Cards advance in BE Tourney 79-71

Louisville lives to fight another day.

A big effort from Monique Reid this afternoon helps the Lady Cards advance over #12 seed Pittsburgh in the first round of the Big East tournament over Pitt 79-71.

It didn't come easy. Louisville needed a late run to advance over the Panthers. Similiar to the first half run they took to the locker room at the end of the first half to rally from seven down to seven up.

A 43-36 lead after twenty minutes was surprising, given the way that the Cards had to overcame a seven point deficit midway the first half to get it. 43-36 didn't hold up..and the second half saw multiple lead changes before the Cards busted up a 66-66 tie with five minutes to go in the final stanza and outscored the Panthers 13-5 the rest of the way.

Credit that to the play of Monique and center Keisha Hines. Reid led the Cards with 32 points..tying her season high for the year and Hines added 13 hard fought points from the paint and at the line.

Pitt, dominating Louisviile at times in the paint in the second half, simply couldn't keep up with Louisville's intensity in the final segement. Two Pitt players were sent to the bench by fouling out and Louisville's final rally proved enough to advance thenm to the second round of the tourney.

Tomorrow won't be easy. Notre Dame awaits the Cards. #6 in the nation but a surprising #5 seed in the Big East tournament. A team that won't overwhelm the Cards physically..but plays very sound, disciplined and smart hoops every time they step on the hardwood. A team Louisville played to a halftime tie earlier in the season at Freedom Hall and ended up losing to by eighteen points.

Tomorow is another day. A chance for Louisville to advance or falter. The Cards are still dancing and a win tomorrow wold be huge...but rolling past Notre Dame will not be easy. Can athlectism roll past discipline?

We'll know about the same time that the Louisville men face up against Syracuse in Freedom Hall.

Written by Paul
3/5/10