CARDS RAKE WAKE FOREST
The Cards (17-1, 5-1) went on a 12-0 first quarter run to jump out to a 17-5 lead and never looked back against the Demon Deacons...getting early production from Arica Carter, who knocked down three straight three-pointers in the first quarter and ended up as the Cards leading scorer with 12-points. 19-9 after one, and it looked like the Cards might be on their way to a big blowout of the Jen Hoover coached home team.
Wake Forest (9-9, 0-5) wasn't willing, though, to go away easily. The Deacs battled the Cards closely in the second session. They narrowly lost the quarter 16-15 and did what a lot of schools wish they could duplicate -- keeping All-American Asia Durr scoreless in the first half and limiting Sam Fuehring to just two first half points. Louisville led 35-25 at the halftime break, thanks to Carter's early start and strong play from Bionca Dunham (10 first half points) and Jaz Jones (six points in the first two quarters).
Neither team was exactly lighting up the scoreboard and Wake held the edge on rebounds 19-15. The Cards were getting it done on the turnover side...forcing 12 while committing just four in the second quarter... and made the most of them, in getting 12 points off the turnovers. The Cards were maintaining the lead with two of their prolific point-scorers strangely silent but you had to wonder if Asia's time was coming after the break.
Durr did deliver in the third.She totaled all of her eight points in the ten minutes following halftime and the Cards pulled out another quarter 18-15 to lead 53-39 as the teams headed to the final ten minutes. With two threes and a nice two-point jumper, Durr also had three assists and two steals.
The Cards have been guilty of less than perfect fourth quarters at times this season but that wasn't the case in the state of North Carolina yesterday. Louisville got a strong effort off the bench and a 7-0 run late in the quarter helped push the lead to 28 before the Cards finished with the win. The Cards held a 20-10 points advantage in the final session and got threes from Seygan Robins, Lindsey Duvall and Dana Evans. Kylee Shook sank a couple of free throws to reach that 28-point edge with about a minute left and the Cards got 18 of their 20 points from the reserves in the fourth quarter against the tired and a bit disillusioned Demons.
I continue to be pleasantly surprised by the hustle, effort, toughness and grit of freshman Mykasa "Kasa" Robinson. In 20 minutes yesterday, she added three steals and two rebounds to her seven points. Free throws still need work (maybe they'd let her shoot them while running?) but she is a valuable "off the bench" spark for the Cards. Your car won't start this morning? Call "Kasa" she'll provide the spark and jump needed to get it rolling. Vehicle doors frozen and won't open? Have her run around it a few times, that'll heat it up.
Wake was with out their leading scorer and star Elisa Penna, who is out with a knee injury. Without her, guards Ivana Raca and Gina Conti combined for 20-points to lead WFU. Former Card recruiting target Christina Morra played for Wake and the "Canadian sensation" totaled six points and six rebounds in a reserve role in the paint. For Louisville, the scoring was nicely distributed. Carter (12) and Dunham (10) were the double figure scorers. Durr and Jones were good for eight points each and Fuehring, Evans and Robinson added seven each. Shook finished with six points, Robins contributed five and Duvall nailed a three for her only points. Our favorite "Attack Yorkie" Jess Laemmle got three minutes in at the end but never got a shot off.
Cards win, the Cardinals win 73-49. They are 3-0 against the ACC schools in North Carolina this season and have held their last three ACC opponents to less that 50 points
THE FRED REPORT
Free Throws - Louisville went just 11-18 in the foul stripe efforts yesterday. That just 61% and is undeserving of a letter. Rebounds - Ouch. Wake was the lead dog in the sled here, gathering a 45-25 advantage over the visitors. Kylee Shook led the way with five. We cannot award a letter here.
Effort/Execution - The Cards forced (or were handed) 25 turnovers and committed just six. The Cards pilfered 11 steals to Wake's six. 26-22 points in the paint went Louisville's way and 14-4 on fast break points to the visitors as well. That's hustle and a capital "E".
Defense - Wake shot 40% against the Cards and that's borderline for Louisville defensive efficiency. Despite the huge rebound edge for Wake, the Cards took the second chance battle 9-8. The dominating first and fourth quarters, where Wake totaled a mere 19 points, plus the overall total of under "50" points (49) warrant a capital "D".
FRED TOTAL -- -_-_E-D
CAPTION THIS PICTURE
You know this works. Take a look and create a caption for the picture below.
Stay warm today. Although the roads are fine in Louisville (except for some driveways) the temperatures are still brutal. We recommend hanging around the house and binge-watching something and making a pot of soup or chili.
MLK JR DAY
It is Martin Luther King Jr. Day, so the schools are closed and some of you have the day off. As we reflect on the life and works of Martin Luther King, remember and try to follow the example, please, of these words of King: "Darkness cannot drive out darkness. Only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate. Only love can do that."
paulie
xxxxx
Happy MLK day Cards Nation.Good game @ Wake forest yesertday AC (cupid)Carter is a big time maker that young lady can shoot.
ReplyDeleteOops yesterday
ReplyDeleteAnother great defensive effort out of Louisville and Carter's early start was exactly what UofL needed.
DeleteAs I pointed out in the article, the last three ACC foes -- Georgia Tech, Virginia and Wake Forest to less than 50 points.
That's impressive.
Paulie
Before my analysis of the game, I have a Curtis complaint. Please, please remove all snow from your vehicle before driving it. I got behind a car this morning coming home from work that was poorly cleaned and I received a sheet of ice and snow on my front windshield that blinded my view for a good 10 seconds before my wipers got it cleared. Not being able to see for 10 seconds at 45 miles an hour is flat dangerous. Please take the extra time before you drive and do the maintenance. The life you save could be mine. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteLouisville turned up the "d" yesterday no doubt and I was impressed with the win -- despite the first half absent Asia and silent Sam. I think it was a good learning lesson for the Cards -- that they can still be effective without those two for stretches. A team win, no doubt.
How about Clemson !! Down by five at the half and wins by six at Pitt. I hope Arthur checks in today.
Wait a second, I think I just saw Kasa speed by my front window. She getting to be my favorite on this squad. No fear, no letdown. The free throw shooting will come.
Curtis " will not rake ANY forest" Franklin
An interesting day in the ACC. Georgia Tech defends the home court with a surprising 10-point win over Syracuse, Va. Tech takes NC State to overtime before losing, Visiting Duke gives FSU all they could handle before the Noles win by just four.
ReplyDeleteAnd Clemson.
Louisville getting it done yesterday on the road was expected. It was exactly the way I expected it, but "W"'s on the road are always good.
That #11 for Wake (Raca) is a gamer. Played in Serbia and Greece. At 6'2" and a guard/wing -- wouldn't you love to see her in a Cardinal uniform?
Nick O .
Oh, my caption for the picture is Coach saying to the player:
ReplyDelete"Gina, is that creepy guy at the scorers table still staring at us?"
Curtis "Former caption contest winner" Franklin
Caption
ReplyDelete"we may be losing but we look stunning in black, right?"
Nick O.
About as good a total team win as it gets.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I'm impressed with Kylee and of course Mykasa. Kylee developing an inside game very nicely (nice pass from Jaz that she didn't come down with!), Mykasa plays all out all the time. Little things that don't necessarily show up in the official stats, charges taken, going after loose balls ferociously, floor burns and all, etc. Secret weapons, imo, both of them.
Kylee looks like she's starting to "get it". The Cards will need that inside work, along with Sam's, as the conference play continues.
DeleteI guess I'm most impressed with the Cards defense of late, though. If you keep them from scoring, you chances of winning goes up dramatically. The guard contingent, and it seems whoever is out there at the spots, is where it starts. Kasa is a huge surprise this year and so great to see. Another axiom is, if you can't get the ball to the scorers, they won't score, and the Cards initial pressure and trapping if it gets over the timeline is a beautiful thing to watch.
My entry for the picture caption is --
"Let's join hands and pray this thing ends quickly."
I'm hearing you guys got some rough weather. Another reason I left the mountains and moved to Florida. Maybe I'm too old to handle the cold, LOL.
-- The Real Joe Hill --
Cards win and that's the main stat you need to consider. I am disappointed in the rebounding and Cards have yet to face five of the top seven rebounding teams in the ACC in Clemson, Florida State, NC State, Miami and Boston College.
DeleteThis Thursday matchup worries me. Florida State is a tough team. I hope Louisville learns something from the Clemson vs. FSU game tape, the Tigers got the win against FSU. Sue Semerau a smart, experienced coach and she has three really good scorers in Gillespie, Ekhomu and Woofolk.
OK I'll play the caption game
Coach is saying to player, 'Would you mind going to find the bus driver and ask him to start it up? This one is over.'
Blue Lou.
Hey, we're getting some great caption responses today. Keep them coming.
ReplyDeletePaulie
Unless there is marked improvement, rebounding will keep this team from going as far as it should.
ReplyDeleteIll go with Blue Lou's "Bus Driver" caption as the winner.
ReplyDeletePaulie