Cards Travel to VT -- Academics Accolades -- THURSDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

 Cards Prepare for Game at Virginia Tech

Louisville women's basketball is back in action tonight, just two days after their game against UT Martin. The Cards travel east to Blacksburg to face Virginia Tech. This is just the second ACC game for Louisville, who has seen nine ACC games cancelled or postponed up to this point with more probable in the future. Louisville beat Duke 73-49 back on Dec. 9. The 1-0 mark in conference play puts them in a tie for first in the conference with NC State (5-0) with a 1.000 win percentage.

Virginia Tech enters the game at 6-2 on the year. Their 1-2 conference puts them in the middle of the pack. The Hokies beat Pitt at Cassell Coliseum before falling on the road to Notre Dame and home to Florida State.

The game will be just the fourth for Virginia Tech in the last month. Like Louisville, the COVID-19 situation has made scheduling games difficult.

The Hokies have been led by star forward Elizabeth Kitley 18.8 points and 12 rebounds per game. Like we saw back in the day with Myisha Hines-Allen, Kitley is a walking double-double. She is shooting a stellar 64.8 percent from the field. Virginia Tech has been a solid three-point shooting team. They've shot .403 from deep and make 11.1 per game. Guard Aisha Sheppard is averaging 17.8 points per game highlighted by her 41.8 percent three-point shooting. Sheppard has made 33 threes on the year.

UofL is 22-17 all-time against the Hokies. Most recently, the Cards took down Virginia Tech on Senior Day at the KFC Yum! Center by a score of 70-53. They have won seven straight against the Hokies and have not lost since joining the ACC.

You can catch this one on the Regional Sports Network/Fox Sports South. Tip-off is set for 8:00 p.m., so grab a midday nap if you need one.

If you're having TV trouble you can always tune into Nick Curran and AJ on Cards Radio WKRD 790-AM.

Academic Accolades

We saw a few more teams announce some off the field honors with their excellent academics. 

-- Field Hockey posted a 3.809 team GPA, a program best. 11 of the student-athletes earned a perfect 4.0 and 26 were named Red and Black Scholars (3.25 or higher).

-- Softball had a 3.351 team GPA. Two student-athletes earned a perfect 4.0 and 16 were named Red and Black Scholars.

-- Cross Country and Track and Field combined earned a 3.232 GPA on the women's side. Five scholars earned a perfect 4.0 while 33 were named Red and Black Scholars.

Not only are they incredibly talented on their fields of endeavor, but our student-athletes are super smart. There's plenty to brag about there and we are proud of the awesome academic successes.

Happy Thursday and Go Cards!

Jared