks per game, which ranks fifth in the nation in that time span.
Furthermore, Turner is just 1-of-9 Division I players in the country to average double digit points, while also averaging over seven rebounds and 2.5 blocks. Of that group of nine, she is the only one shooting over 60 percent as well.
Turner and the rest of the Fighting Irish return to action on Friday, March 8, in Greensboro, North Carolina, for the quarterfinal round of the ACC Tournament. Tip is set for 2 p.m. ET on RSN. Notre Dame will challenge the winner of the Georgia Tech/North Carolina matchup.
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