Louisville women's basketball uses balanced effort to extend streak to 13...Cards 75-Clemson 33

FOUR IN DOUBLE FIGURES HELP CARDS CAGE THE TIGERS

With ACC doormat Clemson visiting the KFC YUM! Center Thursday night, it was the hope that Louisville head women's basketball coach Jeff Walz might get his reserves some extended playing time in the contest. 

It happened way sooner than most of the 8379 in attendance expected it. With the Cards up 4-0 after two Sam Fuehring free throws, Walz replaced starters Mariya Moore, Arica Carter, Cortnee Walton, Briahanna Jackson and Fuehring at the 8:03 mark with Asia Durr, Brianna Jones, Dakota Weatherford, Erin DeGrate and Taja Cole.

Was the mass substitution planned or because of poor performance? 

B.J. FOR TWO! (PHOTO FROM CHARLIE SPRINGER - UOFL
CARD GAME) 

"We didn't start out with the energy Coach wanted...so he put in the second group and I feel like they did a good job and got us on a run." Briahanna Jackson offered in the post-game press conference. 

Walz elaborated on that when it was his time to take the podium: 

MY FAVORITE CHEERLEADER TURNS COURT INTO CORT

" It was by performance...or lack thereof. We turned the ball over two out of the three first possessions and that's not acceptable so I just tried to get their attention. The five I put out there really did well and brought the energy we needed and played well. I was excited for them." 

Indeed, they did.

After a Clemson basket, the "second group" went on a 11-0 run over the next three minutes and a Durr three-pointer had the Cards ahead 15-2 with 5:10 left in the first period. Walz brought the starters back a minute later and Louisville held a 23-8 lead after the first ten minutes. 

(PHOTO BY CHARLIE SPRINGER
UFL CARD GAME)

Although not quite as dramatic as they were to start the game, the substitutions continued over the next 30 minutes. No Cardinal saw less than 16 minutes of action or more than 29...those top minutes going to Fuehring, who started in place of Myisha Hines-Allen, who was not in attendance due to attending funeral services of her grandmother in New Jersey...but expected to return for Sunday's game against WFU.  

So, Sam...what say you about the start? 

" I kind of wasn't expecting to start but I'm always ready to come in and do the work. I think I've gotten better at handling the ball and have gotten stronger...because they've [opponents] been pushing me around...

The Cards -- as a whole -- also continued to get stronger as the game progressed...pushing the lead to 39-12 at the half. The Clemson point-total was not the lowest scored in a half by an opponent in Louisville Women's basketball history, though. Houston Baptist managed only eight against the Cards back on 11/17/10. 

Clemson was shooting 21.4% from the field (6-28) after the first twenty and had not converted a three in six attempts. Fuehring, Moore and Durr all had eight points for Louisville, the Cards were 5-9 from the deep and shooting 48.4%.

GO...YES...BUT WHERE IS THE QUESTION?

Things continued to get worse for the Tigers. The Cards led 45-16 after Walton layup and "plus one" and then went on a 8-0 run to hold a 53-16 edge after a Jackson three with 3:28 left in the third. After 30 minutes of action, UofL was up 58-23 and Jackson had put in 13 points...nine of then from trifecta range. 

Walz had Fuerhing, Cole, Weatherford, Durr and Jones on the floor for the majority of the final period...everyone's favorite "attack yorkie" Weatherford becoming the final Cardinal to score at the 4:35 mark. By then it was 67-27 and Louisville rolled to the final 42 point-win despite not scoring in the final two minutes.  

SOMETIMES GETTING THERE IS HALF THE BATTLE

At least Clemson didn't foul in the final seven minutes. Some ACC schools do have sense enough to know when they're beat. 

Jackson's 13 led the way for Louisville...Fuehring and Durr added 12 each and Moore finished with 10 to round out the double figure scorers. Cole added eight, Jones six, Carter five, DeGrate four, Walton three and Weatherford two. 

A expected romp over a lesser opponent, impressive from the tenacity of the defense, overall production and shooting...especially the 9 for 23 three point numbers...

I'LL just drive my car past the security checkpoint, Worldwide.

HOW DID "FRED" DO?  


FREE THROWS:  Our benchmark here is 70% and the Cards were 8-12 for 66.7%, so we cannot award an "F" here. Erin DeGrate's 0-3 numbers need work, Fuehring's 4-5 stats impressive. 

REBOUNDING: The Cards get a capital R for this stat...getting 50 grabs to Clemson's 27. Walton and DeGrate had 10 each and Louisville had 19 offensive boards while limiting the Tigers to just nine.

EASY SHOTS: Louisville had 25 in the paint or layup attempts but just scored 14 points in the paint. DeGrate had several "bunnies" and putbacks roll off the rim...so we can't award an "E" tonight.

DEFENSE:  Clemson went 0-9 from three point range, shot just 30.2% for the game, committed 21 turnovers and the Cards got 12 steals while holding the Tigers to 33 points. Call no more witnesses, DA...you get a capital "D"...and I should probably award a second one as well...FRDD shall be the final reckoning on Fred for 1/28/16 and Clemson.

DOES ANYONE LOVE PLAYING HOOPS MORE THAN
THESE TWO? 

One wondered how the Cards would fare with their leading scorer and emotional leader Hines-Allen absent. They covered her absence with aplomb and handled the chore...while allowing the least points scored against them this season. Feat accomplished, business taken care of and a good time had by all (except the visitors...probably). 

You expect the kind of romp we saw tonight when top of the conference faces bottom of the conference and we got it. With a win streak of 13 in a row now....the Cards go for "two touchdowns and two extra points" (14) when Wake Forest visits Sunday. 

paulie
xxxxx