WBB wins, WSOC loses -- FRIDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

A mixed bag of results last night for University of Louisville women's sports. 

The women's basketball squad overcame a slow start and pummeled Chattanooga in the KFC YUM! Center last night 86-37. In Provo, UT, the women's soccer team basically had a half to remember and one to forget in a 4-0 loss to the BYU Cougars. Let's get at it: 


CARDS 86 - CHATTANOOGA 37

Despite the slow start for UofL offensively (the Cards went 0-8 from the floor to open the game) solid defense prevailed and Louisville eventually regained their shooting touch to hold court against the 1-6 Mocs. 

It took the Cards nearly four minutes to register their first basket in the first quarter. Fortunately, Chattanooga had only scored once. Those inside scoring woes had Louisville in their grip and it wasn't until Dana Evans drove the paint and got one to fall at the 6:10 mark that UofL registered points. After that, though, the Cards went on a 12-2 run and fought their way to a 18-7 lead after one quarter. Despite the 7-24 shooting (29.2%) the Cards were active in rebounding with 19 opening session grabs. The Mocs weren't faring any better from the floor (3-13) and the Cards already had four steals. 

Six Louisville players were on the board (out of the nine Jeff Walz played in the first ten minutes), none had more than four points and the Cards held a significant 8-0 edge in points off turnovers (UTC had six), second chance points (6-0) and free throws, where UofL was 4-4 and Chattanooga hadn't attempted one. 

With defense leading the way, UofL started the second quarter on a 15-2 run in the first 6 1/2 minutes for a 33-9 advantage. Evans was in double figures and "E" Balogun had seven points and six rebounds on her stat line. The Cards were still going to the paint but the trio of Bionca Dunham, Kylee Shook and Liz Dixon had massed only four points. They were rebounding, though...with 16 grabs between them. Norika Konno and Yacine Diop came in with nice contributions off the bench and had 12 of UofL's 35 points. Despite not scoring in the last 2:50 of the half, Louisville led comfortably at the intermission 35-13.

The Cardinal clubbing continued in the third quarter. Walz went deeper into the reserves and Kasa Robinson responded with four points and two steals. UofL was off to the races again in the third, using a 18-6 domination in the first 6 1/2 minutes to lead comfortably 53-19. The Cards won the quarter 26-14, Walz had played everyone but Jess Laemmle and Dana added eight more points in the third, including a couple of threes. UTC was still engulfed in shooting woes, going 4-14 in the quarter and shooting just 28% for the contest. It was 61-27 with 10 minutes to play.

The bench erupted in joyous celebration when Liz tallied a putback for a bucket at the buzzer signalling the end of the third and when she scored on another follow-up with a minute left in the quarter.  

The fourth period started with the interesting combination of Shook, Robinson, Lindsey Duvall, Diop and Liz Dixon on the court. Jess Laemmle soon took the court and the Cards blasted out to a 12-2 run to start the fourth and held a 73-29 lead over the visitors in the first four minutes. 

Walz continued to tinker with the combinations on the court, ending up with Laemmle, Dixon, Balogun, Duvall and Konno on the floor for the final four minutes.  He probably could have played me, my wife, Nick Evans, Sean Moth and Ernie the Usher the rest of the way...Mocs head coach Katie Burrows was deep into her bench as well and, with a Duvall three leading the way, the Cards closed the match with a 9-5 run and went on to win by 49. 



THEY SAID IT

You all talk, I'm gonna get some dancin' in 

Coach Walz joined players Dana Evans and Elizabeth Balogun at the microphones, in a rarity for post-game interviews scenarios. Maybe because we kept UTC head coach Burrows in the media room for eight minutes discussing Mocs Basketball and places to eat in Chattanooga. Microphone decorum was almost completely ignored again, I managed to confuse Balogun with a question and it was pretty much me, the Courier and Farmer Tom firing up the post-game queries. Louisville's feed of the post game dies when I'm getting ready to ask "E" a question, so I borrowed this one from The Crunch Zone. Thanks to them for dilligent coverage and contributing to the joy and excitement of UofL women's basketball. Eventually, I hope to get Jared recording post-game stuff again. 

LINK: JEFF, DANA and E POST GAME

I've also attached my audio here, since it includes Chattanooga head coach Burrows. Burrows viewing is also available at The Crunch Zone. 

LINK: JEFF, DANA and "E" POST GAME


FRED REPORT

Today's Fred - actor Fred Thompson
Obviously took UTC and the points. 

FREE THROWS -- The Cards continue to impress from the charity stripe. 12-14 is 85.7% and way past our letter standard of 70%. It was a lightly-whistled contest. No player for Louisville attempted more than three free tosses and five Cards were perfect from the stripe. I proudly bestow the Capital "F" for this excellent accuracy. Maybe troubles with the close-in shots, but none last night with the free ones. 

REBOUNDING -- The Cards had a 59-28 edge over the smaller Mocs. Maybe because the shooting wasn't all that great, but Kylee grabbed 11 and Balogun showed the effort with the same. 33 of them in the first half.  "B" added nine, "Liz" found seven. Proud of "Ya-Ya", too, with five in just 17 minutes. No problem in tossing up a Capital "R" here for someone to grab.  

EFFORT/EXECUTION -- It was the Cards hustle, from most all involved that produced this 49-point "W". Second chance points 19-4 Louisville, 50-16 UofL in the paint. 12-0 on the fast break. I am going to award a small case "e", though...primarily because of the ugly start. Pull that kind of beginning against most of the ACC and you're down by double digits.

DEFENSE -- It was a stellar effort for UofL last night defensively. 13 steals ! Holding the Mocs to 24.6% shooting. Creating 18 turnovers while going deep into the bench and playing all 11 dressed. It was expected, this defensive juggernaunt effort, against maybe the least-talented opponent Louisville will face this season. Here's your Capital "D", Cards. 

FINAL FRED TALLY:  F-R-e-D

So, a win most expected and a good one at that. Walz got to do a lot of experimenting, I thought Norika Konno looked more comfortable on the court than she has all season and "Ya-Ya" Diop got the minutes and produced the results I knew she was capable of.

Three-point shooting (6-24) still needs work, though. Dana and "E" combined for a 3 for 10 night and that must improve. I liked the equal distribution of playing time, though. Everyone saw close to 15 minutes except Jess, who logged a season high 8:30.

The Cards are still a "work in progress" but Walz has to be pleased with the defensive intensity last night. The inside game made progress but also need to pick it up. It was what it was...a 49-point win over a 1-6 Southern Conference foe at home.  


SOCCER STUMBLES AGAINST BYU 4-0

It was a valiant effort for Louisville women's soccer for most of the night against #4 BYU in Provo. The teams were scoreless at the half. The Cards were still hanging tough 15 minutes into the second half, keeping BYU off the board. 

Then disaster struck.

BYU erupted for two goals in one minute. A third soon followed and with eight minutes left in the match, the Cougars added their four goal in twenty minutes. 

The Cards did not respond. Maybe the early effort wore UofL out. Maybe the Cougars decided to put points into their arsenal of domination. Whatever it was, Louisville's season ends in Utah and BYU goes to the Sweet Sixteen to face NC State, who surprised Arkansas in the first game 2-1. 

The Cards actually got two good shots on goal off in the first two minutes of the match, one by Allison Whitfield and the other by Brooklyn Rivers. After that, it was pretty much BYU controlling the action and pace. 

Our soccer expert Case Hoskins will go into much more detail on the Cards exit from the NCAA Tournament. I'll leave you with these pertinent stats. 

Shots:   BYU 19 - Louisville 9
Shots on Goal:   BYU 8 - Louisville 2
Corners: BYU 9 - Louisville 1


Still it was an incredible season for UofL Women's Soccer. There is no disgrace in losing to a higher-ranked team, at their place.

(WBB PHOTOS FOM JARED ANDERSON) 


Have a fun Friday !

paulie
xxxxx