Shoni Returns -- Second Season -- TUESDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

SHONI HITS A THREE IN RETURN TO LIBERTY

The return of Shoni Schimmel to the New York Liberty WNBA squad debuted last night and she saw a total of 24 minutes (fourth highest on the roster) in a 76-69 loss to the Dallas Wings. Schimmel went 1-5 from the floor (all threes) for three points and picked up three fouls and no assists in her return to the court. 

With 16 players seeing action, the court time for Shoni is maybe surprising but encouraging. She came off the bench for the Liberty. Mercedes Russell, the Tennessee grad who flirted with coming to Louisville as a high school freshman had eight points in 26 minutes.

The star of the night was former UConn and Duke center Azura Stevens, who tallied 19 for the Wings...who pulled away from a two-point lead at the end of three quarters to get the seven-point preseason win. Stevens also grabbed nine boards in her debut rookie effort. 

Schimmel wears #13 for the Liberty...a departure from the #23 we saw her in as a Cardinal and with the Atlanta Dream and the #5 she wore in her previous stint with New York. 


THAT SECOND SEASON

Many coaches refer to playoff time in the conference and in the NCAA Tournaments as "the season season".  The University of Louisville women's spring athletics squads have been through or are starting those second seasons this month and here's a brief update and preview: 

LACROSSE -- Lost in the first round on the ACC Tournament to Boston College. Did not make the 26-team NCAA Tournament. 

SOFTBALL -- Will face Syracuse in the first round of the ACC Tournament in Atlanta, GA (Georgia Tech campus) on Wednesday. The Cards are the #8 seed and would draw #1 FSU next if they advance Wednesday. After that? They are a bubble team, by most accounts, for the NCAA Tournament. A win over Syracuse would help, obviously and a win over FSU would definitely help their NCAA chances. 

W. GOLF -- Finished with the ACC Regional and now in the NCAA Regional in San Francisco, where they are currently in fourth place after one day of competition. Olivia Cason and Lauren Hartlage are tied for 10th. place in the overall picture, both firing 71's.

The team carded a 287, which is seven strokes behind leader UCLA. Two other squads are tied with Louisville at 287 -- Stanford and Oregon. 

ROWING -- Louisville trains for the ACC Championships at Clemson on May 13th. If successful, they'll also look toward the NCAA Championships 5/25-5/27 in Sarasota. Hmmm...maybe we can send David Watson over to cover...he lives in nearby Bradenton. 
Louisville Rowing is ranked 22nd in the nation. The Cards competed well against #7 Michigan in their regular season final. 

W. TENNIS -- Louisville was eliminated in the first round of the ACC Championships by Virginia Tech 4-1. The "Serve and Return" Cards finish the season at 13-13 and are not considered to be a candidate for the NCAA Championships.


W. TRACK AND FIELD -- Louisville is ranked #14 in the nation and gets ready for the ACC Championships. Those start May 10th. in Miami. Makenli Forrest is ranked 11th in the hammer throw, Dorcas Wasike 12th in the 10,000 meter run and Alexis Gibbons 41st in the long jump. Louisville looks to have several hopefully qualify for the NCAA Championships in Eugene, OR on June 6-9.

W. SWIMMING AND DIVING -- Louisville's women "Splash and stroke" squad recorded a program high fifth place in the the NCAA Championships in Columbus, OH. The Cards qualified in five finals events and Mallory Comerford won the 200 Free. 


So...successes galore and good performance by the Spring sports student-athletes so far with a few more events to follow. 


PAULIE'S DERBY PARAGRAPHS

Snoozing or texting. You decide. I don't
remember...

I got this idea a few years back about creating a few short paragraphs that tell a story with all 20 Derby Horses involved. It's harder than you might imagine. I've never posted it here at Cardinal Couple but thought I would this year. 

"Can you Justify the Good Magic involved in a Lone Sailor in Hofburg with My Boy Jack having Promises Fulfilled under a Magnum Moon? 

They had Vino Rosso with Free Drop Billy while listening to Mendelssohn  Recalling their Instilled Regard for a Combatant named Solomini. 

Enticed by a Firenze Fire they watched Flameaway, a Bolt D' Oro struck with Bravazo in Noble Indy..Audible to all." 

Today is National Teacher Appreciation Day, Have a Coke Day and National Coconut Creme Pie Day. So, buy your favorite professor a slice of pie and a Coke! 



Have a great Tuesday! 

paulie
xxxxx