Hope everyone is staying warm out there, because the snow is going nowhere anytime soon.
WBB vs Cal
Louisville 71- California 59
The red hot Louisville Cardinals are heading back to the Ville still undefeated in the ACC and a prime time matchup with the Duke Blue Devils looms later in the week. Louisville WBB is 21-3 on the year and looking like one of the top 10 teams in the country.
Lets see how the match with the Cal Golden Bears unfolded.
The first half was a scrappy one as both squads struggled to score from beyond 3 point range, making 1 each. UofL went 1-7 when Cal went 1-9. Cal also had 3 turnovers in the last 6 min of the first quarter where Cards went on a 6-0 run to finally establish a lead. Mackenly Randolph hit a 3 and lead the scoring with 5 points in the quarter. As a team the Cards had 4 assists on 7 made buckets.
It took a while for the Cardinals to warm up only as they managed to score only 1 point, no FG within the first 3 minutes of the 2nd quarter. Reyna Scott gets her first bucket to put the Cards up 20-15. Cal went on a run over 20-19 with about 5 min. till half. Personal foul called on Cal and media timeout allows the Cards to regroup. After 3:30 minutes scoreless Imari Berry made a bucket . It was 24-21 before the Cards go into the half with only a 28-24 lead.
Jayda Curry and Kianna Smith in the house to cheer on the Cards
Photo: UofL WBB Facebook
Cal opened the second half with a bucket to make it a 2 point game but Laura Zeigler proved her time spent in the weight room paid off and put a strong one up and in. Cal responded with a 3 pointer
E and Taj both tried to respond with threes of their own but after an offensive rebound and a chance, both bounce on the rim and out of bounds. Cal took a 34-32 lead on a 3 pointer with 7 min left in the 3Q. After that, E and Taj got another shot at back to back threes and sank both. Then a layup from Istanbulluoglu put the Cards up 10 for their biggest lead of the game at that point and it was the turning point of the game with 3 min left in the third quarter.
An 8-0 run by Cards over 2 min. ending with Laura hitting the 3 pointer with 6:30 left made it 60-46 and the Cardinals never took their foot of the gas petal.
FRED REPORT
FREE THROWS -- Louisville went 11-16 at the free throw line which is only good for 68.8% and not letter earning by Card Couple's standards. There was an opportunity where Taj Roberts got to shoot 2 on a flagrant foul called on Cal and went 1-2 at the line and UofL also threw it out of bounds on the '2 shots and the ball' opportunity as a result. Gotta clean up those silly mistakes. No letter
REBOUNDING -- The Cardinals as a team outrebounded the Bears but the leading rebounder wore a California uniform. Elif was the leading rebounder in a UofL uniform with 7 boards. I'd like to see Laura pull down a couple more. lower case r
EFFORT/EXECUTION -- UofL had their backs against the wall in the first half and were held to just 28 points. After shooting just 32% in the first half the Cards doubled it up to an impressive 64% shooting percentage from the field in the second half. Roberts scored 15 of her 21 in the 2nd half. Capital E
DEFENSE -- The Cards let Cal shoot 56% from the field in the second half but their struggles from 3 point range throughout the game is what let Louisville pull away. Capital D
FINAL FRED TALLY: _-r-E-D
As Always,
Go Cards
~Daryl
What a great road trip out west! Cards are crushing it.
ReplyDeleteCal was a tough opponent they put up a good fight.
But the team still undefeated in ACC play. The Cards have elite guard play 🏀🔥🔥🔥. Laura is living up to her top-flight transfer portal billing, and Elif and Mackenley are playing with confidence.
Cal was a tough opponent they put up a real fight.
Tajianna Roberts has really elevated her game, distributing the ball with high efficiency.
Go Cards