Gameday Thursday - Cardinal Couple

(Editor's note: A slight communication glitch, with Paulie on the go, delayed the posting of this article slightly.  We're getting it all put together here.  -  Worldwide

UPDATE....CARDS WIN 74-71 at Georgia Tech

welcome to the ACC. 

Myisha Hines-Allen scored in the paint with either 1.2 or 1.9 seconds to play in the game (there is debate on what the actual time was) to give the Cards a 73-71 lead and Jasmine Jones added a free throw to give the Cards a hard fought three-point win Thursday night in Atlanta. 

Asia Durr magnificent with 38 points. The Cards led 46-34 at the half after a 33-14 2nd quarter, but GT slowly chipped away at the lead and tied the game at 71-71 on a Zaire O'Neill putback.

Too close for comfort. A nice UofL fan base in the 1473 present. Maybe 500 Card fans. 

Worldwide will have the complete take on it in Friday's Cardinal Couple

Paulie

An Early Start to a Big Weekend

Sitting in for Paulie, I already have 1 prediction wrong. Tuesdays article was not my last of the year.

This is a big weekend for UofL sports.  A heated rivalry game against Kentucky, the Taxslayer Bowl against Mississppi State, but the women get the weekend started early when they visit Georgia Tech tonight at 7 pm.  Holding steady at #3 in the AP rankings, the Cardinals (14-0) are looking to match their best ever start with a win.

When you're on a flight with other passengers and you have extra
pizza, this is what you do.

This road trip hasn't gotten off to the best of starts as the flight to Atlanta was delayed.  Coach Walz made the best of the situation by handing out pizza to fellow passengers during the wait.  The team had been scheduled to have dinner at Asia Durr's family's home, but the flight delay, last I heard, was putting that in doubt.

This will be the first road conference opener since joining the ACC. Leading scorer, Asia Durr, who sat out the Dec 20th game against the Air Force Academy with back spasms is expected to be back in the line up. Arica Carter, out with a foot injury, is also expected to return.

Georgia Tech (11-2) ranks seventh in the nation in points allowed, 52.2, so as Coach Walz's puts it, it will be important to "Value the basketball" and as Paulie puts it "Close the bakery."  The Yellow Jackets' two losses come at the hands of 6th ranked Baylor (80-57) and unranked Georgia (68-55) but remain unbeaten at home this season.  The only opponent UofL and GA Tech have had in common this season is Middle Tennessee State.  The Yellow Jackets beat them (48-45) while the Cardinals dominated them (80-26).

The Jackets' leading scorer is Francesca Pan, a 6'1" sophomore guard, averaging 13.2 ppg.  She is their leading 3 pt shooter and shooting 33%.  Sophomore guard, Chanin Scott, and senior forward, Zaire O'Neil, both average 9.6 ppg.  Red shirt senior, Elo Edeferkoka, leads the team with 6.2 rebounds while adding 8.5 ppg. Cortnee Walton will tell you that they were one of the most physical teams to play, year-in and year out, so expect a little contact tonight. Hopefully, fouls won't become a problem.

This should be a good but very manageable test for the start of ACC play.  A big win is very possible, but playing an away game after a long break can be a challenge.  Let's hope the team kept  up their free throw practice and didn't indulge too much in those wonderful holiday goodies.

Tip-off is at 7 pm with video on the ACC Network (ESPN.com) and radio WKRD 790 am.

Paulie will saunter by later tonight with what he saw, he's on-site and Jeff will provide the recap here on Friday morning.

Julie