Cards WBB "Hildago-ed" by Notre Dame 65-62 -- Monday Cardinal Couple

 CARDS DROP REGULAR SEASON FINALE TO IRISH

There was a lot on the line in this one at the KFC YUM! Center. 

Louisville had a chance to tie for the regular season conference championship after Duke lost to UNC. Notre Dame had a chance to move up to fifth place in the final conferrence standings with a win. Over 11,000 fans packed the downtown arena on Senior Day to honor Laura Ziegler and Reyna Scott, the Cards two seniors. 

Someone forgot to tell Hannah Hildago this was Louisville's day. 

Hildago...Cards killer. 

The sophomore (yes, Cards fans , she'll have two more years to haunt the Cards...) went off for 30 points on the Cards, so the Cards enter the ACC Tournament that starts on Wedneday with a two round bye and will play their first game on Friday. Notre Dame gets a Thursday opening slot and will face the winner of the #12 and #13 seeds in the opener on Wdnesday.  

The Cards got of to a hot start in this one and led UND 9-2 in a low scoring quarter with three minutes left. That lead was 12-4 Cards with a little over a minute left in the quarter, after a Berry basket and free throw..but Notre Dame nailed a three. It was 12-7 Cards after one.  

Notre Dame came out strong in the second quarter and took the lead at 18-16 on a Hildago layup with 5:32 untll halftime. A Hildago three put the Irish up by five..thirty second later. The Irish increased that lead to 29-19 with 3:32 until half and two Hildago free throws set the tally at 31-19 with 2:54 until half. Two more Hildago free throw gave Notre Dame at 36-24 lead which took them into the half. It was a 29-12 Irish dominance in the second quarter and Louisville looked to be in potential serious trouble. 

The Cards weren't ready to roll over yet, though. They scored the first six points of the third quarter...capped by a Elif Istanbulluoglu jumper. Notre Dame was riding the quickness and accuracy of Hildago, though, and her two free throws made it 45-35 Irish with 3:03 left in the third. 

Then, the Cards finally realized they were a pretty good team. The sophomore class led the comegback with a Randolph three and a Roberts three and two Roberts free throws. That capped a 8-0 UofL run that made the score 45-43 Notre Dame. The Irish went on a 5-2 run to end the quarter but Louisville was back in it, trailing just 50-45. It looked like it was going to be 47-45, but "You-know-who" nailed a three at the buzzer. 

Louisville tied it in the fourth 52-52 when Reyna Scott sank a layup...and the Cards went ahead 55-54 on a Istanbulluoglu basket and free throw. Thirty seconds later, Randolph sank a layup and you had to wonder if the Cards were on a game winnng run. Notre Dame was not going to roll over and play dead, though. They tied it at 60-60 with 3:37 left and Hildago had the Irish's final five points..where the Cards could only get two Randolph free throws with 54 seconds left. 

Never a good thing to end the season with a loss, but the Cards now have five days to get ready for ACC Tournament play..facing either Syracuse, California or Wake Forest in opening day action. 

We'll look at the ACC WBB tournament bracket tomorrow. 

paulie