Hello readers! I am back and covering the joy of Louisville women’s athletics after a (what to me seemed like) a quick wedding and honeymoon. I appreciate the guys handling my coverage and I am looking forward to some more exciting moments in 2025.
Paulie also invited me back to the Yum! Center for some ACC WBB action with the Syracuse Orange so lets jump right on in.
WBB
The Cards are hot and on a 7 game winning streak as they beat the Cuse by ten and now hit the road for 3 games. Six Cardinals finished in double figure scoring as Louisville outlasted Syracuse 72-62 and move to 13-5 on the season. Nyla Harris went 5-11 for 10 points and 11 rebounds, Jayda Curry went 4-8 from 3 point range.
End of 1Q Cards 21-15
FG %
10-18 55.6% Cards
5-11 45.5% Syracuse
Reb. 10-5 Cards
3-pt %
1-4 25% Cards
2-4 50% Syracuse
The Cardinals Ja’Leah Williams drove in to score and got fouled, she grossly missed the FT but followed up with a rebound and Roberts gets the second chance bucket to get the offense going. Nyla Harris joins the scoring party and the Cards are off to a 6-0 start to the game.
With about 5:30 on the clock in the first quarter, Jayda Curry hits the Cards first three pointer beyond the arc. At the media timeout UofL had a 17-7 lead on the Orange.
Sophie Burrows controlled the offensive charge for Syracuse, going 4-4 for all of the Orange’s points before Woolley was finally able to convert for something making it a 19-12 game, Louisville.
A couple of UofL turnovers in the paint lead to more scoring opportunities for Syracuse as the clock ticked down its final minute. The two TOs committed by Merissah Russell and Olivia Cochran got Walz visibly frustrated after too many pass attempts...leading to the easy steals by Syracuse.
End of 2Q 15-12 Syracuse
FG %
5-19 26.3% Cards
6-15 40% Syracuse
Reb. 12-11 Cards
3-pt %
1-5 20% Cards
0-3 0%. Syracuse
The Cards open the quarter with a missed 3 point attempt. Coach Walz made it a point to mention in yesterday's press conference that this team is capable of making a lot of 3-point shots, as they do it often in practice but they started the game 1-6 from 3 point range.
Both teams were struggling to find any offensive rhythm, and the Cards went on a scoring drought for almost 4 minutes where they went 0-4.
And after another turnover, the Orange put together a scoring run of 8 more points to tie it 23 all.
Then the Cards turned it up a notch and found themselves with a 33-26 cushion after an 8-0 run of their own when Imani berry hit a 3 pointer, prompting an eruption from the crowd heading into halftime.
HALF 33-30
Photo: Jared Anderson
End of 3Q 26-21 Cards
FG %
11-15 73.3% Cards
9-17 52.9% Syracuse
Reb. 6 all
3-pt %
3-3 100% Cards
3-5 60% Syracuse
Syracuse started the scoring in the second half but the Cards took control scoring 7 straight points before Nyla Harris lost a shoe and played that way for about a minute and a half. A Syracuse timeout would give her the opportunity to grab the 2nd shoe after she tossed it in Cardinal Couple’s direction.
The Cards went on a 5-5 run and extended the lead to 15 points 54-39 before another Syracuse timeout with just under 5 minutes on the clock.
It looked like the Cards were going to pull away before the Orange found a spark to close the quarter on a 12-5 run and bring the score to 59-51. Jayda Curry went 3-3 from 3 in the quarter.
End of 4Q
FG %
3-11 27.3% Cards
5-16 31.3% Syracuse
Reb. 12-7 Cards
3-pt %
0-0 0% Cards
1-4 25% Syracuse
The Louisville defense held Syracuse scoreless for more than 2 minutes to start the quarter but then went on their own scoring drought for more than 7 minutes going 0-8 along with 3 turnovers in that time. With 2:30 to go, Syracuse pulled it within 5.
Olivia Cochran's trip to the line was productive extending the Cardinals lead with a much needed 2 points. Louisville went 7-8 from the free throw line in the quarter.
FRED REPORT
Freddie Freeman is today's "Fred" The Dodgers first baseman slugged 22 homers in 2024.
FREE THROWS -- Louisville went 9-12 which is good for 75%. They came up big in the fourth quarter when they really needed some points and the Cards found a way to get to the line. Capital F
REBOUNDING -- The Cardinals out rebounded the Orange 40-29 with Nyla Harris and Ja’Leah Williams leading the charge with 11 & 10 boards respectively. Given Syracuse's height advantage, this was a large advantage for UofL. CAPITAL R
EFFORT/EXECUTION -- The Cards established control to start the game and held on tight towards the end to continue the win streak. It seems to me, this team is starting to have some fun. Nyla Harris lost a shoe for several trips ups and down the court and a part of me thought maybe she felt some joy and excitement and some of the crowd giggled and cheered her through it. Because of the silly turnovers due to passing it too many times when they should've taken the shot, I give it a lower case e
DEFENSE -- Both teams went on some runs here and there, most notably at the end but it happened a couple times in the first half too. Holding Woolley 1-5 from 3 point land was a huge factor in the victory. The Orange still shot 42.4% in the game.... i give it a lower case d
FINAL FRED TALLY: F_R_e_d
The Cards head to Virginia Tech next for a Sunday tilt, then to Virginia and SMU completes the three game road trip. Tje VT game could be a tough one...the Hokies are inviting Liz Kitley back to laud and praise her and the Gobblers are 12-5 on the season.
As always
Go Cards!