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Notre Dame Women’s Basketball: Ogunbowale becomes all-time leading scorer

By Jordan Small

COLUMBUS, OH - MARCH 30: Arike Ogunbowale #24 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish celebrates against the Connecticut Huskies during the second half in the semifinals of the 2018 NCAA Women's Final Four at Nationwide Arena on March 30, 2018 in Columbus, Ohio. The Notre Dame Fighting Irish defeated the Connecticut Huskies 91-89. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OH - MARCH 30: Arike Ogunbowale #24 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish celebrates against the Connecticut Huskies during the second half in the semifinals of the 2018 NCAA Women's Final Four at Nationwide Arena on March 30, 2018 in Columbus, Ohio. The Notre Dame Fighting Irish defeated the Connecticut Huskies 91-89. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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The Notre Dame women’s basketball team got its twelfth win in ACC play on Thursday night, taking down Duke, 89-61. Arike Ogunbowale made history in the process.

The Irish returned home on Thursday night looking for a big win in front of their fans. It was a very strong game for the home team as the Irish took down Duke, 89-61. Arike Ogunbowale led all scorers with 25 points. Jessica Shepard, 24 points and 10 rebounds, and Brianna Turner, 21 points and 15 rebounds, added double-doubles in the win.

But tonight isn’t about the win, it’s about records. This recap is about Arike Ogunbowale. On Thursday night, Ogunbowale broke Skylar Diggins’ record for most points all-time in Notre Dame women’s basketball program history. With her 25 points in the game, she passed the program record of 2,357 points.

So where does this put Ogunbowale in the all-time player list at Notre Dame. One of the biggest things that she has on her record that a lot of other players in program history do not is a national championship. Now I am usually one who agrees that you don’t need a championship to define your legacy and that having one doesn’t automatically make you better. However, with Ogunbowale, that’s different. She is the reason that the Irish won the title in 2018.

For me, it is hard to measure where Ogunbowale falls all time. There is no discounting what she has done offensively in her career at Notre Dame. She is the most lethal scorer in program history and now she has the record to back that up. If the game is tied and you put the ball in one player’s hands with the game on the line, it has to be Arike. Her defense and up and down performances make me hesitant to call her the best player in program history. But when it is all said and done, Arike Ogunbowale is one of those names that you just cannot forget.

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Here’s to the new all-time leading scorer, Arike “Ice” Ogunbowale.