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Arike Ogunbowale wins ACC Female Athlete of the Year

By Ben Belden

COLUMBUS, OH - APRIL 01: Arike Ogunbowale #24 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish hoist the NCAA championship trophy after scoring the game winning basket to defeat the Mississippi State Lady Bulldogs in the championship game of the 2018 NCAA Women's Final Four at Nationwide Arena on April 1, 2018 in Columbus, Ohio. The Notre Dame Fighting Irish defeated the Mississippi State Lady Bulldogs 61-58. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OH - APRIL 01: Arike Ogunbowale #24 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish hoist the NCAA championship trophy after scoring the game winning basket to defeat the Mississippi State Lady Bulldogs in the championship game of the 2018 NCAA Women's Final Four at Nationwide Arena on April 1, 2018 in Columbus, Ohio. The Notre Dame Fighting Irish defeated the Mississippi State Lady Bulldogs 61-58. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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On Thursday, the Atlantic Coast Conference announced yet another award for for Notre Dame’s Arike Ogunbowale, capping off an incredible 2018.

It has been quite a 2018 for Notre Dame’s Arike Ogunbowale. Her heroics in the NCAA Tournament helped the Irish to their second National Championship in program history. Then, she dabbled on ABC’s Dancing with the Stars. Now, Ogunbowale has another accolade to add to her impressive resume.

That resume includes Final Four Most Outstanding Player, Spokane All-Regional Team and MVP, and First Team All-Atlantic Coast Conference.

On Thursday, the ACC named Ogunbowale the conference’s Female Athlete of the Year. Without a doubt, Ogunbowale is deserving of her latest accolade.

After stellar freshman and sophomore seasons, Ogunbowale outdid herself in 2018. For the 2017-2018 campaign, Ogunbowale improved in all major statistical categories. She had career highs in points per game (20.8), rebounds per game (5.37), and assists per game (2.76).

In addition to the accolades she has already achieved, she may be in line for a few more achievements.

In 2018-2019, Ogunbowale is set to lead her Irish in defense of their National Championship. If her career follows the same trajectory, she is in for a stellar senior season. Ogunbowale figures to be in the running for Female Athlete of the Year again in 2019.

As nice as conference awards may be, Ogunbowale may have her sights set higher. She figures to be in the running for the Naismith College Player of the Year Award next season. That award goes to the best men’s and women’s basketball player in the country. Last year, A’ja Wilson of the University of South Carolina won the award.

Next: Notre Dame Men's Basketball Recruiting Update

Winning such an accolade would be a fitting end to a stellar Notre Dame career. However, if I had to guess, Ogunbowale is more concerned with defending Notre Dame’s championship.