Oct. 21, 2015

By Chris Masters

GREENSBORO, N.C. — The University of Notre Dame women’s basketball team has swept the Atlantic Coast Conference regular season and tournament titles in each of its first two seasons as a league member. If one asks the conference coaches and Blue Ribbon Panel, the Fighting Irish will again challenge for ACC supremacy in 2015-16.

Notre Dame was the clear favorite in the annual ACC preseason women’s basketball polls, according to separate balloting from the league’s Blue Ribbon Panel and its 15 head coaches. The conference announced its preseason polls and all-conference honorees Wednesday in conjunction with ACC Women’s Basketball Media Day at the Grandover Resort in Greensboro, North Carolina.

The Fighting Irish received 31 of 41 first-place votes and 753 total points from the Blue Ribbon Panel, which is comprised mainly of local and national media members. Florida State was the Panel’s No. 2 choice, earning eight first-place vote and 695 total points.

Rounding out the top five in the Blue Ribbon Panel Preseason Poll were Louisville (649 points, two first-place votes), Duke (638 points) and Syracuse (544 points).

The voting was closer in the ACC coaches’ preseason poll, as Notre Dame earned 11 of the 15 first-place votes and 221 total points. Florida State was chosen second, garnering the other four first-place votes (212 points), while Louisville (190 points), Duke (185 points) and Syracuse (162 points) completed the upper third of the balloting.

“The ACC is the best women’s basketball conference in the country, and while it’s a preseason poll, to be chosen first is special,” said Muffet McGraw, Notre Dame’s Karen and Kevin Keyes Head Women’s Basketball Coach. “This is such a deep conference with eight teams in the NCAA tournament the last two years, and several others that are right on the verge of getting there as well. It’s a challenge every single time you take the floor in an ACC game, and we know we will tested by some really talented players and coaches, and we will have to rise to the challenge.”

Along with the team balloting, four Notre Dame players received individual accolades as part of the ACC preseason voting that was released Wednesday. Sophomore forward Brianna Turner (Pearland, Texas/Manvel) was chosen as the Preseason ACC Player of the Year and earned a spot on the Preseason All-ACC Team from both the Blue Ribbon Panel and the conference coaches after averaging 13.8 points and team highs of 7.9 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game as well as a NCAA-best .652 field-goal percentage last year.

Brianna Turner

Turner was named the Full Court Press National Freshman of the Year and collected Associated Press honorable mention All-America recognition, in addition to being chosen as the ACC Freshman of the Year and receiving first-team all-ACC honors. Turner is the ACC’s top returning shooter, No. 2-returning shot blocker (behind only Syracuse’s Briana Day) and the conference’s No.5-returning rebounder.

“Brianna had a tremendous freshman season and she’s been playing really well for us so far this year,” McGraw said. “We’re asking her to do more and she’s responded. In fact, I think she and all of our players are embracing that responsibility as we prepare for the start of the season.”

Junior guard/tri-captain Lindsay Allen (Mitchellville, Md./St. John’s College) joined Turner on this year’s Preseason All-ACC Team, earning recognition from both the Blue Ribbon Panel and the conference coaches. Like Turner, Allen received honorable mention All-America status from the Associated Press and she also was a finalist for the Nancy Lieberman Award as the nation’s top point guard last year after starting all 39 games for the Fighting Irish, averaging career highs of 10.4 points and an ACC-best 5.3 assists per game along with a league-leading 2.14 assist/turnover ratio.

Lindsay Allen

Allen, who has recorded more assists (355) in her first two seasons than any player in school history, was selected as the Most Outstanding Player at the 2015 NCAA Oklahoma City Regional after averaging 25.5 points, 5.0 rebounds and 5.5 assists with a .576 field-goal percentage and 2.75 assist/turnover ratio in Notre Dame’s regional wins over No. 14/17 Stanford (career-high 28 points) and No. 5/6 Baylor (23 points/seven assists).

In a remarkable twist, Allen is the only returning player from last year’s 10-player Preseason All-ACC Team chosen by the Blue Ribbon Panel and the ACC coaches, although the veteran floor general was not chosen for all-conference honors by either group at the end of last season.

“Lindsay is really playing like an All-American right now,” McGraw said. “She’s just in phenomenal physical shape, which she has always been. She can play 40 minutes. We’re going to want the ball in her hands because her handle has gotten even better, her shot looks good, and her passing has been very good.”

Freshman guards Arike Ogunbowale (Milwaukee, Wis./Divine Savior Holy Angels) and Marina Mabrey (Belmar, N.J./Manasquan) completed the quartet of Notre Dame honorees on Wednesday, each earning a spot on the ACC Newcomer Watch Lists (Ogunbowale from both the Blue Ribbon Panel and the league’s coaches, Mabrey from the Blue Ribbon Panel).

Arike Ogunbowale

Ogunbowale was a consensus prep All-American as a senior in 2014-15, highlighted by a place on the McDonald’s High School All-America Team and being chosen a finalist for the Morgan Wootten Award as the McDonald’s national high school player of the year. A three-time state player of the year in Wisconsin, Ogunbowale averaged 22.2 points, 9.6 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.2 steals per game with a .544 field-goal percentage and .389 three-point percentage during her prep career. She finished her four-year run in style last spring, leading Divine Savior Holy Angels to the 2015 Wisconsin Division I state title while chalking up 55 points in the state semifinals (a state tournament record) and finishing second in the state in scoring at 27.2 points per game.

“Arike is so strong physically,” McGraw said. “I think she’s going to lead the team in free-throw attempts because she can drive the ball, get her shot up with contact and finish. I’m really excited about her ability to do different things.”

Mabrey, the younger sister of Notre Dame senior guard/tri-captain Michaela Mabrey, shared Most Valuable Player honors at the 2015 McDonald’s High School All-America Game after a brilliant prep career that also ended with a state championship. Mabrey averaged 22.1 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 3.0 steals per game during her tenure on the New Jersey high school hardwood, and she was chosen the Gatorade New Jersey High School Player of the Year as a senior in 2014-15 after leading the state in scoring (26.1 ppg.) while collecting 10 double-doubles.

Marina Mabrey (Left)

“Marina is really crafty with the ball and somebody who is going contribute immediately in terms of scoring,” McGraw said. “She’s feisty, a bit physical and willing to mix it up, and she’s really hard to guard, so we’re very excited about what she brings to our team.”

Led by Turner and Allen, the Fighting Irish bring back four starters and 10 monogram recipients from their 2014-15 squad that posted a 36-3 record and advanced to the NCAA Women’s Final Four for the fifth consecutive season, reaching the national championship game for the fourth time in that span. Notre Dame also was ranked No. 2 in the final 2014-15 Associated Press and Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA)/USA Today polls.

Mabrey and Ogunbowale join reigning MaxPreps National High School Player of the Year and Indiana Miss Basketball Ali Patberg (Columbus, Ind./Columbus North) in forming a Fighting Irish freshman class that has been ranked among the top five in the nation by multiple recruiting outlets.

Following a nearly 90-percent renewal rate among season ticket holders, a limited number of 2015-16 Notre Dame women’s basketball season ticket packages have been freed up and are now on sale by contacting Notre Dame’s Murnane Family Ticket Office at (574) 631-7356 or visiting the ticket windows inside Gate 9 (Rosenthal Atrium) at Purcell Pavilion. Tickets also can be ordered on-line 24 hours a day with a major credit card at UND.com/buytickets.

Remaining season ticket packages start as low as $65 per person for individuals and $55 per person for full-time Notre Dame faculty/staff, while “Fan Packs” of 4-8 tickets are as low as $220. Notre Dame, Saint Mary’s and Holy Cross students are admitted free for all home games (while supplies last). These season ticket packages include exclusive opportunities such as priority access for additional tickets and entry to Club Naimoli, as well as tickets for any home games in the 2016 NCAA Championship (contact the ticket office for details).

Single-game tickets for the 2015-16 Notre Dame women’s basketball home schedule go on sale this week (Tuesday for season ticket holders; Thursday to the general public). A limited number of tickets for each home game may become available during the week prior to, or the day of, that contest due to visiting team returns and other considerations.

The Fighting Irish tip off their 2015-16 season with an exhibition game at 1 p.m. (ET) Nov. 7, playing host to Wayne State at Purcell Pavilion (live radio coverage in South Bend on Pulse FM 96.9/92.1 and online via WatchND at watchnd.tv). Notre Dame’s regular season slate begins at 1 p.m. (ET) Nov. 15, when the Fighting Irish welcome Bucknell to Purcell Pavilion (free live webcast on WatchND, live radio on South Bend’s Pulse FM 96.9/92.1).

For more information on the Notre Dame women’s basketball program, visit the main women’s basketball page on the University’s official athletics web site (UND.com/ndwbb), sign up to follow the Fighting Irish women’s basketball Twitter and Instagram pages (@ndwbb), like the program on Facebook (facebook.com/ndwbb) or register for the Irish ALERT text-messaging system through the “Fan Center” pulldown menu on the front page at UND.com.

Blue Ribbon Panel ACC Preseason Poll

1. NOTRE DAME (753 points, 31 first-place votes)
2. Florida State (695 points, 8 first-place votes)
3. Louisville (649 points, 2 first-place votes)
4. Duke (638 points)
5. Syracuse (544 points)
6. Miami (477 points)
7. North Carolina (435 points)
8. Virginia (364 points)
9. North Carolina State (336 points)
10. Pittsburgh (329 points)
11. Georgia Tech (328 points)
12. Boston College (204 points)
13. Virginia Tech (148 points)
14. Wake Forest (139 points)
15. Clemson (81 points)

Blue Ribbon Panel Preseason All-ACC Team

Lindsay Allen, Jr., G, Notre Dame
Adut Bulgak, Sr., C, Florida State
Rebecca Greenwell, RS-So., G, Duke
Mariya Moore, So., G, Louisville
Adrienne Motley, Jr., G, Miami

Alexis Peterson, Jr., G, Syracuse
Faith Randolph, Sr., G, Virginia
Leticia Romero, Jr., G, Florida State
Azura Stevens, So., F/G, Duke
Brianna Turner, So., F, Notre Dame

Blue Ribbon Panel Preseason ACC Player of the Year

Brianna Turner, So., F, Notre Dame

Blue Ribbon Panel ACC Newcomer Watch List

Asia Durr, Fr., G, Louisville
Marina Mabrey, Fr., G, Notre Dame
Arike Ogunbowale, Fr., G, Notre Dame
Angela Salvadores, Fr., G, Duke
Destinee Walker, Fr., G, North Carolina

ACC Head Coaches Preseason Poll

1. NOTRE DAME (221 points, 11 first-place votes)
2. Florida State (212 points, 4 first-place votes)
3. Louisville (190 points)
4. Duke (185 points)
5. Syracuse (162 points)
6. Miami (146 points)
7. North Carolina (118 points)
8. Virginia (113 points)
9. North Carolina State (105 points)
10. Pittsburgh (93 points)
11. Georgia Tech (85 points)
12. Boston College (57 points)
13. Virginia Tech (52 points)
14. Wake Forest (43 points)
15. Clemson (18 points)

Coaches Preseason All-ACC Team

Lindsay Allen, Jr., G, Notre Dame
Adut Bulgak, Sr., C, Florida State
Rebecca Greenwell, RS-So., G, Duke
Mariya Moore, So., G, Louisville
Adrienne Motley, Jr., G, Miami
Alexis Peterson, Jr., G, Syracuse
Faith Randolph, Sr., G, Virginia
Leticia Romero, Jr., G, Florida State
Azura Stevens, So., F/G, Duke
Brianna Turner, So., F, Notre Dame

Coaches Preseason ACC Player of the Year

Brianna Turner, So., F, Notre Dame

Coaches ACC Newcomer Watch List*

Asia Durr, Fr., G, Louisville
Kyra Lambert, Fr., G, Duke
Arike Ogunbowale, Fr., G, Notre Dame
Angela Salvadores, Fr., G, Duke
Destinee Walker, Fr., G, North Carolina
Stephanie Watts, Fr., G, North Carolina
* – due to a tie in voting, an extra member was added to the Newcomer Watch List

– ND –

Chris Masters, associate athletics communications director at the University of Notre Dame, has been part of the Fighting Irish athletics communications team since 2001 and coordinates all media efforts for the Notre Dame women’s basketball and women’s golf programs. A native of San Francisco, California, Masters is a 1996 graduate of Ohio Wesleyan University, earned his master’s degree from Kansas State University in 1998, and currently serves on the Board of Directors for the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).