Cards must not overlook Skyhawks tonight -- Monday Cardinal Couple

7-5 UTM VISITS WBB TONIGHT

The intent and focus of pre-conference basketball games is to prepare your team for the rigors and tests that loom in the future when conference play begins. The University of Louisville women's basketball squad will receive one of those challenges this evening when they face the UT-Martin Skyhawks at the KFC YUM! Center at 7 p.m.

Tennessee-Martin (7-5) had a five-game win streak snapped last time out in a narrow loss to Vanderbilt 64-61. These birds haven't been wading in shallow water this season...with two SEC and two Big 10 opponents on the schedule...and impressive wins over Alabama and Cincinnati. They'll fly in from long range at opponents...121 threes made this season which is over 10 made per game. That's good for third in the nation.

Freshman guard Daijia Ruffin, who played her high-school hoops at Louisville Sacred Heart, leads the flock with 14.7 ppg and has 18 steals for the Skyhawks. Butler transfer Haley Howard and Jessie Ward also average double figures for the OVC squad that was picked to finish second in the preseason coaches conference poll. 

Louisville (7-5) looks to keep redemption train rolling down the tracks...riding a four-game win streak. Myisha Hines-Allen, coming off ACC Player Of The Week honors, is averaging 17 points a game for Jeff Walz's squad, shooting 57.1% and is grabbing over eight rebounds a contest. Briahanna Jackson is good for 14.9 a night and leads Louisville in steals. Mariya Moore rounds out the double figure producers at 13.3 and is Louisville's assist leader. 

Louisville did ground the Skyhawks 77-43 last year in the KFC YUM! Center and held them to under 30% shooting. That'll be a key for this evening...the UT-Martin squad isn't afraid to launch the orb toward the cylinder...especially from beyond the three-point stripe. Louisville will need to be mindful about grabbing those missed attempts and playing a sticky defense that won't allow the Skyhawks to get off easy and wide-open attempts.

It's a "RED OUT" tonight, so if you're going...break out some of that red Cardinal Christmas swag you got from Santa. If you're watching at home...CARDS TV will provide the visual and Matt and A.J. will be the audio. 

A good test tonight before the Cards roll into ACC play. Certainly one that Louisville would gladly accept another 34-point win over...but we've got the feeling it'll be closer than that tonight. 

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PAULIE, I CAN'T BELIEVE I MISSED THE BROADCAST...
IT'S OK, MARKIE! GO TO THE CLOUD...GO TO THE CLOUD

If you missed the latest broadcast of The Cardinal Couple Radio Hour on WCHQ 100.9 FM Saturday, there's no need to gnash your teeth in despair or mope around the dining room table. It's available on the Crescent Hill Soundcloud. We've even provided a link to it below for your ease of access. (Have you actually ever gnashed your teeth? Sounds a bit painful, eh?) 

All better now, Buttercup? We thought so. Go seize the day.

LINK: https://soundcloud.com/chradio/cardinal-couple-122615

paulie
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