WBB: Seniors Celebrate Strong Night Against NC State -- FRIDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

Durr Goes Off for 47 as Cards Rout Wolfpack

Won-DURR-full.

Asia Durr tied a career-high and program record 47 points as #3 Louisville overwhelmed #10 NC State, 92-62.

Louisville celebrated Senior Day featuring pregame festivities for Asia Durr, Arica Carter, and Sam Fuehring.  The trio is set to be the winningest class in program history.  One more victory will put them in a tie and two victories will put them in the lead.

Durr set an ACC record with 11 made three-pointers as she went 11-17 from deep and 17-27 from the field for 47 points.  She scored more than NC State's first three quarters combined.

Fuehring posted a double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds and added five assists.  Dana Evans was the only other Cardinal in double-figures with 15 points and also dished out six assists.  Jaz Jones also contributed six assists.

The Wolfpack had three scorers in the double-figures  Elissa Cunane posted a double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds.  Kiara Leslie and Kayla Jones each scored 10.

After NC State scored the first bucket of the game Louisville went on a 36-11 run the rest of the period for a huge 23-point lead.  Durr dropped a bomb with 22 points in the period.  The Cards had a mere four possessions in the quarter where they came away with no points.

The Wolfpack wouldn't go away easily as they took advantage of the Cards' comfortable lead to go on a mini run to bring the score within 16.  There was also mass confusion and eventually an arena in an uproar after the officials spent several minutes reviewing a play that resulted in a double technical between Bionca Dunham and NC State's Kiara Leslie.  The Cards ultimately won the quarter 17-15.

Coming out of halftime, Louisville pulled further ahead.  At one point Louisville doubled up NC State's point total, leading 70-35.  In terms of turnovers it was the Cards' worst quarter, posting three.  Durr had another big quarter with 13 points.

NC State won the final quarter 19-17, but it seemed to have no effect.  With 3:31 remaining and the Cards holding a dominating lead Coach Walz decided to pull the seniors out.  As each senior checked out of the game they were rewarded with a standing ovation by the crowd of 10,602.  Nine Cards saw the floor in the final quarter and committed a total of zero turnovers.

Yes, it was a "won-DURR-full" night in the KFC YUM! Center. Can you think of any better possible way to send these three seniors out during their final regular season appearance on Denny Crum Court ? I can't.

WORDS

LINK: POST GAME ASIA, SAM and ARICA

LINK: POST GAME JEFF WALZ

LINK: POST GAME N.C. STATE WBB HEAD COACH WES MOORE AFTER LOSS TO LOUISVILLE  (Audio Only)



F-R-E-D Report

Freddy Mercury would have realized it.
We are the champions, my friends. 

Free Throws: Louisville didn't spend much time at the free throw line, but made the most of it.  They shot 5-7 from the line for 71.4%  Award them a capital "F".

Rebounds: The rebounding was incredibly close with the Wolfpack holding a 36-35 advantage.  Neither side had much like on the offensive glass, but the Cards posted 12 second chance points on six offensive rebounds.  The rebounding wasn't great but the second chance points saved the Cards with some form of letter.  After all, N.C. State had been out-rebounding opponents by 10 a night Lowercase "r".

Effort/Efficiency: There is no question that the effort was there, especially when a player goes off for 47 points.  Louisville shot 36-69  (52.2%) from the field and 15-34 (44.1%) from three-point range.  Take out Durr's numbers and the rest of the team shot 19-42 (45.2%) and 4-17 (23.5%).  Of the 36 made shots 23 were assisted.  They also limited the turnovers to five while NC State finished with 14.  They also capitalized on transitions and speed to when the fast break battle 16-2.  Capital "E".

Defense: The Wolfpack scored over the 50-point mark- 62 to be exact- and scored in the teens each quarter.  But they shot 38.2% from the field and committed 14 turnovers.  The Cards got nine steals with Evans leading the way with six.  Shook recorded two of the Cards' four blocks.  When going back-and-forth on what to award the Cards here I ultimately used NC State's 73+ points per game before facing the Cards as the deciding factor.  UofL held the Wolfpack well under that mark.  Capital "D".

F-r-E-D isn't too bad for Senior Day and a victory against another Top 10 opponent.

Caption This

Let's bring it back for one more time this season.

Similar to Asia Durr's scoring, I was on it last night with pictures and had plenty of good ones to choose from.  Have your take with this one...

EDITOR NOTE: 

(See Jared's other photos from the Thursday night game at the bottom of today's column. We sincerely appreciate his hard work and dedication in his continual quest to catch the "sights" and "scenes" of Louisville WBB and all Louisville women's athletics)


Softball Opens Home Season this Morning

With the rearranged schedule Louisville softball schedule this weekend it's going to be an early morning for the Cards.  They face the Sycamores of Indiana State at 10:30 this morning and will turn around and face Missouri immediately after.

Madi Norman, who spent her freshman year with the Cards, is now a redshirt senior for the Tigers.

Daryl Foust will attempt to make it out with me to Ulmer Stadium in some chilly weather.

Happy Friday, enjoy a few more pictures from last night, and Go Cards!

Jared