FIVE IN DOUBLE FIGURES IN LOUISVILLE WBB WIN
An enthusiastic crowd of 7618 turned out Sunday at noon for Louisville's non-conference tilt against N.C.A&T. And, the Cards roared out against the Aggies with 29 first quarter points and 54 points on the board at the half...leading the foe by 33 at the break. The win pushed UofL WBB to 8-1 on the season
(photo by Michael DeZarn)
A balanced effort from Walz's bunch and maybe some of the best basketball they've played this season, shooting a red-hot 63% in the first 20 and forcing 15 turnovers.
Starter Nina Rickards left after just three and one half minutes, rested as a precaution the rest of the way after she bumped knees with an Aggie. Coach Walz said that she'd be fine in a couple of days.
UofL jumped out to a 7-2 start in the first two minutes of this one, an openingthree from Kiki Jefferson getting things off to a good start. Merissah Russell and Jayda Curry three's bumped that advantage up to 17-9 at the first quarter mediabreak, and Louisville ended the quarter on a 12-4 run, the Cards knocked down five three-pointers in the first session. The Cards had built a 29-13 lead.
(photo by Michael DeZarn)
The defense got even stingier in he second quarter. An 11-4 Cardinals run in the first three minutes of the second quarter had the Cards coasting along a 40-17 after a LeLe Love layup. An Olivia Cochran jumper made the score 51-18 with 1:30 until halftime...Hennie Van Schaik drilled a jumper to give the Cards a 54-21 lead at the half for a crowd that was very vocal in their encouragement for these flying Birds.
Every Card had scored except the injured Rickards in the first half and Louisville had a 18-0 advantage in second chance points and a 31-6 bench scoring advantage.
(The annual Baby Crawl Race...photo by Michael DeZarn)
The third quarter began a bit slowly, neither team scoring in the first 2-1/2 minutes, but wtth four minutes gone in the third, Louisville had swelled the lead to 60-25. The Cards held N.C. A&T to no baskets and just three points in the final five minutes of the third quarter...Nyla Harris had five of Louisville's 15 points in the quarter and the squads entered the fourth with Louisville comfortably ahead at 69-30.
The fourth quarter gave Walz a chance to give Russell, van Schaik, Istanbulluoglu, Love and Curry some extended minutes and it was another slow start to the scoring...two N.C.A&T free throws broke the ice with three minutes already transpired, Louisville's shooting percentage dropped pretty significantly in the final 10 minutes (4-15 for 26.7%) and the Cards only hit one of the six threes they tried, but the crew gained valuable playing experience time together on the court and Russell's three wrapped up he UofL scoring with 2:24 to go, for the Cards biggest lead at 44 points, the Aggies cored the final four points for the game...a 80-40 Cardinals triumph.
A solid win, expected and expecations met. The in-state rivalry against that school in Lexington is a week away. It should be a thriller in the YUM!
THE FRED REPORT
(An apt Fred Figglehorn for Kids Day at the arena...) |
REBOUNDING -- 45-23 in favor of the home team, LeLeLove leading the way with 10 for the Cards. N.C. A&T had just five offensive rebounds...A CAPITAL "R" HERE, NO DOUBT!
EFFORT/EXECUTION -- The Cards won the points off turnovers battle 43-8, second chance scoring 25-2 and points-in-the paint 36-22. Committing 17 turnovers is still more than I'd like to see, but 44 bench points shows me everyone was anxious to get out there and show what they could do. A CAPITAL "E" FOR THE 80-POINT EFFORT AND 44% SHOOTING FROM THE FLOOR.
DEFENSE -- Allowing just 40 points is a nice defensive effort, forcing 31 turnover prettty awesome and getting 16 steals makes this a CAPITAL "D" here.
FINAL FRED REPORT: f-R-E-D
THEY SAID IT:
POST GAME WALZ: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RIYjRHVWXvA
POST GAME CURRY AND jEFFERSON: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WcltLzezzPo
(photo by Michael DeZarn)
A special "thank you!" to Michael DeZarn, for providing me with some photos of the game !!
paulie
Yep, 1st half showed entirely what they're capable of. Best half I've seen them play. Pass pass pass knock down open shots, few turnovers, etc.
ReplyDeleteSecond half, like they forgot.
Hello Friends
ReplyDeleteArthur here!
Those Lady Cards looked like a Final Four team yesterday in the first half and if they can play that way in conference, no one will be them!
Looks like my Football Tigers got UK in our bowl game. We'll kick their butt for you
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Arthur
Greer, SC
Good Afternoon Cards Nation
ReplyDeleteYes great win the first half was almost far less as how the team played. I've noticed CJW is really finding out how to use his pieces this year it's a game by game process .
I did notice that NC A&T got little๐๐ชphysical with the Cards๐ฅ glad the cards kept their composure and played through that.
PS glad to see Alexia Mobley get extended playing time 7๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ boards.