Cards WBB releases 2019-20 Home Schedule -- TUESDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

14 HOME GAMES FOR LOUISVILLE WBB 

We now know the 2019-20 home slate for the University of Louisville women's basketball squad. No major surprises here....five out-of-conference foes come to town and nine ACC teams will visit 2nd and Main. 

Let's see what's in store for Walz's Warriors in the downtown arena: 

WKU 

Western Kentucky travels up I-65 to face Louisville after the Cards outscored the Hilltoppers 102-80 last year in Bowling Green. The Conference USA foe went 20-15 last year and was invited to the WNIT, where they gathered two wins before falling to Ohio University 60-68. Big Red's leading scorer Dee Givens returns, she had 18 vs. UofL last year. 
Former UofL asst. coach Greg Collins always gets the best out of his players...



MURRAY STATE

The Racers and Cards did not play each other last year. A struggling season for Murray, going 13-17. Their season ended with a loss to UT Martin in the OVC Tournament. Head coach Rechelle Turner has seven letter-winners returning but loses last year's leading scorer Evelyn Adebayo.


CENTRAL MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY

Who can forget the Cards escaping the Chippewa's home court with a 72-68 win last year? The "Chips" complied a 25-8 record last year (and were 13-1 on the road). Sue Guevara's MAC school was knocked out of the NCAA Tournament in the first round by Michigan State in a nail-biter 87-88.  The two big guns, Renya Frost and Presley Hudson have graduated, though. 

UT CHATTANOOGA

Head coach Katie Burrows was 14-17 last year in her inaugural season as the Mocs head honcho. One of those losses was a 75-49 drubbing by Louisville. Their season ended with a second round Southern Conference Tournament loss to Furman 73-67. Leading scorer Lakelyn Bouldin returns for her senior year. 

BOISE STATE

The Cards handed the Mountain West Conference's Broncos their second worst loss of the season last year up there 74-55. It was an outstanding season for the Idaho university, though, going 28-5. They were defeated inthe first round of the NCAA Tournament by Oregon State 80-75. Leading scorers Brayley Hodgins and Riley Lupfer return and they have a Sykes on the roster! (Kimora Sykes). No relation to me that i know of... 


We now look at the ACC visitors. 

BOSTON COLLEGE

A tough year in 2018-19 for Baldwin's Eagles with a 14-17 record. Joanna Bernabei-McNamee's first visit to the KFC YUM Center as the BC head coach resulted in a 87-51 loss to the Cards. They were knocked off 70-58 by Pitt in the ACC Tournament and weren't invited to any other post-season affairs. 

DUKE

A 15-15 record for the Blue Devils and the Cards handled them pretty easily in Cameron with a 73-51 win. Duke made it to the second round of the ACC Tournament but their season ended there with a 51-41 loss to FSU. Stars and leading scorers Haley Gorecki and Leaonna Odom return for head coach Joanne P. McCallie. 


FLORIDA STATE

The Noles went 24-9 last year but fell to UofL 68-49. They were invited to the NCAA Tournament but ran into South Carolina in the second round and that resulted in a 72-64 loss. Kiah Gillespie is back for Sue Semrau's Seminoles and both are probably glad to see Asia Durr in the WNBA now..."Nite-Nite" lit them up for 29 in Tallahassee last year.  

NOTRE DAME

We all know how the Irish's season ended last year, bowing out to Baylor in the NCAA Championship game 82-81. We also probably remember how Muffet McGraw's marauders handed it to the Cards twice last year...82-68 and 99-79. Gone from that 35-9 squad, though, are five seniors and Jackie Young...so it'll be interesting to see what a new crop of Domers can do against UofL. 


PITTSBURGH

A tough 2018-19 season for Roc the Panthers crew wit a 11-20 mark for first year head coach Lance White. The Cards took it to UofP twice...70-42 and 67-40. Pitt bowed out of the ACC Tournament with an opening round loss to Duke 86-64. Losing five seniors might make this year a rough one again up on "the Hill". 

SYRACUSE

"Q's" Orange amassed a 25-9 record last year but the Cards showed no mercy on them with a 76-51 smack down. The 'Cuse made it to the second round of the NCAA Tournament before dropping a somewhat surprising game to South Dakota State 75-64. They do get the awesome Aussie Tiana Mangakahia back, though, and the roster features three players from Paris, France on this year's roster. Will we see "Q" in a beret and nibbling on croissants? 

VIRGINIA

The Cavs struggled last year with a 12-19 season. Louisville added to the misery with a 71-49 win over them. UVA's season ended with a ACC Tournament second round loss to Syracuse 67-57. Tina Thompson does return a wealth of talent, though, in Dominique Toussaint, Jocelyn Willoughby, Lisa Jablonski and 6'9" center Felicia Ayeotan. 

VIRGINIA TECH

Kenny Brooks and his Blacksburg ballers put up an impressive 22-11 season in 2018-19 but got snubbed by the NCAA Tournament committee. Someone explain that one to me. They gave the Cards a close game, losing only by nine, 72-63. Having to settle for the WNIT, they won two games before falling to JMU 70-66. Returning names you need to know...Dara Mabrey, Trinity Baptiste and a graduate transfer Cardinal fans will probably remember...Taja Cole....who lands on the roster after stints at UofL (2015-16) and Georgia. 





WAKE FOREST

The Demon Deaconesses batted .333 last season with a 10-20 mark. They had a rough go of it against UofL, ending up on the short end of a 73-49 score. The ACC Tournament wasn't very kind to them either, they went home after a first round 85-63 loss to Virginia Tech. Jen Hoover brings five freshmen into Winston-Salem, but does get Ivana Raca, Gina Conti and Alex Sharp back.

We'll get a little more in-depth on these 14 visitors as the season gets a little closer. 


Have a terrific Tuesday!

Paulie
xxxxx