WBB slices Syracuse 86-77 -- HAPPY NEW YEAR -- FRIDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

FRIDAYS WITH DARYL 

(Zyanna waits patiently for Daryl's report)

Good morning and welcome to the end of the 2022 year.   Weird to think where we (me) started the year (with COVID on the couch)...to now, a homeowner and a cat mom and currently enjoying a holiday break off from my new job at UofL.  Here's to a happy and healthy 2023 to you and yours and thank you for spending your days with us.  

Louisville WBB 

Cards win 86-77!!   

UofL moves to 11-4 on the season and second in the ACC behind Notre Dame.

Hiya, E !

The Cardinals returned to conference play at the Yum! Center Thursday evening to play against Syracuse and welcome some familiar faces to town.  UofL and the Orange are naturally rivals but with the former 'Cuse guard Chrislyn Carr in a Louisville jersey, that added a little extra heat and add on the fact that last year's Cuse-to-Cards transfer and fan favorite Emily Engstler made an appearance for the game.  

Whaddya know, Mo? 

Mo Reid was also at the YUM! taking in the contest. Rumor has it she's headed back to Europe to play ball in a few days. With Mo, Emily, Cortnee and Jess Laemmle in the house, that's not a bad alumnae team. Maybe add Valerie Owens, who is always there with daughter Gia as a Courtsider and that's a powerful lineup.  

It was a good game if you had the chance to watch, I imagine.   I was not in attendance for Thursday's game expecting I would be able to view on ACCNX as advertised... to my disappointment,  when I got home just in time for tip-off it said the event was blacked out in my area.  groan. 

Would you care for a "T" Coach? 

Happy to report a Cardinal victory for the WBB squad 86-77 over Syracuse!  Four starters scored in double figures,  Hailey Van Lith with 24 points on 9-14 shooting with 5 rebounds, 6 assists and just 1 turnover.   Olivia Cochran and Morgan Jones added 15 points, 7 rebounds and 1 assist... each.  Chrislyn Carr had 12 points, 3 assists and 2 rebounds. 

What, I get "T", too? 

Liz Dixon struggled to avoid fouling and found herself with 3 fouls before the half after not even playing most of the first quarter.  A big third quarter put the Cards in control of this one when Jones had 8 points and HVL and Carr each with 6.   Mykasa Robinson still in concussion protocol.  Norika saw some minutes with her family in attendance, 

End of 1Q  21-21 All 

FG %
9-17 52.9% Cards
8-22 36.4%   Cuse
Reb.  13-11 Cards
3-pt %
1-2 50% Cards
2-7 28.6%  Cuse

(Let's just curl up with a basketball and watch this one...)

Syracuse jumped out to a 5-0 lead before Olivia and HVL took control of the Cardinal offense with a few driving layups and a jumper to make it 8-5.    Ill let the editor make a note of what was witnessed by the rest of the Cardinal Couple crew at the Yum when Walz got a Technical foul called on him with just 3 minutes off the clock...  Go ahead Paul.. 

(EDITOR NOTE: There was a difference of opinion between Coach Walz and the refs on a sequence and Coach used a little language that would probably got him kicked out of Vacation Bible School. Maybe not "T" worth, but pretty salty...back to you...Daryl!) 

With some missteps from the Cards to start, the Orange was able to push themselves to a 17-10 lead.  Walz substituted a couple players and Nyla Harris made a first quarter appearance.   She was a spark on offense giving the Cards second chance opportunities and getting to the free throw line but she did struggle going 2-8 on the evening.  

All in all, HVL had 9 points and went 4-5 while Olivia went 3-3 for 6 points.  Syracuse's Teisha Hyman had 11 of her 27 points in the first quarter. 

End of 2Q   21-15 Cards 

FG %
9-21 42.9% Cards
5-18 27.8% Cuse
Reb.  14-11 Cards 
3-pt %
2-7 28.6% Cards
1-5 20%  Cuse 

"Coach" Kasa converses with the on-court participants

Louisville looked to get a lead on Syracuse early in the 2Q but the Orange would not go away easily as they were able to linger around...pulling it within 2 points 36-34 with 3 minutes left till halftime.   As a team, the Cards shot almost 43% and held Syracuse to just 5 made buckets in the quarter.  Both teams had 8 turnovers in the first half.  

HALF   42- 36 Cards 

End of 3Q    27-19 Cards 

FG %
10-15 66.7% Cards
7-14   50%   Cuse
Reb.  10-2 Cards
3-pt %
2-3 66.7% Cards
1-2 50%  Cuse

Morgan Jones had a big third quarter to put the Cards up on Syracuse going 4-6 and grabbing 3 rebounds.   It was another big quarter for Cuse's Hyman too, as she went 5-6 with 13 points.   Louisville outrebounded Syracuse 10-2 with Nyla Harris grabbing 4 of her 10.  

End of 4Q   22-17 Syracuse 

FG %
7-14 50% Cards
6-14 42.9%  Cuse
Reb.  10-7 Cards 
3-pt %
2-5 40%  Cards
2-4 50%   Cuse 

Cuse head coach Leggett-Jack tries the "hands on
top of the head defense" It wasn't successful. 

The Cards lost the final quarter by 5 points but were able to build an 18 point lead over Syracuse early in the quarter.  HVL and O both played the most with 9 minutes each. Walz did empty the bench at the end and the Cuse picked up some garbage points then.

UP NEXT

Louisville at Duke 

12 P.M. 

TV: Regional Sports Network

FRED REPORT

The Cards could have used world-famous bowhunter
Fred Bear's accuracy from the free throw line Thursday night

FREE THROWS --  Louisville went 50% at the free throw line going 9-18 at the stripe.  Nyla Harris really struggled at the line with the most attempts for the Cards going 2-8.  Yikes.. Jeff will have her in the gym.  no letter    
 
REBOUNDING --  The Cards dominated the boards 47-31 with Harris leading UofL with 10, 5 at each end.  Nyla is really establishing herself into this rotation and giving the Cards some valuable second chance opportunities.   Capital R 

EFFORT/EXECUTION --  Both squads received a Technical foul at some point.  UofL had 40 points in the paint and 24 second chance points, 17 team assists and 18 turnovers.  This game just didn't have the feel of domination to put the Cards in national convo.  lower case e

DEFENSE --  1 Block and 3 Steals is not the typical wowing fans are used to seeing out there on the court.  With Robinson still in concussion protocol, the team is having to find other opportunities to take advantage of its opponents.  Capital D

FINAL FRED TALLY: _ R_e_D

Walz applauds the Cardinals chorus line 

(GAME PHOTOS BY JARED ANDERSON)

they said it...

Olivia Cochran and Hailey Van Lith Post Game

Jeff Walz Post Game

I want to wish you all a very Happy New Year.  I hope it is a healthy one with those you love!  Be safe and don't drive drunk or buzzed ! 

 As always 

Go Cards! 

~Daryl