Shepard, Bailey receive ACC weekly honors

SOUTH BEND, IN - DECEMBER 17: Notre Dame Fighting Irish forward Jessica Shepard (23) drives into DePaul Blue Demons guard Kelly Campbell (20) during the game between the DePaul Blue Demons and Notre Dame Fighting Irish on December 17, 2017, at Purcell Pavilion in South Bend, IN. The Notre Dame Fighting Irish defeated the DePaul Blue Demons 91-82. (Photo by Jeffrey Brown/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
SOUTH BEND, IN - DECEMBER 17: Notre Dame Fighting Irish forward Jessica Shepard (23) drives into DePaul Blue Demons guard Kelly Campbell (20) during the game between the DePaul Blue Demons and Notre Dame Fighting Irish on December 17, 2017, at Purcell Pavilion in South Bend, IN. The Notre Dame Fighting Irish defeated the DePaul Blue Demons 91-82. (Photo by Jeffrey Brown/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

The Atlantic Coast Conference has named junior forward Jessica Shepard (Notre Dame) Player of the Week, while freshman forward Janelle Bailey (North Carolina) earned Rookie of the Week honors.

SOUTH BEND, IN – DECEMBER 17: Notre Dame Fighting Irish forward Jessica Shepard (23)
SOUTH BEND, IN – DECEMBER 17: Notre Dame Fighting Irish forward Jessica Shepard (23)

Shepard led Notre Dame (10-1) to a 91-82 victory over DePaul with a career-high 39 points; 26 of the 39 came before halftime. Her 39 points broke the women’s scoring record in Purcell Pavilion and recorded the fourth highest individual scoring performance in Notre Dame history.

Shepard also made 17-22 from the field, which is good for another career best and second most in the Fighting Irish program.  Shepard contributed on the boards too, adding 11 rebounds. Her effort against DePaul resulted in her fourth double-double of the season-the most on her team.

Bailey struck again with stand-out execution and received her third weekly honor of the season.  In the 90-78 North Carolina (9-2) victory over Washington, Bailey was 7-of-8 shooting, finishing with 19 points.  She complemented her scoring with seven rebounds.

The AP Top 25 includes the same consistent four from the ACC.  Notre Dame and Louisville remain in the top five, at the number two and three spot, respectively.  Florida State is one spot ahead of Duke at 13th, and Duke rounds out the ACC’s four ranked at 14th.  Syracuse is still receiving votes.