WBB bounces Bearcats 87-68 -- TUESDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

 

VAN LITH GOES FOR 28 IN CARDS SEASON-OPENER

Most of you probably remember how Hailey Van Lith ended the 2021-22 season...a four-game, 20 points or more in a row effort in the NCAA Tournament. Monday night in the KFC YUM! Center, she picked up right where she left off -- scoring 28 in a 19-point win over Cincinnati. 

The Bearcats started slowly and Louisville used an impressive 15-0 run late in the first quarter to jump out to a 24-7 lead that UC could never recover from. Van Lith had nine of the points in the run and the Cards held a comfortable 24-10 lead after 10 minutes. 

Hailey was getting a lot of help in the scoring department from Liz Dixon, Morgan Jones and Payton Verhulst in the first half and the Cards had expanded the lead to 48-28 at the half. 

Sure, there were a few turnovers, a few missed free throws and defensive lapses, especially in recognizing where UC's Braylyn Milton was (she had 14 first-half points and 28 for the game)...but Louisville turned in a solid 20 minutes of hoops, shooting over 50% and getting six steals. Add in the 21-16 rebounding edge and one had to be quite impressed at the seemingly inter-changeable 10 Cardinals who saw first half action. This Louisville squad runs well, runs consistently and didn't run out of energy in the first half. 

Michelle Clark-Heard's crew regrouped a bit during halftime and maybe made a few of the Cardinal faithful in the KFC YUM! Center a bit nervous by starting the second half with a 8-0 run over the first three minutes of the third quarter. Suddenly, the score was 48-36 . UC would get within eight, at 52-44 with 4:50 to go in third quarter action, but Hailey scored six of the Cards final eight points to end the quarter and that 8-2 run had UofL breathing a bit easier at 60-46.

As he is wont to do in the early season, Coach Walz experimented with a lot of different combinations in the fourth quarter and the Cards got quality minutes out of Merissah Russell, Norika Konno, Peyton Verhulst, Josie Williams and Nyla Harris The Cards put up a 9-0 run to expand the lead to 71-48 with six minutes to play. The Cards cruised in for the 19-point win and looked very impressive in doing so.

Walz played them all, except for a couple freshmen. Not seeing court time were Mobley (foot injury), Lester (redshirting) and Brown and Walker (unspecified). 

A fun night, got to see my pal Deb Antonelli, some exciting hoops and a Cards win. That's a pretty full, action-packed night. 

THE FRED REPORT

(Fred Sanford almost went into cardiac arrest on Morgan Jones' block)

Free Throws -- 20-28 barely squeaks UofL by the 70% mark. Morgan Jones showed a great knack for getting to the stripe and went 9-13. Freshman Nyla Harris went 3 for 4. We'll award the CAPITAL "F" here...

Rebounds -- Cards win the boards battle 39-27 and Olivia Cochran led everyone with eight. The Cards "bigs" went to battle quite impressively and you have to love Kasa Robinson collecting six grabs. A double-digit rebounding edge over a team that had decent height gets a CAPITAL 'R" easily awarded here. 

Effort/Execution -- 12 assists on 31 baskets is a bit low, but the shooting % (51,7%), 48-18 points in the paint edge, 16-4 second chance points edge all show that the hustle, effort and desire was there. 18 turnovers maybe a bit high, but, overall -- I think a lower case "e"  is the appropriate award in this category. 

Defense -- It was a strong defensive effort for Walz's crew. Five steals for Kasa Robinson !  forcing 24 UC turnovers and five blocked shots. The defense ws making the Bearcats work extremely hard when UC had the ball, and good things come out of hard work. I have no problems awarding a CAPITAL "D" here. 

FINAL FRED REPORT   F-R-e-D

(The freshmen)

So, a great way to start the season. An appreciative and full crowd, getting the Final Four banner hung and  solid win. Not bad for a Monday night...

(More photos by Jared Anderson)

THEY SAID IT: 

POSY GAME WALZ

POST GAME KASA ROBINSON AND MORGAN JONES

paulie

Cincinnati being naughty?...Softball loses to BC 3-1 -- MONDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

QUESTIONS OVER BEARCATS WBB AND VOLLEYBALL SCHEDULING

The University of Cincinnati's Fifth-Third Arena...home to both Bearcat basketball squads and the volleyball team...is undergoing a major renovation. So, when the 2017-18 season rolls around for the sports, they will be displaced from their home court. For Mick Cronin's men's team, the new venue will be at Northern Kentucky's new built BB&T Arena...a facility that holds a little over 9,000 people. The men average 8865 a game, so it will be tight in there for some games...but doable. 

The women's squad, under Jamelle Elliott, and volleyball team will perform in the St. Ursula Academy high school gym...which holds around 1000. A high school facility. The WBB Bearcats averaged about 800 a game last year..but had three occasions where they pulled in over 1000...including the UConn game that brought over 4400 into the Fifth-Third Arena. Volleyball averaged over 650 per home contest and had two events that drew over 1000. 

Here's the rub of the grin. UC Athletic director Mike Bohn made the decision to downgrade the women without consulting head women's basketball coach Elliott or head Volleyball coach Molly Alvey. Elliott states: 

"I was told this is what it's going to be. The decision is out of my control." 

Supposedly, the women's squads could not be fit into the BB&T because of the complexities of scheduling, practice...so on and so forth. 

Balderdash.

Anyone ever head of double-headers? I would think that the NKU women's basketball and volleyball programs would gladly share court space with the UC gals and a combined night of two matches/games might significantly drive up attendance at BB&T...the Norse brought in around 300 for Volleyball and almost 1800 for hoops. 

Let's call this what it really is. Inequality. 

Cozy new temp home for UC WBB? Or return to high school?

St. Ursula is about two miles from the UC campus...which was pointed out when the designation of facility was made. Admission to all UC WBB and Volleyball events will be free....as it was last year at Fifth-Third.  Parking is free as well. 
That's nice...but it doesn't take the sting out of the discrimination. 

A college athlete accepts a scholarship under certain conditions and atmospheres. For some, the venue of participation is important. These 30+ student athletes that comprise the UC WBB and Volleyball rosters are basically being sent back to high school for a year. Other venues were supposedly checked out but St. Ursula supposedly was the best fit. 

I say, fire the seamstress. 

St. Ursula does hold more that where the Cards Volleyball squad will play next season, though...Cardinal Arena. North Carolina State WBB and Volleyball spent a season at Broughton High School's Holiday Gym in Raleigh, NC a couple of seasons ago when Reynolds Coliseum went under renovation...but there are differences there. Holiday Gym held over 3,000. The women's didn't share Reynolds with the men..it was their own specific facility. 

Another slap, or roundhouse punch...if you will at Title IX. 

BB&T Arena on the NKU campus. Guys get this option. 

The argument is this, as well.  
It is legal, not to mention fair, to give the men a better facility because they bring in more revenue and sells more ticket? 

Absolutely not. 

How much solace can the women student-athlete take in knowing they by sacrificing their home court for a year will lead to the eventual betterment of their facility in the long run..when you're not getting the same "relocation benefits" as the men? We have this nice new SUV for you to drive, guys...while your car is under repair. Haul out the 1991 Toyota Pickup for the girls. 

This, from a school that ran off Bob Huggins and has never regained basketball prowess or success since. From a school, much like Louisville, with an inner-city campus and community that has managed to maintain a viable entity in competing with a larger "state school" up the Interstate a few hours. Stumbling into the prom with their tux on backwards and bringing a goat for a date. 

UC...shame on you for the slight. Even in 2017, women's athletes are still being treated as second-class citizens in Cincinnati. Spin it however you want, Mike Bohn...but you're basically sitting baby in the corner here. 

And you wanted to be considered for the ACC ?  


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SOFTBALL FALLS 3-1 TO BOSTON COLLEGE

Lackabatitis. 

It isn't an official word...but it describes the situation yesterday in Chestnut Hill, MA...where the softball Cards fell to Boston College 3-1. 

Four hits for Louisville. Two of them by Jordan McNary...who has been cleared from concussion protocol and who was responsible for the only RBI in the game. McNary was also poised to be a run-scorer as well later in the game. A bunt turned into a chance for advancement on a throwing error but McNary was tagged out when trying to stretch it out to third base. 

One inning later,  BC's Jordan Chimento broke the 1-1 tie with a two run tater to left. 

Credit strong-arm Maryssa Becker for doing all she could from the circle. Three runs allowed would normally get a "W" next to her name in the typical Cardinal boxscore. This was not the typical Cardinal offensive performance, though...Louisville having trouble against pitcher Jessica Dreswick. The Boston College pitcher seemed to get better against the Cards the more she faced them. On Saturday she held Louisville to two runs after giving up five to them on Friday. 

Louisville heads home to prepare for a Wednesday night "Battle of the Bluegrass" against UK. And, to research a cure for "lackabatitis". 


paulie
xxxxx

SUNDAY CARDINAL COUPLE - WBB, Lacrosse get Saturday wins.

SUNDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

-Balanced scoring, nine threes lead Louisville to win

-Lacrosse knocks off #18 Denver 12-7

The University of Louisville  women's basketball team recorded their 28th. win of the season in Cincinnati Saturdday afternoon..dispensing of the Bearcats 75-51 in Fifth Third Arena.

Tia Gibbs led the UofL scorers with 17 points and four Cards hit for double figures in the game.

The Cards jumped out to an early 6-0 lead over UC thanks to a couple of threes from Shoni Schimmel and Nita Slaughter and built a 14-5 lead after Slaughter drained her third three of the half at the 13:06 mark.

Playing on senior day...UC wasn't ready to let go of the contest just yet. The Bearcats erupted on a 16-5 run over the next five minutes and grabbed a 21-19 advantage when senior forward Jeanise Randolph connected on a jumper with 9:42 to go in the half.

Louisville had seen enough of any upset attempts. The Cards responded with a 13-3 run to grab a 32-24 edge after Tia Gibbs sank a couple of free throws with five minutes remaining in the first half. Louisville's largest lead of the first twenty minutes came when Shoni Schimmel drilled two free throws to put Louisville up 37-26 with 78 seconds to play in the first half.

The Cards took a 37-29 lead into the half...Slaughter's four threes paced the Cards for 12 first half points, Gibbs had 11 points and two threes in the books and Shoni added seven for Louisville. 

The Cards were having trouble stopping Randolph (14 pts.) and Alyesha Lovett (11 points). Chelsea Jamison had UC's other four points of the half. Jamison was also whistled for a technical foul early in the first half for going after Asia Taylor after a battle for a loose ball.


UofL steadily pulled away from UC in the final stanza, getting their first 10 points from Asia and Sara Hammond to go up 47-38 with four minutes gone in action. That lead jumped to 54-40 after a Gibbs three at the 13:15 mark .

Emmonnie Henderson pushed Louisville to a 61-42 margin after scoring inside and hitting a free throw with 9:20 to play. By then, Walz was substituting liberally...getting Denies, Breedlove and "E" extensive playing time. A-Tayy connected on a nice inside feed from Jude to make it 66-44 Cards with 7:18 showing on the clock.

Shoni's second three of the contest gave Louisville a 71-49 advantage with four minutes left in the game.  Bria Smith's jumper and two "E" free throws closed out the Cardinal scoring for the 24-point win.

Louisville was led by Tia's 17 points. Nita finished with 14, Asia scored ten second half points to end up with 12 and Shoni added 10 points to complete the double-figure Cards. Sara Hammond was good for eight, "E" and Bria had five each and Jude rounded out the scoring with four. Deines, Breedlove and Walton also played but did not score.

Randolph led all scorers with 22 points.

It was a good, if not spectacular win for Louisville in front of a fan base that was almost equally divided between UofL and UC fans. A tune-up for the business that lies ahead Monday night in the KFC YUM! Center at 7 p.m. A chance for Louisville to get quite a few different combinations on the floor and test different defenses and offensive sets. A brief, light-hearted comedy before the feature film.

Be there.



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Louisville Lacrosse pulls off the home win over #18 Denver at the Louisville Lacrosse Stadium Saturday afternoon 12-7. Junior forward Faye Brust led Kellie Young's squad with four goals while handing the Pioneers their first loss of the season.

Kellie Young was impressed with the Cardinal defense:

"Our defense played awesomely. They were great on ball. We had great doubling, great sliding and great covering of the cutters. Denver had a hard time finding open people."

(Wait a sec...was that Young or Walz describing the action?)

After Denver opened with a score, Kaylin Morissette tossed home two in a row and Brust got her first to put Louisville put 3-1. Scores from Nikki Boltja and Brust kept Louisville in the lead 5-3 and Cortnee Daley scored close-in to give the Cards a 6-3 first half advantage.

Denver opened up the final 30 minutes with a score but Brust countered to keep the Cardinal lead at three. Two Denver scores within a 30 second time-frame had it close at 7-6 with 20 minutes remaining.

The Pioneers would get no closer. Four unanswered UofL scores from Carissa Corbett, Boltja, Morissette and Jamie Redding put it out of reach at 11-6. The Pioneers would score for the final time with eight minutes left. Brust's fourth goal made the final score 12-7 with less than a minute remaining.

Louisville (4-1) heads to Columbus, OH for action against The Ohio State University on Tuesday at 3 p.m.

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Softball's Saturday games in California were cancelled.

Cardinal Couple Saturday -- A nothing game? No way...

SATURDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

- Cincy vs. Louisville WBB Saturday 2 p.m.


( DAVID WATSON IS PINCH-HITTING FOR PAULIE WITH THE PREVIEW OF THE UOFL VS. CINCINNATI WOMENS' BASKETBALL GAME. FEEL BETTER, PAULIE. )


I got the call Friday night from Sonja to head to the bullpen and get loose. It seems the fearless (or foolish) co-leader of COUPLED CARDINALS is down and out with a bit of a nasty bug. His other two columnist are otherwise occupied with matters of their own, so "the boss" is calling in the veteran righty to bring this one home.

Hey, why are all the fans headed to the exits?

Louisville WBB, the win machine that the mad scientist has concocted from deep in the laboratories on Floyd Street, goes rumbling up to Cincin-snotty today to batter around a few Bearcats for weekend pleasure. I guess it beats snipe hunting or watching submarine races down by the Ohio.

Make no mistake of it. This variety of Cats has had their tail pulled and been de-clawed most of the season. Losing leading scored Dayeesha Hollins to a season-ending knee injury didn't exactly make UC a force to be feared. The change in conferences didn't exactly upgrade the UC stock portfolio either. At least there is a Houston and UCF present to keep them completely out of the gutter.

The Bearcats do a passable job of defending people, so the beatdown probably won't be a 30 point affair. Seriously, though, Louisville hasn't beat anyone by 30 since Bill Clinton was in Arkansas and Hillary played point guard for Harvard -- so to expect a huge Cardinal blowout would be like expecting Santa Claus to shave his beard and dye his hair black.

I know what is in the minds of all of my fellow Cardinal WBB fans and it isn't a weekend trip to the city where Dustin Hoffman memorized "Who's On First?". That doesn't mean today's game isn't important, though. A Cardinal slip-up could make the UConn game a moot point if Walz's women want a share of the regular-season conference title.

If you guys haven't sold out the KFC YUM! Center yet for the Monday Night Madness -- well, what are you waiting for? I'd fly in from Bradenton if I had the extra cash.

No -- today's game isn't steak and lobster. It's more like burgers and chili -- which reminds me that Cincinnati has some pretty good chili up there. If you are going to today's game or live in Cincy, how about sending ol' Dave here a 5-way or a few Coney Dogs?

A game of maintaining. Of not allowing Kayla Cook to bombard the Cards too heavily from past the arc. A game where Jeanise Randolph will need to be controlled. A game where the recent one-two punch of Sara and Asia needs to be employed. Add 15-20 from Shoni, an improving effort from Bria. Sprinkle in Nita and Tia connecting on a few long shots. Toss in a few steals and assists from Jude, hope that E. keeps up her point a minute pace and round up all the other usual suspects. The Cards will walk out of Fifth-Third Arena with another win deposited into their account.

It was 64-45 in Louisville two months ago. A repeat will work just fine.

Enjoy the burgers and chili while on the road. The main course is being served up Monday night.

And, feel better, Paulie. Sonja deserves a break from the "Mr. Grumpy" she told me about when she called me to pinch-hit.

David

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THERE WILL BE NO CARDINAL COUPLE RADIO BROADCAST TODAY AT 11 AM. THE CREW OFFERS THEIR REGRETS AND WILL BE BACK NEXT WEEK.

WE'RE SORRY THAT WE WON'T HAVE LIVE COVERAGE OF LOUISVILLE LACROSSE TODAY BUT WE WILL RECAP THE OUTCOME AND ALSO SOFTBALL RESULTS IN THE SUNDAY CARDINAL COUPLE. WE'LL ALSO HAVE A RECAP OF THE UC VS. UOFL GAME.

LACROSSE HAS AN IMPORTANT HOME GAME AGAINST #18 DENVER TODAY AT 1 P.M. AT THE UOFL LACROSSE STADIUM. PLEASE TRY TO ATTEND!

SONJA

~

Wednesday Cardina Couple -- Lacrosse moves into top 20...Hoops final tests

WEDNESDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

- Louisville Lacrosse checks in at #20

- Before the Huskies....the Bearcats




Al and the Pep Band are Lacrosse-friendly

WE were impressed with Louisville Lacrosse's Virginia road trip over the weekend. Convincing wins for the Cards at Old Dominion and William & Mary. The pollsters must have been, also...since the Cards have jumped into the top 20...at #20 in the latest lacrosse poll and rankings.

Louisville will host #18 Denver on Saturday afternoon @ 1 p.m. over at the Louisville Lacrosse Stadium.

This final season in the BIG EAST is the calm before the storm. When the Cards migrate south into the ACC, they'll be facing the powerhouses of the women's lacrosse D1 world. They got a taste of the supremacy to start the season with a narrow loss to Duke.  

Despite my camera ineptitude, Lacrosee ladies still look pretty

Six of the top ten schools in the recent rankings are ACC. Notre Dame was knocking at the door at #12. Louisville will test the Irish in South Bend on March 8th. A win there, as well as a win Sunday over Denver will serve as an example that the LAX bunch are legit.

Finish. It's the lacrosse "word" of the season. After Sunday, they might add another word as well...

Travel.

Eight of the next nine after Denver are on the road.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

I had a couple of co-workers grilling me about the upcoming UofL women's basketball game Monday night in the KFC YUM Center. These are die-hard men's basketball fans who haven't given the ladies a try in a live venue yet.

Upper deck? No problem. It's where they're perched for Pitino's games.

It is the talk around town.

May I suggest, though, that we focus on the next game before jumping directly into the dogsled and trying to mush those Huskies. Up the river from our fair city is Cincinnati. It's another underachieving year for the Bearcats, in terms of a won/loss conference record, but not a team that is residing in the AAC cellar.

In fact, Bearcat 6'2" forward Jeanise Randolph was the Player of the Week in the AAC last week. Nine double-doubles on the season. Alyesha Lovett put up 20 points against the Owls. Jasmine Whitfield has seen the double figure ledger several times and Kayla Cook can bomb away from beyond the arc.

Jamelle Elliott, UC head coach, is not going to stand by idly when the Cards come to visit this Saturday at 2 p.m. She rarely stays still as a rule when coaching...leading an observer at the UofL vs. Cincy game at the KFC YUM! Center to remark about the former UConn star...

"If her squad exerted as much energy as she does during a game, they'd be in contention for the conference title."

OK, I don't see that...but if there was ever a "trap" game scenario brewing, this is it. Highly favored team goes on the road, with a classic matchup two days after this one lined up. Underdog comes out hot, stays hot and delivers the upset over their rival.

I think A-Tayy would make a good news person, don't you?

It probably won't happen. Louisville beat UC in Louisville by nineteen. (Why is it that it seems we beat everyone by nineteen?). The Cards are a veteran, talented group that can reload many times with multiple attack weapons should a couple fail in the Queen City. Asia Taylor should school the UC front liners and Shoni bombed away for 21 last time.

But, never look too far ahead. UConn is still coming to the KFC YUM! on 3/3/14. Take care of business 3/1/14 first...

paulie
...
..
.

Saturday Cardinal Couple -- WBB faces Bearcats today

SATURDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

- #7 Louisville takes on Cincy today

Despite the frigid arctic blast emcompassing Louisville, the hot UofL WBB squad welcomes Nita Slaughter back to the bench for Saturday's game against the University of Cincinnati in the KFC YUM! Center at 2 p.m.

Louisville brings their 14-1 record into the game against a UC squad that is 7-6 and coming off a 54-43 loss to SMU.

Who to watch for Jamelle Elliott's Bearcats?

Jamelle Elliott is a lively sideline coach

Redshirt senior Dayeeshia Hollins leads UC with 13.3 a game. Senior Jeanise Randolph totals 12.2 for the Bearcats and Alyeshia Lovette...who scored 17 against SMU...averages 8.9 a contest.

Cards win by as many as they want to today.

It will be good to see #4 dressed and available. If she gets any court time is up to Walz (and her....we'd expect) but a couple of complimentary minutes would do her and the Cardinal fanbase a lot of good.

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NO CARDINAL COUPLE RADIO TODAY.

THE ENTIRE CRESCENT HILL RADIO ENGINEERING STAFF IS EITHER SICK OR HAS GUITAR LESSONS.

YEAH...

WE'LL RETURN NEXT WEEK....PROVIDED WE'RE NOT SICK OR LEARNING HOW TO PLAY THE GUITAR.

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A nice read at the link below about one of our favorite Butler Bears...sixth-year UofL WBB star Tia Gibbs. Despite the pain, "Grandma" still has game.

It seems just like yesterday when Gibbs won the Kentucky Girls High School Player of the Year award and then booked for Vandy. We privately wondered if she'd ever get back on Denny Crum Court and try a trey or lock someone down on defense again


http://espn.go.com/womens-college-basketball/story/_/id/10238983/women-college-basketball-final-season-worth-wait-louisville-cardinals-tia-gibbs

paulie
...
..
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Thursday Cardinal Couple -- Catching up with The American WBB Conference

THURSDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

- THE AAC PRESENTS CHALLENGES FOR UOFL WBB


We got an e-mail the other day at CARDINAL COUPLE asking how Louisville's nine opponents in the AAC were doing this season. I knew immediately about UCONN but found I was not real sure about most of the other WBB squads that the Cards will face. So, a bit of research and...voila!...a report on the teams is below.

UCF   (7-1)

The name around Orlando in women's basketball is Briahanna Jackson. She's had two 30-point efforts this season -- the latest coming in a 84-79 win over Flagler. The sophomore guard has led UCF against a less than challenging pre-conference slate and gets plenty of help from Sara Djassi, Zylira Lewis, Stephanie Taylor and Brittni Montogomery.

Excuse me if I'm not impressed with a five point win over the Saints. No, not the New Orleans version.

CINCINNATI  (4-4)

Hopeful things for Jamelle Elliot as her freshman star Bianca Quisenberry was named AAC Rookie of the Week. And Dayeesha Hollins is playing well with 12.6 a game for the Bearcats. They get a test Sunday when Ohio State comes to town. They did beat Youngstown State in their last...but losses to Northern Kentucky and Fordham aren't anything that you write home about. Unless you play for NKU or Fordham.

UCONN  (10-0)

What we know:  #1 in the country. Better than half the men's teams in Division I.

What you may not know: They're down to six healthy scholarship players currently.
 
What does it mean? Those six are pretty darn good. Brianna Stewart, Bria Hartley, Saniya Chong, Brianna Banks, Stefanie Dolson and Moriah Jefferson are a strong core.

Who they play next? A respite of sorts before they tangle with #2 Duke on Dec. 17th.

Geno vs. Coach Joanne P. Must see TV.


HOUSTON (3-6)

A loss last time out to Alabama in a game where they only managed 44 points. They lost to Washington before that. I have a feeling the word "loss" is going to be a part of most of the Coogs game descriptions this season. They have talent...Yasmeen Thompson (C), Marche Amerson (G) and Te'onna Campbell (F) play stifling defense and are the leading scorers...but they'll probably dwell in the AAC cellar for the season.

Think Seton Hall stats from our previous association with that other league.

MEMPHIS  (4-5)

Freshman guard Breigha Wilder-Cochran was huge in a win over UAB last out with 14 points and AAC Honor roll recognition but their next against Tennessee Tech will probably put another "L" in the Tigers loss column.

Compare this. They beat Wright St. 83-75. Louisville beat Wright State 99-40. The Tigers also have losses to Samford, Ark-Little Rock, Texas A&M (by 10), Syracuse (by 19) and Texas (by 29).

Teams are taking the Tiger by the tail this year and will continue to do so...

RUTGERS  (6-2)

Back in a big way is Betnijah Laney...averaging a double-double for the season (10.7/10.1). They demolished Davidson and pounded Princeton. They'll wear out Wagner in their next
game. It's a cupcake schedule...except for the loss to LSU. The defeat to UMass (2-7) is a head-scratcher.

C. Viv Stringer's squad hasn't scored over 80 points a game yet this season, though. Despite a win over Texas Tech, I'll need to see more offense out of the Scarlet Knights before I can consider them a threat to Louisville or UConn.

But...they still have Precious Person on the roster. Julie Hermann is the AD. That's enough to make me cheer for them all season long...except when they play The 'Ville.


USF  (5-3)

Gone are the Smith sisters. The Russian Rocket Inga Orekhova is out with knee trouble 3 or 4 more games. Courtney Williams is filling in nicely with 15.6 a game, though, and veteran Akita McDonald is still a beast of "board"om.

Jose Fernandez also has a very talented player by the name of Ariadna Pujol from Spain on the roster that'll make an impact this season.

Losses to Clemson and Maryland aren't too surprising. Falling to Florida-Gulf Coast isn't shocking either...but this Bulls squad isn't quite the caliber of previous years.


SMU  (8-2)

Keena Mays is turning heads in the AAC. She's been named the Conference Player of the Week for the second straight week and third time this season. Mays had 34 against UTEP last out in a loss to the Miners. She and Louisville's Shoni Schimmel are battling for the assist lead in the conference. 

The Mustangs return to ballin' on Dec. 21st against North Texas. They'll get tested soon enough...their first two AAC games are road trips to Louisville and Cincy.

They also fell to Tennessee this year. No shame in that.


TEMPLE   (4-2)

A twenty point loss to city-rival St. Joseph surprised me.  Freshman Feyonda Fitzgerald leads them in scoring (14.2) and they travel to Montana Saturday.

The Owls lost to Michigan State by only 4. Four starters average in double scoring figures.

They just might be might dark horse team in the AAC to crack the top four by the end of the season. Like every other women's sport they face Louisville in, though...they'll lose in hoops also to the Cardinals.

Owls. Dark horses. Bill Cosby. And Philly Cheesesteaks.

Go Owls!


paulie
...
..
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Saturday Cardinal Couple -- Cards romp UC by 39

SATURDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

-Defense dominates in 72-33 Cardinal WBB win.

The University of Louisville forced 31 turnovers and outscored Cincinnati 30 to 11 off turnovers in a convincing win Friday night in the KFC YUM! Center in front of 9752 appreciative fans. Four Cards scored in double figures in the romp and Louisville outscored UC 41-18 in the final twenty minutes to expand a 16 point halftime lead.

The Cards started the "S" troops tonight...Sara Hammond, Sherrone Vails, Shoni Schimmel, Nita Slaughter and Bria Smith and the team held a planned celebration just 20 seconds in the game with a 30 second timeout after Hammond grabbed her first rebound. She'd go on to corral a team-high eight  boards in 27 minutes...Louisville out-rebounded the four-guard UC lineup 32 to 26. Charlie Springer has a detailed account of the Hammond celebration over at his site...www.uoflcardgame.com

Louisville never trailed in the contest, jumping out to a 9-4 lead at the 16:46 mark after two Vails free throws. With a rather plodding pace in place, Louisville held a 13-8 advantage halfway through the first five and a half minutes before going on a 9-0 run over the next five minutes...before UC's Dayeesha Hollins netted a jumper with 4:46 to go to make it 22-10 Louisville. 

The Cards would stretch that out to 27-11 over the next three minutes and were still comfortably ahead 27-15 after another Hollins score with 1:22 remaining. UofL closed out the half with free throws from Megan Deines and a layup from Slaughter to lead 31-15 at the half.

Deines led Louisville's balanced attack with seven first half
points, Hammond added six, Slaughter five and Bria Smith contributed four. Shoni hit a three for her only points (and shot) of the half, Jude and Monique Reid were good for two each and Cortnee Walton did not score in four minutes.

Louisville came out strong in the second half, Hammond's jumper 50 seconds into play started a 19-1 Cardinal run over a seven minute stretch that gave Louisville a 50-18 lead with 13:11 left.

The Cards hit five out of six three-point attempts during the run and Walz brought in Shelby, Jude, Cortnee and Vails to finish it up with 11:55 left on the clock. Deines replaced Shoni with 6:35 left and Louisville leading 62-30. With minimal substitutions the rest of the way...the Cards outscored UC 10-3 in the final stretch. Alyesha Lovett's three ending a six minute Cincinnati scoring drought with 1:20 left in the game. Two Harper free throws with 40 seconds remaining, off a un-needed foul by Kayla Cook set the final score at 72-33.

Cards win, the Cardinals win!

Slaughter led Louisville with 13 points and went 3-6 from three point range. Hammond finished with 12, Shoni had three threes in the second half to finish with 11 points and Deines completed the double figure scoring Cards with 10.
Jude added seven points, Bria and Shelby totaled six each, Cortnee finished with three and Vails and Reid ended up with two each.

They all played, they all scored.

Louisville committed just 17 turnovers and went 11-14 from the free throw line. 48.1% shooting for the Cards from the field (26-54) while holding UC to 34.3% (12-35). The Cardinal bench outscored UC's 28-6 and limited the Bearcats to just 1-10 three point shooting. Louisville's suffocating defense allowed just six Bearcats to score and two of them (Hollins and Lovett) accounted for 21 of the 33 points UC totaled.

THINGS WE LIKED

1) Effort. The Cards put together a solid 40 minutes and regardless of the lineup, the intensity never waned. Everyone saw at least 13 minutes and no one saw more than 28 (Deines).

2) Fresh out of the oven, have some turnovers! UC had 31 of them..their starting guards responsible for 20 of them. The defensive pressure spurred the big run to start the second half and Louisville forced 14 in the first half.

3) Rebounding defense. Coach Walz has been on the squad about opponent's offensive rebounding and UC grabbed only 10 tonight.

4) Free throws. 11-14 is 78.6% and gets the Cards a gold star from us. Take away Jude's 0-2 from the line and this stat looks ever better.

THINGS TO WORK ON

1) Fouls. Louisville didn't have anyone foul out, but Vails had four, Mo and Bria three and none of the three played more than 22 minutes. Fortunately, UC shoots charity tosses almost as badly as they do threes...8-14 (57.1%) tonight.

2) Fast break points. Surprisingly, UC captured this stat. Barely...4-2. Tough to get much transition going against a four-guard lineup that drops back quickly...but only two fast break points?

3) Blown layups. Not as bad as it usually is, but Hammond's left-handed clank on a wide-open fast break chance drew a groan from the crowd. Vails and Walton missed chances too and, although this is nit-picking...those six points just might be the difference in a game down the road.

It was a better than expected win for Louisville tonight. After struggling against UC last year in Cincy, the Cards never were in trouble tonight. UC is a team on a rapid decline, though...they've lost their last two, both on the road, by 33 and 39 points. The road is a rough place in the BIG EAST...both of Louisville's conference losses have come there and only six BIG EAST teams have managed wins as visitors so far this season. Fortunately, Louisville trip to Marquette on Tuesday has them facing a Golden Eagles squad that hasn't won at home yet this year...

Jeff Walz's post game remarks (also known as his conversation with Paulie and J.J.) at the link below:

Post Game Walz

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Friday Cardinal Couple -- Bearcats bop into town

FRIDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

- BIG EAST foe Cincinnati to face WBB Friday night

(Quentin "Elvis Redbird" Voigt...we never really know which one is writing...previews the University of Louiville WBB game Friday night against our northern neighbors. Paulie has added a bit of drivel as well.  We'll have a recap Friday night, Saturday morning...depends on whether we get the electricity bill paid in time or not.)

BOPPIN' WITH THE BEARCATS

After a good second-half of staying tied with UConn Tuesday in Hartford, Louisville faces a protege of Coach Auriemma when Cincinnati comes to the YUM! Center. Jamelle Elliott, a former assistant to the head Husky, is in her fourth season at UC. The program has improved under her, but probably not to the point where they'll pull the upset down by the river. UC has fallen to Villanova by 3, Seton Hall by 8 and USF by a surprising 33.

UC (8-8, 0-3) will most likely throw these Bearcats at the 14-4, 2-2 Lady Cards. 5'6" Daysheea Hollins, leads Cincy in scoring with 16.8 ppg. Lesha Dunn is good for eight points a game, as is Tiffany Turner. Also seeing success at UC are Alyesha Lovett (7.1 ppg, and Kayla Cook (5.1 ppg.) .

I certainly liked seeing Bria Smith making those pull-up jumpers in the second half against the Huskies and Jude's fearless hustle and scrappy play was inspiring. More of the same, Maestro, please!

The Cards should get clicking against the Bearcats and not have to contend with anything like UConn's suffocating defense. HC Elliott most likely will be on the phone with Geno sometime before the game looking for pointers to help her cause...I hear she's a snappy dresser...but dressing for success probably won't help her tonight.

Quentin Voigt.


(Paulie)

The Lady Cards escaped last year in the Fifth Third Arena 64-59 with Burke, Schimmel and Shoni combining for 42 of the Cardinal points. 23 for 60 (38%) and 4-18 from trey-land usually isn't going to win you a lot of games, but Louisville did force 23 UC turnovers.

The Cards actually trailed a good portion of the last meeting between these two, until they pulled away late for the win. A tenacious 2-3 zone was mystifying for last year's bunch. They'll probably see it again. Can't see UC trying to run with the Cardinal transition game experts.

The Bearcats' Cook (13 points), Turner (11 points) and Hollins (15 points) from last year are back for another round but with this one at the YUM!...it looks like the bar might close early on them. The Cards have won nine out of the last ten meetings and have faced UC 62 times in the history of this series.

Hope springs eternal amongst Cardinal fans with the stellar performances of late from Jude, the Mo and Sho show is still getting rave reviews and Nita continues to be, perhaps, the Cards most steady and dependable performer. I can't see UC stealing one tonight on the road...but this one could be closer than most expect. Louisville needs to extend a full effort for 40 minutes in this one...a sluggish start or finish could be costly.

We'll hope that Bria's new-found infatuation with the mid-range jumper continues successfully and that The Hammer can produce some quality paint minutes. It would be good to see Vails wreak a little havoc in the post as well. We don't ask for much, do we?

Keeping rebounder Turner away from grabs (she had 11 last year against UofL) will be a priority. Janeish Randolph is back for UC but even Zach and Boots Randolph probably couldn't help the Bearcats win tonight. For what it's worth, UC hasn't scored more than 68 points in a game this season.

That ain't changin'. Look for Louisville to win by less than 20...but I'll wager both teams combined barely top 100 points total. If you're a fan of defensive tussles, this one ought to be right up your alley tonight.

USF's 33-point shellacking of the Bearcats Tuesday night in Tampa a bit surprising...if the Bearcats have tossed in the towel for the season (which I don't think they have) we could see the "S" troops ( Shoni, Smith, Sara and Slaughter) getting some bench rest tonight and big smiles from Jenny and Renee over behind the Cardinal bench. 

CARDINAL COUPLE will have the post-game wrap up for you, with full descriptions of the action, commentary and post-game remarks from Coach Walz. It's either that or heading over to the Troll Pub and making up a bunch of stuff.  
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