WBB dominates GT 80-62 -- Softball plays in Coastal Classic (schedule change) -- FRIDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

FRIDAYS WITH DARYL

Good Friday morning readers, we're glad you're back!   

The Cards are BACK too, back in the win column.  Which we love to see... so let's get into how it played out.  

WBB

Louisville got it done on the road when they went down to Atlanta and smacked Georgia Tech around for a couple hours and then said You're welcome!"and bowed and waved on their way back to the bus.   

Photos: Jared Anderson

Sydney Taylor came off the bench and had a career high with the Cards with 31 points on 10-16 shooting from the field with 7 three pointers 4 rebounds 4 assists and 4 steals.   Her performance was the most points by a Cardinal this year and it helped propel Louisville to a 22-6 record and looking like a strong contender for that very luxurious double bye in the ACC tourney which starts in less than 2 weeks. Her first time being a reserve this season.  

End of 1Q    21-13  Cards
FG %
9-16 56.3% Cards
6-12 50% GT
Reb. 8-5 Cards
3-pt %
3-9 33.3% Cards
1-1 100% GT


A pretty chaotic start to this one. Along with a starting lineup shift, the refs thought they might issue a technical due to some clock issues before this one got started.  They ultimately did not and proceeded to do a normal jump ball and not set the tone of this game on a weird foot... thanks for that.  

Georgia Tech scored on their first couple possessions before the Cards take over and go on an 8-0 run to take their first lead 8-4.   GT goes scoreless for over 3 minutes while the Cardinals get their feet under them.   Nyla Harris continuesd to show her significance to this squad when at the under 4 min. mark she put a strong one up and in to push the lead 15-6 not long after after Jayda Curry hit her first 3 pointer.   

Olivia had pulled down 5 rebounds with 3 minutes still left in the quarter.  Syd missesd a 3 pointer but Kiki Jefferson got the second chance layup. Taylor had 8 points in the first quarter.


End of 2Q 22-15 Cards


FG %
7-12 58.3% Cards
5-13 38.5% GT
Reb. 8-6 Cards
3-pt %
4-4 100% Cards
1-3 33.3% GT


Jayda Curry picks up third foul joining Nina Rickards with as many with 8 min left in the half.  Walz elected to keep the two in the rotation.  Elif Istanbulouglu hit a 3 pointer a couple minutes into it while Syd Taylor hit her 4th 3 pointer pushing the lead to 13 points atLouis 34-21.  It was that kind of night.  


HALF 43-28 Cards

End of 3Q 20-12  Cards

FG %
8-12 66.7% Cards
5-11 45.5% GT
Reb. 8-3 Cards
3-pt %
4-4 100% Cards
1-4 25% GT

The Cards started the second half losing the quarter 8-2 and making the score 45-36.  But, right on cue, when they Cards need a bucket, Nyla Harris shows up and makes another strong move up and in to put the Cards back in a double digit lead 47-36.

Like I've said before, when the Cards need a bucket, they need to shoot in front of the bench, Kiki Jefferson did just that, and hit a 3 with 5 min left in the 3rd quarter to make it 50-36.   The Yellow Jackets went scoreless for almost 3 minutes while Curry hit the 3 pointer to make the lead 17 again.

Taylor not cooling off and hit her 6th. 3-pointer and pretty much every other shot she put up. 

End of 4Q   22-17   GT

FG %
5-12 41.7%   Cards
5-14 35.7%   GT
Reb.    7-10  GT
3-pt %
1-5 20% Cards
1-3 33.3%   GT 


UofL missed their first 3 since the first quarter, a rare air ball by Taylor.  Georgia Tech got a little hot going on 9-0 run over 2 min period...the Cards going 1-7 to start the quarter.  Olivia pulled down 12th rebound of the game but the Cards only managed to score 2 points in the first 5:30 minutes of the 4th quarter.   A handful of free throws allowed them to get some points on the board when the clock was stopped.  Rickards scored 5 points to close out the final few minutes before Syndey Taylor hit another three to close the game in the final seconds. 

  

UP NEXT

Louisville vs Virginia

KFC Yum! Center

2/25/24 12:00 p.m.

FRED REPORT

Fun Fact: Mister Rogers first name was Fred!!! Won't you be my neighbor??

FREE THROWS --  Louisville went 10-13 at the FT line with Syd Taylor getting the most opportunity going 4-5.  The game almost started with a technical foul due to some clock malfunctioning so I'm glad the game did not go like it looked how it was about to go...Well over our mandated 70%. so...Capital F

REBOUNDING --  UofL dominated the boards 31-24 with Olivia Cochran pulling down 12 total, 6 in the first quarter.   This really helped the Cards get those second chance opportunities and manage the play clock.  Capital R


EFFORT/EXECUTION --  The Cardinals continued their commitment to feed the player who is hot.  That was Sydney Taylor against the Yellow Jackets.   She had 15 points in the 2nd quarter going 3-3 from beyond the arc.  Walz switched up the starting lineup a little bit tossing "the Elf" and Merissah out there.  UofL had 53 points come off the bench  Capital E 

DEFENSE --   Louisville held GT just under their average points per game at 62 and had 28 points on 16 turnovers by the Yellow Jackets.   GT had 3 players score in double figures but no real stand out performance by anyone.  Capital D  



FINAL FRED TALLY:    F_R_E_D



Softball

Softball is back in action down south and they're off to a hot start with a a 10-1 record, their best start since 2012. 

Due the rain in the forecast, Friday's schedule for Coastal Carolina's Battle at the Beach has been altered. The University of Louisville softball team will now open the tournament 

Friday at 1 p.m. against Bowling Green followed by a 3:30 p.m. matchup against Coastal Carolina.

The pitching staff has recorded six shutouts and carries a 1.26 ERA through the first 11 games of the season. UofL's six shutouts lead the ACC and tie for first in the nation along with Arizona, Boston and Oklahoma.

The Cards have outscored opponents 64-14 with eight home runs on the season while limiting opponents to just one.

Coastal Carolina enter the week with a 5-4 overall record coming off a win against the College of Charleston. They started the season winning 4 games before falling their next 4. The Chanticleers are led by Delaney Keith, who carries and .417 batting average, and Indya Smith who is hitting .400 early in the season. Raelee Brabham (3-2) carries a 1.62 ERA with 26 strikeouts in 26 innings and Nicolette Picone (1-2) carries a 2.71 ERA with 14 strikeouts in 20.2 innings. Kelley Green is entering her 15th season at the helm. It is the first time the two teams met.

This marks Bowling Green's opening weekend. The Falcons are coming off a 9-41 campaign in 2023.  Senior catcher Reagan Williamson was second on team in batting average (.246) and on base percentage (.360) and led the team in walks with 20.  Junior RHP Scarlet Anderson led the team with five wins.  Candace Fenton-Bockbrader enters her second season as head softball coach at her alma mater.

(Good Golly, Miss Holly!)

Louisville leads the series 3-1 with the Cards winning the last matchup 1-0 at Ulmer Stadium in the Red & Black Classic in 2017. Im pretty sure i called that game for UofL on TV.  Gosh... just imagine if that job would've panned out.  Sigh..

(Editor Note: I did go back and look for that "call" Daryl mentioned but couldn't find it..I did run across one of my postgame interviews from 2017, though..when i was chatting up Danielle Watson and Megan Hensley. Good Times. I wow to return to those days...   -- paulie)

As always

Go Cards!

~Daryl