Jackson out for UNC game...Softball starts ACC/BIG10 showdown today -- FRIDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

BRIAHANNA JACKSON OUT FOR UNC GAME

The University of Louisville women's basketball team will be without the services of red-shirt senior Briahanna Jackson for the Sunday game against UNC. According to team sources, she did attempt practice earlier in the week but tweaked her ailing back again during drills and will not play against the TarHeels.

Backs are a tricky thing. It is best for the player to be 100% ready to go to for their own personal health and fitness and the Cards will take that precaution now. Hopes reportedly are now to rest her until possibly the ACC or NCAA Tournament...or when she's 100% and in no pain. 

Here's hoping the flashy, hard-working point guard gets well and can rejoin the team soon. A chance for someone to step up and earn that playing time and another probable chance for Myisha Hines-Allen to live out her "I'm a guard" fantasy. 

ACC WBB THURSDAY

Florida State was the big news last night...falling at Virginia 60-51. That leaves Notre Dame alone at the top of the conference standings. Shaq Thomas with just 19 minutes for the 'Noles...leaving the game with 2:27 left in the third quarter with a shouder injury and FSU leading. It turns out she's done for the year now. In other games...

FSU Women's Hoops ‏@fsuwbb  16h16 hours ago

For those not watching, keep in mind Shakayla Thomas is out for the rest of the game with an injury. #Noles trail 50-48 with 3:15 left


Then...this:

FSU Women's Hoops ‏@fsuwbb  3m3 minutes ago

@CardinalCouple @_TomBlock We do not know the extent of her injury. We will make sure to update fans when we know.

-- NC State handled Boston College 70-58
-- Notre Dame with a close win at Clemson 84-80
-- North Carolina gets the "W" at home against Georgia Tech 89-88 
-- Pitt beats Virginia Tech 72-64
-- Duke romps on the road at Wake Forest 79-53. 

Louisville, Syracuse and Miami were idle. 


SOFTBALL OPEN TODAY IN ACC/BIG10 CHALLENGE

Cards play two today in Chapel Hill in the ACC/Big10 Challenge. 


Ohio State at 11 a.m. and Purdue around 1:30 p.m. 

No Internet except StatBroadcast on these that we know of.  Great. I just love StatBroadcast. 

Former Cards pitcher Shelby McCombs is now on the Buckeye roster. I wonder if they'll hand her the ball to face her old teammates? 


• Louisville brings a 4-1 record into the weekend after opening the season at UNLV's Sportco Kick Off Classic. The Cards defeated Southern Utah 17-3, CSU Bakersfield 13-2 and Indiana State 6-5 in nine innings before falling 5-3 to UNLV. Louisville wrapped up the weekend with a 1-0 win against Indiana State.
• Junior shortstop Sidney Melton has had at least one hit in every game this season and leads the team with a .526 batting average and nine runs.
• Senior pitcher Maryssa Becker has produced a team-best 13 RBIs with two homers and two doubles.
• Becker (3-1) also leads the Cards in the circle with a 1.58 ERA and 10 strikeouts in 17.2 innings of work.
• UofL is receiving votes in the most recent ESPN.com/USA Softball and the USA Today/NFCA Division I Coaches' polls. 
• Louisville was picked to finish second in the ACC Preseason Coaches' poll.
•Eight starters are back from last year's team including All-ACC selections Becker, senior outfielder Jordan McNary and sophomore pitcher Megan Hensley.
• The Cards return their top six hitters from last season, all of whom batted above .300.
• Louisville's returning players accounted for 33 of its 37 home runs in 2016.
•Becker has been named to several preseason watch lists, including College Softball Madness, DI Softball News and Fastpitch News. She was also featured among ESPNW's top 25 NCAA Softball players (at No. 15).


paulie
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