Ogunbowale Included on Wooden Award Late Season Top-20

Feb. 6, 2018

NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Another step closer – Notre Dame guard Arike Ogunbowale continues to receive national recognition for her stellar play during her junior season, being named to the John R. Wooden Award Late Season Top-20. The news comes just a week after Ogunbowale was also named as an Ann Meyers Drysdale Award Top-10 finalist.

Chosen by a poll of national college basketball experts based on their performances during the first half of the 2017-18 season, the list comprises of 20 student-athletes who are currently the front-runners for the honor and the John R. Wooden Award All America Team. The Wooden Award is given annually to the most outstanding men’s and women’s college basketball players.

Ogunbowale is tied for third in the ACC and ranks 41^st in the nation in scoring with her 19.8 points per game. The junior also ranks 19^th in the country with 174 total field goals made. Ogunbowale continues to lead the ACC in 20-point performances with 15, three more than the next player in Duke’s Lexie Brown, and has reached double figures in all but one game this season.

All-in-all, Ogunbowale is putting up impressive numbers with the No. 1 rated strength of schedule, leading the No. 5 Irish to a 22-2 overall record and 10-1 mark in the ACC, which is the No. 1 ranked RPI conference.

The list will eventually be cut down to the top-15 players when the National Ballot comes out in early March. Voting will open prior to the start of the NCAA Tournament and will allow voters to take into consideration performance during early round games.

The Wooden Award All-American Team will be announced the week of the Elite Eight. The winner of the 2018 John R. Wooden Award will be presented during the ESPN College Basketball Awards on Friday, April 6, 2018.

Wooden Award Late-Season Top 20
The 20 players on the late-season list for the John R. Wooden Award, given to the nation’s best women’s basketball player.

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