Dec. 15, 2017
| Game 11: #2/2 Notre Dame (9-1) vs (-/RV) DePaul (7-3) | |
| When: | Sunday, Dec. 17 | 1:00 pm ET |
| Where: | Notre Dame, Ind. | Purcell Pavilion (9,149) |
| Watch: | ACCN Extra |
| Listen: | PULSE FM 96.9 / 92.1 | Bob Nagle (PxP) |
| Live Scoring: |
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| Notes: | Notre Dame | DePaul |
| Social: | @NDWBB |
| Promotions: | Art Appreciation Night | Arike 1,000-Point Presentation Pregame |
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – The No. 2/2 Notre Dame women’s basketball team (9-1) is set for a border battle on Sunday, Dec. 17, with its Chicago neighbor (-/RV) DePaul (7-3). Tip-off is slated for 1 p.m. ET inside Purcell Pavilion, with ACCN Extra streaming the game live.
Karen & Kevin Keyes Notre Dame head coach Muffet McGraw, along with DePaul head coach Doug Bruno, have over a combined 71 years of head coaching experience and 1,550 career wins.
WHO’S HOT
Guard Arike Ogunbowale still possesses the hot hand for the Irish. Over the last six games, the junior is averaging 23.0 ppg on 48.2 percent shooting, including a 34.4 percent mark from three-point range. Since the USF game on Nov. 25, Ogunbowale has risen her scoring average from 17.3 to 20.7, which now ranks first in the ACC and 25th in the nation.
Ogunbowale is 1-of-6 ACC players this season to notch a 30+ point performance, but leads the league with her seven games of 20 or more points. Keep in mind, Ogunbowale tallied seven 20+ point games all last season. Furthermore, to put it in another perspective, the Milwaukee native boasts more 20-point performances (7) than all opponents faced in games against us this season (5).
FOURTH QUARTER = OGUNBOWALE
Up 42-34 heading into the final quarter at Penn on Dec. 9, Ogunbowale (seven points at the time) took over, doubling her point total in the first 1:09, ultimately scoring the first nine points for the Irish before going on to finish with 13 in the period. The Dec. 9 contest marked the second game this season in which Ogunbowale scored double-digit points in the fourth quarter alone. In fact, Ogunbowale is averaging 5.8 points in the final period this season.
BLOCK PARTY
While Ogunbowale got it done on the offensive end at Penn on Dec. 9, Jessica Shepard spearheaded the defensive front, recording a career best six blocks. The junior doubled her original personal best of three set back on Dec. 3, 2015, vs NC State.
It was the first six-block performance by an Irish player since Brianna Turner collected seven vs Boston College on Feb. 23, 2017. The six blocks also ties Felicia Aiyeotan of Virginia, Kylee Shook of Louisville and Yacine Diop of Pitt for highest in a game this season by an ACC player.
Lastly, Shepard recorded her first 5+5+5 game with the Irish thanks to her nine points, six blocks and eight rebounds.
PAINTING A WINNING PICTURE
Fans and media members alike have witnessed Notre Dame utilizing four guards on the court at once this season, but it hasn’t stopped the Irish from dominating in the paint. In fact, Notre Dame is averaging 46.4 points in the paint – nearly doubling what its opponent is averaging at 26.8.
The Irish tallied 58 points inside vs then No. 3 South Carolina, but its season high total of 68 belongs to the high scoring season opening win over Mount St. Mary’s.
ABOUT DEPAUL
DePaul enters the contest with a 7-3 overall record and winner of four of its past five. The Blue Demons are coming off of a 92-63 win at Northwestern, after suffering a 103-69 setback vs No. 1 UConn. Another notable performance includes a 111-108 overtime victory over Oklahoma at home.
All five DePaul starters average double-digit points, including leading scorers Mart’e Grays and Ashton Millender (14.1 ppg each). Grays is shooting 42.7 percent from the field, with a .417 mark from three-point range. Meanwhile, Millender is knocking down 45.9 percent, and ranks 29th in the country with her 3.2 made three’s per game. Rounding out the double-digit scorers are Amarah Coleman (12.7), Kelly Campbell (11.8), Tanita Allen (11.6) and Chante Stonewall (11.1).
DePaul certainly likes to shoot the three-ball, leading the nation in three-point field goals made per game at 13.4. Overall, they rank sixth in scoring offense at 89.4 ppg, while ranking seventh with their 21.7 assists per game.
–ND–