GREENSBORO, N.C. (theACC.com) – Notre Dame junior forward Jessica Shepard has been named the Atlantic Coast Conference Women’s Basketball Player of the Week, while Syracuse freshman forward Digna Strautmane is this week’s ACC Rookie of the Week, as announced Monday afternoon by the conference office and voted upon by the Blue Ribbon Panel. 
 
Shepard averaged 23.5 points and 10.5 rebounds in a 2-0 week for Notre Dame. The Fremont, Nebraska, native began the week with 28 points and a career-high tying 12 rebounds in a 87-53 win at Pitt. She followed that up with 19 points, nine rebounds and four assists in Notre Dame’s 100-69 victory at eighth-ranked Florida State. The Fighting Irish’s 100 points were their biggest offensive showing against a top-10 team in program history. Shepard has scored at least 10 points in each of the last eight games. This is her second ACC Player of the Week honor.
 
Strautmane averaged 20.5 points and 6.0 rebounds in a 2-0 week for Syracuse. She posted 16 points, nine rebounds and a career-high four blocks in a 86-51 win over Clemson before scoring a career-high 25 points in the Orange’s 75-57 victory at Boston College.  She made four of her first five shots from downtown at BC and played a team-high 35 minutes in the win. This is her second ACC Rookie of the Week honor.
 
The ACC continues to have four teams ranked among the AP Top 25 with Louisville leading the way at No. 4. No. 5 Notre Dame follows, along with No. 10 Florida State and No. 19 Duke. NC State, Virginia and Syracuse are receiving votes in the poll.
 
Conference play continues on Thursday, Feb. 1, with seven games.