Three Irish Named WBCA All-America Regional Finalists

March 22, 2018

ATLANTA – The Women’s Basketball Coaches Association announced the All-Region nominees for the 2018 WBCA NCAA Division I Coaches’ All-America on Thursday afternoon. The University of Notre Dame women’s basketball team was well represented with Arike Ogunbowale, Jessica Shepard and Marina Mabrey on the 52-candidate list.

On Thursday, March 29, the selection committee will narrow the candidate pool to their 10-member All-America team, which will be announced in the NCAA press conference area at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio, at 5:30 p.m. ET during Final Four festivities.

Ogunbowale is eying her third All-America award this season after previously reeling in both espnW and USA Today Second Team honors. The 5’8 junior out of Milwaukee is now up to 23 games with 20-plus points, which has set a new Notre Dame record, besting the original mark of 20 set by both Jewell Loyd and Katryna Gaither.

In addition, Ogunbowale’s scoring average of 20.6 points per game, which ranks 21^st in the nation, would also set a new school single reason record. Meanwhile, Ogunbowale’s 700 total points on the year ranks 12^th in the country and third best all-time at Notre Dame, only behind Loyd’s 772 in 2014-15 and Gaither’s 776 in 1996-97.

Next, Shepard enters the Sweet 16 round with four straight double-doubles, bringing her season total to 13, which ranks 45^th in the nation and fifth most in a single season at Notre Dame. Shepard averages 15.6 points per game on 57.1 percent shooting, as the latter ranks fourth in the ACC and 24^th in country.

Shepard has led the Irish in rebounding on 20 separate occasions. Her 8.0 rebounds per game leads the squad and ranks seventh in the ACC. Furthermore, the Nebraska native has routinely gotten the Irish off to hot starts, recording double-digit points in the first quarter alone six different times this season.

Last but certainly not least is Marina Mabrey, whose transition to point guard midseason due to injuries has helped steer the Irish toward their ninth straight Sweet 16. Mabrey averages 14.5 points per game, securing 10 games of 20-plus points. Since the move to point, Mabrey has risen her assist average from 3.4 to 4.3, in addition to her steal average boosting from 1.2 to 2.1 per game.

Furthermore, Mabrey continues to be a threat from three-point range, converting 74 treys, which stands as the fifth most for a single season. In fact, Mabrey has knocked down a three-pointer in 14 straight games and leads the team in three-point shooting percentage at 38.5 percent.

Ogunbowale, Shepard, Mabrey and the rest of the No. 1 seeded Irish return to action in the Sweet 16 vs No. 4 seeded Texas A&M on Saturday, March 24, at 4 p.m. ET on ESPN.

WBCA All-America Regional Finalists

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