WBB HOLDS BC TO 27% SHOOTING IN WIN
Louisville (22-6, 9-4) shut down the Eagles early and went on a 14-2 first quarter run that spanned the first nine minutes. Emphasizing the inside game, Kylee Shook, Myisha Hines-Allen, Cortnee Walton and Taylor Johnson all scored for the Cards and the first ten minutes ended with Louisville leading 14-4. UofL held Boston College (9-17, 2-11) to 2 for 16 shooting (12.5%) and was doing it with two regular starters...the usual beginning guard contingent...watching from the bench.
Briahanna Jackson was sidelined with continuing back spasms and Asia Durr sat out the contest...serving a one game, unspecified violation of team violation of rules suspension. Mariya Moore sat out the second half with sore feet.
The Cards continued the stifling defense in the second quarter and Louisville received significant sparks from Sam Fuehring and Jazmine Jones to push the advantage to 35-16 at the half. The Eagles were still on ice...with a 7-29 shooting (24.1%) mark and Louisville had forced nine B.C. turnovers. The Cards were controlling the boards 27-12 and had scored 12 points off turnovers...plus eight points on second chance baskets. Nine Cardinals had played at least six minutes....Hines-Allen leading the scoring with eight points and nine rebounds. Jones and Shook had six each and the UofL defense had held B.C.'s leading scorer Kelly Hughes to just three shots and zero points. The 16 Eagles points tied for the third-fewest points in a half by a Louisville opponent this season.
Shook started the third quarter on a tear for the Cards...scoring eight of Louisville's first nine points...and after her second three of the period made it 44-18 Louisville...B.C. coach Erik Johnson called a timeout to refocus his squad. The Cards went back to the inside attack after that and took a 50-27 edge into the final period.
A lot of things to comment about in this one. B.C. made only two threes...one by Hughes...who ended with just three points. All the Cards who played scored. That is the first time this season that has happened. 33 bench points. 34 points in the paint. A 50-25 rebounding edge. Yes, the Eagles are at the bottom of the conference standings...so, maybe a big win was expected here...but the fashion in which the Cards did it and the stellar defense were pleasant surprises.
HOW DID FRED DO?
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| Louisville gardening expert...the late Fred Wiche. |
Rebounding -- The Cards ruled the boards with a 50-25 rebounding advantage. Hines-Allen with 13 and Ciera Johnson grabbed eight in 17 minutes of action. All 12 Cardinals had at least one except Fuehring and Laemmle recorded a career high with three. We proudly award a capital "R" here.
Effort/Execution -- The Cards got good minutes out of all who took the court. 34-22 points in the paint edge, 15-4 on second chance points, 46.3% shooting and 21 points off of 14 turnovers. No extended offensive woes. A capital "E" is up.
Defense -- One of the best efforts of the season. Forcing 14 turnovers with their starting guards sitting. Allowing less than 30% shooting. Six steals and 2 for 17 three-point shooting for the Eagles. 43 points. We'll complete the capital sweep with a capital "D".
FINAL FRED COUNT: F-R-E-D
THINGS WE LIKED
Freshman fantastic -- The six freshmen combined for 39 points and 24 rebounds. They logged 92 of the 200 minutes available on the court. Walz put the challenge out for someone to step up and claim playing time and all six entered the race and made a statement.
Overcoming Adversity -- With two starters out and Moore playing just 14 minutes...plus Hines-Allen coming back from a leg injury...one had to wonder how well the team would hold up. Just fine, thank you. All good here.
THINGS TO WORK ON
-- Turnovers. 19 for Louisville. Yes, with a depleted lineup and 12 people playing...but still a number we think is too high. Only seven from the six freshman. This number was not really a big factor in Sunday's game but against a Wake Forest or Virginia? The Walz Bakery was flourishing Sunday and we'd like to see it closed on Thursdays and weekends.
SO...
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| "Mayor" Jer was in attendance and brought snacks! |
Disturbing..a bit...about the ailments with Moore and BJ. Disappointment over Asia sidelining herself. These are three players the Cards must have at full sail when tournament time surfaces....in our opinion.
Against Boston College, who is not a great team, Walz probably could have gotten a win with Dunham, Zambrotta, Laemmle, "Jonesy" and Louie the Cardinal Bird. That's not a slap at the players...it's just a commentary on Boston College. They may be the last "weak sister" the Cards face the rest of the regular season.
THEY SAID IT
MYISHA AND KYLEE DISCUSS THE WIN
( Myisha mis-interprets my question at the 4:40 mark...unless they've changed the ACC Tournament format.)
JEFF WALZ POST GAME
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LACROSSE DOWNS ROBERT MORRIS 9-4
The Lou LAX squad got hat tricks from Meghan Siverson, Hannah Koloski and Heidi Smith and a strong Cardinal defensive effort kept visiting Robert Morris stymied in the 9-4 win Sunday at the Louisville Lacrosse Stadium.Hear Kellie Young's comments HERE
Unfortunately, we did not have a CARDINAL COUPLE contingent at the contest due to WBB and monitoring Softball coverage. We continue to be in a bit of a quandary why games and events sometimes run into overlapping playing times. A noon start would have made both games "do-able" for the fans (and us) and the LaxCards do have four noon starts on the schedule...so it isn't like they'd be going into un-chartered water.
Nevertheless, after a quick turnaround that had them at Marquette Friday, Louisville jumped out to a 4-1 halftime lead on a windy day the the "Ellis" (LLS) by scoring the final three goals of the half. The Cards also won the final half 5-4 to go to 3-0 on the season. Louisville held a 31-17 shot advantage.
The Cards resume to action Saturday in Denver against the Pioneers.
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SOFTBALL FINISHES SPORTCO WITH A WIN
Maryssa Becker tossed the two-hit shutout for the Cards (4-1) and Nicole Pufahl provided the offense with a two-out second inning triple that scored Megan Hensley. Five games in three days...a busy and somewhat tiring start to the season. Still, Louisville showed they don't need an offensive barrage to win contests...but can provide fireworks at the plate.
The hit-and-pitch Cards return to action Friday against Purdue in the ACC/BIG 10 challenge at UNC's diamond in Chapel Hill, NC.
paulie
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Cards did the job defensively and BC had no answer for Louisville inside. North Carolina won't be a hard task either. Thinking this just may be Sylvia's last season there. Good games tonight with UConn v. SC and Texas v FSU. The Deb Factor
ReplyDeleteWhat was it that Durr did?
ReplyDeleteSee violated curfew
ReplyDeleteIs that confirmed? It seems like the logical answer but there are a lot of things that can constitute a violation of team policy/rules?
DeleteGood win for the cards shout out to The Breakfast Club getting better just need to practice hard and continue playing hard.
ReplyDeleteI think Taylor Johnson did a great job and she continues to be aggressive at the point, I think we'll be alright. Also I like the way she dribble penetrates and she needs to continue to hit the open shot. Good job taylor.
ReplyDeleteI hope missing curfew was was worth it!Good game ladies good game!
ReplyDeleteA whole different team when the are focused on the defensive end as yesterday showed once again.
ReplyDeleteAgreed. Defense wins games.
DeletePaulie
Asia Durr was named ACC Player of the Week for for her 30 & 31 point-performances last week.
ReplyDeletePaulie
On Durr...the suspension was for one game, she served it, we hope she learned from it and let's put it in the past and concentrate on the now and future. It's probably not anywhere serious as two UK men's BB players leaving the scene of an accident because of a team meeting.
ReplyDeletePaulie
In all fairness Louie the Cardinal bird is about 7 feet tall.
ReplyDeleteWas this the first time this season you awarded an all capital FRED? Seems like it is to me.
ReplyDeleteYou may be right. I'll do the research but I can't remember off-hand going F-R-E-D this year. More to follow.
DeletePaulie
I did give the Cards a F-R-E-D capital award against South Florida.
DeletePaulie
I think we all realize this, but just thinking about it is amazing. Next season's probable roster will have two McD AAs in each class:
ReplyDeleteSeniors..........Hines-Allen, 6'2"
Moore 6'0"
Juniors..........Durr 5'10"
Fuehring 6'3"
Sophs...........Johnson 6'4"
Shook 6'5"
Freshmen.....Evans 5'7"
Kakala 6'3"
Lost one Taj Cole's
Delete8 Burger girls wow!
ReplyDeleteWatching UConn and SC...I think I heard the announcer say that there was like 10,000 in attendance. This is the biggest game of the season for UConn and one of the most important in the program and they have 10,000 people. We had I think 9,800 yesterday for nine win Boston College. Love our fan base.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely hard to get more than 10,000 in Guempel Arena
DeleteI was gonna say. To be fair, they also announced it as a sell-out. If all ya got is 10k seats, then 10k is a pretty good crowd.
DeleteTexas knock out FSU
ReplyDeleteI just noticed only two more home games left on schedule senior night for Cortnee,Briahanna & Taylor vs Virginia.
ReplyDeleteWow cortnee last game @ the Yum center.