Cards Contain Clemson 76-44 -- SUNDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

JONES, EVANS LEAD UOFL TO 21st WIN

It was a mere 40 or so hours from when the Cards stepped off the KFC YUM! Center Denny Crum Court Thursday night after defeating UConn to when they entered Littlejohn Arena in Clemson, SC to face the Clemson Tigers. One might understand if the exhilaration of beating the Huskies hadn't quite left their thoughts. One would understand if they might still be a bit fatigued after taking down #2. That didn't happen, though...as UofL WBB noticed their 21st win of the season in a 32-point, 76-44 dismantling of the Tigers. 

It was National Girls and Women in Sports Day and the Cardinal girls and women added their talents to the festivities. 

After surrendering the first four points of the game, Louisville went to work. An 18-0 run ensued, sparked by back-to-back Asia Durr threes, five straight points by Dana Evans and effective team defense had the visitors up 18-4 en route to a 20-10 first quarter lead. The two Cardinal guards mentioned above had 16 of UofL's points.

Deja vu, maybe, for the Tigers, who started their Thursday night contest against Notre Dame in similar fashion -- it looked like the beginning of a blow out Louisville win, but things took a turn in the second quarter. Clemson fought back. A 9-2 Tiger run over the first three minutes of the second period drew them within three, after a Destiny Thomas three. 

The home squad cut it to one, at 24-23, after a Aliyah Collier three with five minutes until the halftime break. And, two minutes later, at 26-25, the Cards looked to be in for a battle with a team that was  These felines were not slinking off with their tails tucked between their legs.

You never really know which Cardinal is going to step up these days and provide the punch for turning things around. Sunday it was Jazmine Jones who took over the rest of the play before halftime. Her five points in the remaining time, including a "say a little prayer for this one...hey, it went in!" three led Louisville on a 7-0 run that gave them a 35-27 halftime advantage. The "prayer" terminology comes from head coach Jeff Walz, who also commented that Jaz had been working on the deep ball a lot in practice lately. 

Louisville came out of the locker room on a mission in the third quarter. A 12-0 run over the first five minutes of the third quarter. Two more Jones threes. Clemson could not connect from the floor and the Cards accelerated out to a 47-29 lead. Jones gathered 10 of the Cards 17 third session points and all Clemson could do in the third was sink five free throws.

Kylee Shook was cleaning the boards on the Clemson misses (they were 0-12 from the floor in those 10 minutes) and UofL held a 52-32 lead with one quarter to go. The fight had been taken out of Clemson and it may have been Louisville best defensive quarter of the season.

The Cards continued the attack in the fourth quarter. A 14-3 start over the first four minutes. Clemson finally scored from the floor at the 7:28 mark but the rout was on. Arica Carter found the range for three threes in the final period, and, with about four minutes to play...Walz turned the action over to Robinson, Robins, Duvall, Laemmle and Shook. The maintained the lead, Robins draining a three during the final minutes and the Cards used a 24-12 fourth quarter to win 76-44. 

Four UofL players in double figure scoring (Jones 17, Evans 15, Durr 12 and Fuehring 10). Shook with a career-high 15 rebounds and Fuehring added nine. Seven blocked shots for the Red and Black and Louisville made the most of the 17 Clemson turnovers -- getting 20 points from them.

Clemson coach Amanda Butler demonstrates defense
to her Tigers. Or is waving "Hi !" to someone. You decide. 

A questionable technical on Fuehring as the game drew to a close -- she allegedly said something that didn't please referee Denise Brooks ears --in her defense, Sam had been bumped, battered and banged on all game by the Clemson trio of Thornton,  Bennett and let loose a little verbal frustration. Still, emotions -- no matter how hard it is to do -- need to be kept in check if possible. 

A brief Clemson attempt to upset the apple cart turned into another 30+ point loss for the Tigers. But, playing #5 and #3 in the nation in less than 48 hours can do that to you. The Cards came to Clemson, took care of business and held the foe to under 50, the sixth time in the last seven games they've done that. 


THE FRED REPORT

Today's Fred: Limp Bizkit's  Fred Durst

FREE THROWS -- Quite frankly, there isn't much here to evaluate. Sam Fuehring went to the line three times. She made two of them. Thus endeth the free throw analysis for Louisville. Clemson, obviously, plays the cleanest, non-fouling defense in the ACC (snark fully intended). So, since there is a lack of "foul" activity to discuss, I'm going to change the "F" today from Free Throws to Fuehring. Sam gave it her all in the paint battle Sunday with nine grabs and 10 points. I award her a capital "F" for duty and action...in the line of fire...from enemy elbows, shoves, bumps, hacks and assaults. Just keep walking away from it Sam, don't say nothing. You're becoming a "target" for other teams. Stay cool. 

Refs have been known to have rabbit ears and can sometimes be vision impaired. 

REBOUNDS -- Despite only six offensive rebounds, the Cards took the boards battle 45-39. We mentioned the career high for Kylee. Louisville has improved significantly on the glass lately and it's a pleasure to see. Let's leap for, and grab, a capital "R". 

EFFORT/EXECUTION -- UofL swept the hustle stats -- rebounds, points in paint, points off turnovers, 2nd chance points and fast break points. The 18-0 and 32-6 runs were impressive. The only things keeping this from being a capital letter was that 23-10 run Clemson went on in the first half and 17 UofL turnovers We'll go with a lowercase "e" here. 

DEFENSE --  Satruday was maybe one the best defensive efforts of the year for Louisville. Clemson shot just 23.7% for the afternoon. They limited the Tigers to just two made threes. In the second half, Clemson made just three baskets. No double figure scoring efforts from the 11 Tiger players who participated. No doubt about the capital "D" getting earned. 

FINAL FRED TALLY:  F-R-e-D

Louisville showed no letdown after a wonderful win Thursday night. The mission was to go and win a big ACC matchup and the Cards accomplished that with relative ease. A team win, highlighted by a career high in points for "Jonesy", career high in grabs by Kylee and 12 threes finding the mark from seven different players.

The Cards go to 8-1 in conference and will now prepare for a dangerous Syracuse squad on Thursday after a well earned and need couple of days of rest. On the day before "super Sunday", Louisville delivered a "spectacular Saturday" and who could blame them if they have a bowl of chips, some chicken wings and a lazy day watching the end of the pro football season today. 


THE CARDINAL COUPLE RADIO HOUR

BBQ for Super Bowl?  Why not? 

We gathered in the magnificent media mansion on Mellwood at WCHQ 100.9 studios yesterday for The Cardinal Couple Radio Hour sans our pal Jeff McAdams, who is busy chasing Koala bears and kangaroos "down under". A fun, fast paced and delightful hour ensued, with Case, Jared, Daryl joining Paulie for a recap of the Cards conquering of Connecticut, a Clemson preview and our usual, unrehearsed mischief. 

We said "nite, nite" to Daryl several times and had a blast. 

Here's your link for the rebroadcast: 

THE CARDINAL COUPLE RADIO HOUR 2/2/19 

paulie
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