Lady Cards take a break for a few days...the future lies in front of them.

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WEDNESDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

-Holiday Traditions

-The brutality factor in WBB...just how serious is it?

-Watson assigns grades

(Today at CARDINAL COUPLE, WE turn the site over to our beloved writers David Watson and Sandy Walker. So, pull up a chair, spike the Egg Nog and enjoy! Or, take a nap and un-plug the phone if you stayed up and watched the 97-80 beat-down Stanford put on Tennessee last night. WE like the elder Ogwumike. Pat doesn't.)

...Sandra Walker starts it off today with a look at Holiday Hoops...

December of 2011 finds many families in the midst of building new holiday traditions where the women's college basketball schedule has an effect on annual holiday gatherings. One such illustration occurred last week when a family's get-together date was shifted so that several relatives could attend the UofL vs. UK women's basketball game. Last Sunday, another Louisville family's pre-Christmas gathering included the UK at Notre Dame WBB game instead of one brother's expected pro football game. Fortunately, such an exciting game transformed what was a "beginning of game sulk" -featuring him sitting alone across the room - into a front of the screen position - urging on his beloved UK.

Who knows?  A new tradition may begin where male family members begin hosting and cooking the holiday meals in order to regain control of the household remote control. Hopefully by the time that happens, more hosts will voluntarily choose to view the more exciting WBB game.

Holiday hoops are sometimes excellent match ups

This year we are fortunate to have the addition of many more televised women's games and several holiday period top 10 match ups to enjoy. During this wonderful time of the year, we've had great competitive match ups that were well attended. UConn at Baylor, Tennessee and Stanford, Duke at UK, Louisville at UK, Connecticut at Baylor, UK at Notre Dame...and many more.

Games like these serve to not only provide enjoyment to viewers to pre-existing fans but also raise the awareness and appreciation of the women's game to those  who are newer to it.

It has been suggested that one way to promote WBB is for teams that are projected to possess the next year's highest pre-season ranking to make a special effort to schedule non-conference games with one another. Perhaps a nightmare for the schedulers - but a definite dream and a "win" for the fans. One guarantee would be a sold out venue where tickets would sell out weeks in advance. 

What do you think, CARDINAL COUPLE readers? 

(Sandy Walker is a staff correspondent for CARDINAL COUPLE. We like her ideas above. We'd also like to see Geno and Pat mend the fence and give us a Connecticut vs. Tennessee game yearly. Another idea is to have a pre-Christmas tournament here in-state...maybe a double header at rotating locations...where Louisville plays an in-state opponent...let's say Eastern...in the first game and UK takes on one also...maybe Murray. Who doesn't think this double-header wouldn't sell out if you staged it on a Saturday or Sunday and also offered it as a TV package?)

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(Sandy also reviews the recent UK vs. Notre Dame game below)

Here are a few late comments regarding last Sunday's top 10 Kentucky vs. Notre Dame match-up. They packed almost 9000 into the recently remodeled Purcell Pavilion at the Joyce Center on the Notre Dame campus for this one.

The game may have applications to UofL's late season BIG EAST meeting with Notre Dame - the Irish were very successful in locking down UK leader A'dia Mathies and her shooting game. She was not as effective at directing UK's offense, which counts on the transition and running game. Without it...and her...UK did not have a very organized half-court attack either, which hurt them later in the game. UK fans that were fortunate enough to attend the contest report that Notre Dame was able to really take Mathies out of her game and normal role just like UK did to Shoni. Mathies and Samantha Drake were forced to sit out the end of the first half, which allowed Notre Dame to change a neck and neck battle into a six point halftime lead.

Physical games in women's basketball have become commonplace but this particular game was reported to be very rough both physically and verbally. 

Fans sitting at the court level locations commented on the number of "no calls"  as well as poor calls at both ends of the court by the officials. There were also reports of the officials allowing on court activities to get out of control.

Samari Walker, a Connecticut transfer to UK, was a particular target of the Notre Dame players and fans - whose verbally harsh taunts continued throughout the game. On Walker, it looks like she will provide a solid improvement to UK, despite her year off. She had seven points and seven rebounds against the Irish off the bench - her first game of the year. 

When Mathies picked up her fifth foul at the 7:25 mark in the final half, UK's running game took a hit. They managed to stay close for awhile - it was 78-75 Notre Dame with just 3:43 left - but Skylar Diggins capitalized on not being guarded so skillfully with Mathies on the bench and took over the contest. Her three-pointer with 3:32 remaining allowed Notre Dame to streak to the win.

(We also wonder just how many teams, including Notre Dame, will utilize the "Shut down Shoni" game plan the rest of the year? Basic basketball philosophy tells you that when an opponent double or triple teams a player...someone else is wide open. Getting the ball to that "someone" is essential. We'll see how the Lady Cards respond to it. Great articles today, Sandy!)

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(Lastly, David Watson posts grades for the Lady Cards and their first semester performances on the court. WE'RE glad David isn't a real professor...they'd have to take the whole academic structure we now know and run it through the car wash several times to remove his grime from it...) 

OK, by now the Lady Cards are all home with their families and loved ones, except for Shawnta Dyer probably - whose still slamming imaginary opponents in the paint and going to the boards -all in the Spokane airport, waiting for her plane, in front of bewildered but appreciative Northwest Airlines employees. 

I got together with my buddies Mr.Obvious and Professor Skip Academics and we graded out the UofL Lady Cards performance for the first semester on the court.

The Lady Cards are 11 for 13 this year as a team. That's a solid "B" performance. At home, they're 4-0 which warrants an "A". On the road Louisville is 7-2..which is is about 77% - so we'll give them a "C". Before you start wadding up paper and throwing it at the professors, put a little chewed gum in the middle. It improves accuracy and flight distance.

Individually, we pleased to present Shoni, Bria, Becky, and Sherrone with "A" grades. Asia, Shawnta, Jude, Mo, Shelby get "B"'s. Cierra, Sara and Antonita receive a "C". Tia gets an "incomplete" for the semester and Charmaine Tay a one way ticket to Jersey. We know that some of you out there will find issue and disagree with these mid-year grades. We don't care. Hey, this is our article and we can say anything we want, as long as it gets past Sonja and her editing. You got different ideas? Send them in and Paul will probably post them after Sonja proof reads them.

Some individual awards:

Is Becky Burke the
Lady Cards Tebow?

The Tim Tebow Inspirational Award. Goes to Becky Burke for lifting the hearts and minds of the fans and her teammates with those "absolutely, gotta have it, need it now" clutch threes.

The "I will shoot anywhere, anytime" Award. Your winner is Shoni Schimmel. We have no doubt that Shoni would fire up her assortment of attempted baskets while crammed in 5 p.m. wall-to-wall subway traffic in mid-town Manhattan. (And probably hit most of them.)

The "What was I thinking?" Award. To Jude Schimmel, for her clock ticking to zero, up by four, foul at Washington State. Ms. Schimmel, write on the backboard (or chalkboard) 100 times "I will not foul when the game is over and we're up by four." 

The "Aliens have invaded my body and there's nothing I can do about it" Award. We're pleased to give this one to Jeff Walz. His sideline movements, mannerisms, feats of agility and vocalizations are un-worldly.

Send the real Walz back to us at the end of the season, please, ye visitors from another world. We're enjoying the alien version. 

The "Where's my insurance card and can I get a ride to ER?" Award. Monique Reid. The coaching staff needs to pack her in bubble wrap and foam packaging for the rest of the year. (And don't let UPS deliver her.)


Finally, some 'best of' awards.

BEST performance of the year (individual): Antonita Slaughter's 23 against Gardner-Webb. She was alive, in the zone and all over the court in the romp. We're sending out search parties to find that version of Nita for BIG EAST play.

BEST game of the year (team): The inspiring nine point win over a good Florida State team on the road after Thanksgiving. The Cards had it together and Shoni was electric in that one.

BEST post game quote of the year: Monique Reid, with her defiant statement. "Hey, I'm a scorer. That's what I do and that's the way it is and my role." (Any questions should be directed to opposing defenses - who will verify the comment.)


FIRST SEMESTER MVP. This was a really hard one to pare down to just one person. We're going with Becky Burke, though. She's played in all thirteen games, performed well in the vast majority of them and has expanded her role from just being a three-point shooter.

FIRST SEMESTER FRESHMAN MVP. Goes to Bria Smith. All three freshmen have played well at times, but Smith is the most impressive of them, so far. (Bria on baseline = two points or a trip to the foul line.)

GAME we'd like to forget: UK. For many reasons.

GAME we'd like to request a "do-over" for: Texas A&M with Shoni and Mo in the lineup. At a neutral site.

PLAYER that we'd hope picks it up the rest of the year:

We could make a case for several Lady Cards here, but we're going with Cierra Warren. Her size, ability and skill should translate to double-double figures each and every time out. Time to go to work, Ms. Warren.

Finally -- (drum roll, please!!!): 

This will most likely be my final article for CARDINAL COUPLE in 2011. A busy holiday schedule ahead, trip to visit my wife's family for the holidays and other duties of the season await me and my family.

Many props to Paul and Sonja for the job they do here at CARDINAL COUPLE. This "fan voice for Louisville womens' athletics" is a labor of love for them and I'm proud to be a small part of it.

Thanks, David for your
2011 observations and
articles!

I'd like to wish each and every one of you a hopeful Christmas, health and prosperity in 2012 and peace on earth. See you next year.

(David Watson is a special correspondent for CARDINAL COUPLE. He'll also most likely be in the witness protection program very soon after our readers and the Lady Cards read his offerings today. Happy Holidays, David!) 
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Lady Cards travel to Cincy to open BIG EAST schedule

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TUESDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

-WE break down Lady Cards first BIG EAST foe...Cincinnati

The University of Louisville's Women's Basketball team will take a drive up I-71 to face the Cincinnati Bearcats Wednesday evening for a 7 p.m. game in the Fifth-Third Center. Here's a look at UC so far...

The Bearcats are 6-2 on the season, currently on a two game losing streak. Last out, they travelled to Marshall and fell 55-47 to the Thundering Herd. UC led by as many as 11 in the contest, but ran into a hot-shooting Marshall squad that connected on six second half threes to do the UC squad in. Before that, they lost to cross-town rival Xavier 69-60 (no fights in this one...as far as we know).

UC started the season with a six game winning streak...filling up on cupcakes IPFW, Dayton, Evansville, South Dakota State, UTC and Morgan State.

Elliott is in her third
year as UC head coach.

The Bearcats are coached by Jamelle Elliott, in her third season as Bearcats skipper. She was a former assistant to UConn's Geno Auriemma, so the linage is there to eventually drag the Bearcats out of the BIG EAST WBB basement. She also played for Geno in the mid-nineties.

UC uses a four guard, one forward starting lineup as a rule and they have been led so far this season by Daveesha Hollins, a red-shirt sophomore guard who transferred to the Bearcats from Michigan, Hollins played her high school ball in Cincinnati (Winton Woods H.S.) and the 5'6" guard is averaging 13.9 points a game for UC.

Turner is UC's
leading rebounder

Bjonee Reeves is next in players to key on, the guard averaging 14.3 a game. Tiffany Turner, a  6'1"sophomore forward adds 7.1 p.p.g. and leads the Bearcats on the boards. Other starters are sophomore Kayla Cook, who was selected to the BIG EAST All-Rookie team last year and Chanel Chisholm. The Bearcats bring 6'4" center Lesha Dunn off the bench.

UC is outscoring their opponents 61.2 - 49.5 on the season and holds a 37.5 - 33-4 rebounding edge per game. The Bearcats average 15 turnovers a game and attempt an average of 17 three pointers a game, connecting on six per contest.

Louisville, despite the decided height advantage, may have trouble winning the war of the boards against Cincinnati. Turner is a battler on both ends of the court and Hollins, despite her size, can be effective in the paint.

We expect the Cards to show improvement in rebounding and to use their speed and guard superiority to create turnovers and establish transition basketball to gain an early advantage in this one and take the win pretty easily. We'll also be watching to see if Nita Slaughter can continue her torrid shooting skills in a road venue and if Monique Reid is able to keep up her amazing points per minutes playing numbers.

OTHER TIDBITS...

--Best wishes and prayers for Lady Cards guard Tia Gibbs...who goes in for shoulder surgery this morning. Heal well, Butler Bear.

--Still no word on the eligiblity status of Charmaine Tay. We'll see if she dresses for UC or accompanies the Lady Cards on their western swing to Portland and Washington State. 

--TV worth watching...#6 Tennessee heads to Piscataway, NJ to face the #11 Rutgers Scarlet Knights in WBB tonight. ESPN has the feed. It's a 7 p.m. tip.  C. Viv vs. Pat. Should be a good one.

Here's how the BIG EAST looks going into this week's action:

SCHOOL                          BIG EAST RECORD          OVERALL RECORD           RANKED ?

UConn                                       1-0                                      9-0                                  #2
Notre Dame                               1-0                                      9-1                                  #3
Georgetown                               1-0                                      9-2                                  #17
DePaul                                       1-0                                      8-2                                  #23
Villanova                                    1-0                                      8-2                                  ---
West Virginia                             1-0                                      7-2                                  ---
Rutgers                                       0-0                                     9-1                                  #11
LOUISVILLE                            0-0                                     8-2                                  #14
Cincinnati                                   0-0                                      6-2                                  ---
USF                                          0-0                                      6-4                                  ---
Syracuse                                    0-1                                     7-3                                   ---
Marquette                                 0-1                                     6-5                                  ---
Seton Hall                               0-1                                     6-5                                  ---
Pitt                                          0-1                                     5-5                                  ---
Providence                             0-1                                     5-5                                  ---
St. John                                  0-1                                     5-5                                   ---

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Volleyball defeats Syracuse...Football Cards upset WVU...Reid named to Lowe's Senior Class watch list...Breeder's Cup Results...

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SUNDAY CARDINAL COUPLE:

- Volleyball downs Orange 3-1

- Football shocks Mountaineers 38-35 in Morgantown

-Mo makes Lowe's list

-Saturday Breeders Cup recap. $$$$$$ !!!!

The Volleyball Cards handled visiting Syracuse Saturday in the KFC YUM! Center with a 12-25, 25-21, 25-11, 25-18 win. Louisville was led by Lola Arslanbekova's 16 kills and 14 from Brooke Mattingly.

The Cards started the match slowly and watched as Syracuse jumped out to an early lead. The Orange had the Cards in the hole 18-10 and went on the take seven of the final nine points to down Louisville by 13.

Lola with 16 kills Saturday
night.

Louisville regrouped and came out strong in the second game. Anne Kordes' team held a 17-11 advantage and seemingly looked in control..but a late 'Cuse rally made it 18-17 Cards. Louisville got it back together in time, though..and took seven of the next eleven points to win by four.

Louisville left no doubt who was the better team in the third game...blasting by Syracuse to lead 17-6 and taking the 14 point win with relative ease. Brooke Mattingly had a team high five kills in the third game.

Louisville battled back and forth with Syracuse in the final game...but broke loose from a 15-15 tie to go on a 6-1 run and take a 21-16 lead. The Cards held off the Orange the rest of the way to take the final by seven points.

The Cards hosts league leading Marquette Sunday in the KFC YUM! Center. The Golden Eagles are 10-1 in conference play like Louisville...after losing to Cincinnati on Saturday. Game time is 2 p.m.

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Touchdown Teddy gets better
each week...

Congratulations to the Cardinal football team who beat WVU in Morgantown yesterday 38-35. With the win, Louisville moves to 5-4 on the season. It was the first win for Louisville in Morgantown since 1990.

Teddy Bridgewater led a Cardinal squad that jumped out to a 14-7 lead in the first half. The Mountaineers rallied back with two scores to take a 21-14 lead before Teddy took the Cards down the field to tie it at 21-21 just before halftime. 

Louisville blocked a field goal attempt by WVU and returned in for a touchdown to go up by ten at 38-28 in the fourth quarter...but had to weather a late WVU drive that cut it to three and then an onside kick which Dominique Brown recovered to secure the game for the Cards. 
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Can't be too many happy in Morgantown tonight with the loss to the Cards. Gutty effort by Charlie Strong's guys Saturday. 

Got a e-mail from Dan Turner who was at the game yesterday. His report:

"First of all it's been a great weekend up here. With Soccer's win yesterday and Football's win today, the Cards are flying high. Have run into some really nice people -many who seem determined to erase the image of West Virginia fans being bad. No major incidents at the football game today, a few shouts, slurs and middle finger displays, but that's about it. Some old pony-tailed hippie dude was really giving us the business early on - but you could tell the people he was there with were pretty embarrased about his behavior and he eventually shut up.  About a 100 Louisville fans were here.  The cheerleaders made it and so did Louie the Cardinal Bird. Charlie Strong was very active and emotional on the sidelines today. Chest bumping and high fiving the players. We'll head over to watch the final soccer game today at noon against WVU and then bring it home. We weren't lynched, mugged or beat up. Even had a group invite us over to tailgate with them as we walked in. The sentiment is that WVU is glad to be leaving the BIG EAST and hope that Louisville can join them eventually in the BIG 12. Thanks to Ken, John, Ralphie and Don who shared their hospitality, beer, burgers and insights with us - they said they were going to check out the blog, Paul.  "


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Monique Reid has been named to the 2011-12 Lowe's Senior Class Award list. 30 WBB seniors are selected for the list. Mo joins BIG EAST players Da'Shena Stevens (St. John) Natalie Novosel (Notre Dame) and Keisha Hampton (DePaul) on the list. 

Reid has been a steady performer for the Cards over the past three years and was Louisville's leading scorer last season. Her hamstring injury prior to the start of the Gonzaga game last year probably prevented the Cards from going to the Elite Eight...but Mo has come back healthy and looked good in the exhibition game last week against Lindsey Wilson.

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Wow! What a Saturday Breeders Cup Day for us. WE gave you our selections for the nine Breeders Cup races at Churchill Downs and we decided to change our strategy up a little for wagering. It paid huge dividends. We decided to take our top three selections and bet a $1 exacta and trifecta box on them for each race. Total layout was $12 a race...for a total of $108 wagered.

Here's how we did:

Paul hit the 9th race (Juvenile) exacta with Hansen and Union Rags. Hansen was also his "best bet" of the day. His big score was in the the 11th race (Classic), where he had the exacta of Drosselmeyer and Game on Dude. A great score there. He cashed tickets for $247...for a profit of $139 on the day.

Hansen was Paul's best bet of the day
and returned $16.20 to win. 

Here's what hurts. HE had (and gave you) the "pick 3" for Races 9,10,11 but didn't make a wager on it. It paid $5,136 on a $1 ticket. It would have cost him just $27 to bet it. Woulda, coulda, shoulda...I guess.

Sonja retains the title for another year, though, with one huge score. It was the only exacta and trifecta she hit all day...but it was a nice one in the 6th race (Turf Sprint) where she hooked up Regally Ready, Country Day and Perfect Officer for a score of $89.60 on the exacta and $771.00 on the trifecta.
Her tickets cashed out for $860...a profit of $752 for the afternoon.   

On the day, we selected 27 horses each.

Paul  3 winners, 4 places and 4 shows

Sonja 2 winners, 4 places and 3 shows

We're glad we changed up the wagering strategy....we wish we'd played the last two pick threes of the day, ...because Paul also picked Buckleupbuttercup in the final - non-stakes - race of the day and he won.

The final pick three of Court Vision, Drosselmeyer and Buckleupbuttercup paid $9130 on a $1 wager. Wouldn't have been a bad payoff for a $27 bet...
Not a bad day..

Finally, this e-mail from Dan T. (last name held by request) from Long Island:

-Paul, just want to say Thank You! for your and Sonja's picks. I played them Friday and did OK but Saturday you made me a rich man. I went to Aqueduct Race Course to watch the horses and the simulcast of the Breeders Cup. I printed out your picks again and took them with me. You guys didn't get off to a great start but in the Turf Sprint Race, Sonja's selections made me $188.20 on a $2 exacta and $1592.00 on her $2 trifecta. Then, in the Juvenile, I bet $10 across the board on your Best Bet of the Day Hansen and got back $114.00. I also had your exacta for $2 and it paid $46.20.

Then the bombshell. In the Classic, the $2 exacta paid $444.80 and the $2 pick three an unbelievable $20,544.40. I had to go to a special room at Aqueduct to fill out the tax form and get the payout. I estimate that I spent around $1000 betting your picks and got back a total of $22,800 ! I also had a pretty good day with my selections at Aqueduct and added another $400 profit.

Called the wife and she met me in Manhattan for a great night on the town and dinner. Thanks, again! You guys are the best! If you and Sonja get up this way for any football or hoops - we are St. John's and New York Jets fans - let me know and the night is on me.

Dan T.

(Good work, Dan! We were nervous early, too...but came on strong late.)

Thanks for bearing with us on our Breeders Cup reports.
We won't bother you with horse racing again until Derby Week in May.
nochoiceisachoice

Cierra, Monique fuel Lady Cards 112-43 win over TWU....Soccer tonight!

SATURDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

-Cards roll past Trinity Western by 69

-Exhibition soccer tonight at Cardinal Park

Were there three Cierra's on the court last night? It
probably seemed that way to TWU. She netted 19
points and grabbed 12 rebounds. (Pictures by Charlie Springer-
UofL Gard game)

The University of Louisville women's basketball team stepped on the accelerator early in last night's game and rolled by Trinity Western University 112-43 in their second exhibition game of their Canada trip. Different gym and different city last night but same result...the Cards grabbed an early, commanding lead and didn't back off. Cierra Warren led the way...recording a double-double with 19 points and 12 boards. Monique Reid added 18 points and seven grabs. Sherrone Vails and Tia Gibbs finished with 12 each. Walz tried a bunch of different combinations last night against the over-matched Canadians and they all apparently seemed to work.

The Cards were up 58-19 at the half and led 102-35 near the end. Walz started Jude Schimmel, Bria Smith, Asia Taylor Sara Hammond and Cierra Warren to begin the game and came out with Bria, Sara, Tia Gibbs, Shoni Schimmel and Monique Reid to tip off the second half. Way too early to read anything into that...he probably could have started Al Greener, Howie Lindsey and Jerry Abramson in combination with any two Lady Cards and romped.

It does look like this version of the Lady Cards is not shy about putting the rock thru rim. Defense is usually a little slower to come around, but holding two opponents to 43 points on consecutive nights isn't too shabby.

Things may be a little tougher Sunday night when the Cards square off against Fraser Valley in Abbotsville, B.C. They played a fairly decent Mississippi team last week and lost by less than 20. The Cascades are probably the best team out of the three that UofL will see in Canada and was 4-0 against the Cards previous two opponents. 

Rumor is that the Cards might spend the off day today hooking up with ex-Card Angel McCoughtry and the Atlanta Dream...who happen to be in Seattle to play the Storm tonight at 7 p.m. (Pacific Time) 

http://www.uoflsports.com/ is blogging pretty regularly now about the trip and has recaps of Thursday and Friday nights scrimmages posted.

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Women's soccer gets an early test tonight with a 7 p.m. scrimmage against Vanderbilt at Cardinal Park. There will be a free soccer clinic from 5-6 for boys and girls 7 to 13 and admission to the match is free also.

Coach Karen Ferguson-Dayes looks to improve on last year's 10-9 record and will count on 2010 BIG EAST Rookie of the Year Christine Exeter to be an essential force on the field.

Louisville women's soccer starts the regular season next Friday with a trip to Eastern Kentucky University.

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Lady Cards romp Mississippi Valley State 96-37

FRIDAY CARDINAL COUPLE:

-Lady Cards roll over the Devilettes 96-37.

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Track and field @ Southern Illinois.

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Volleyball Friday afternoon

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Purdue vs. Louisville: Part Deux

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Shoni Schimmel (pictured here) is either calling a Cardinal inbounds play or is scratching her ear. As far as we're concerned...she can do whatever she wants on the court and it'll probably turn out good.

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This one tonight was like that old 1960's V-8 gas guzzler my Dad used to drive the family around in. It started kind of rough at the beginning but once it got warmed up, it hit on all eight cylinders and ran to perfection. Almost five minutes into tonight's game, the score stood at 6-6 and Louisville was still sputtering out of the driveway.

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Enter Shelby Harper and the Cards shifted into high gear and rolled out the next 15 points over the next six minutes.

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Shelby had a little help. The Cardinal defense turned up the pressure, Monique Reid comes in the game and adds eight quick points and Shoni Schimmel nails a three...well, you get the picture. Sometimes it takes a village to get it done.

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Add another 18-2 Cardinal run and this one was pretty much one for the record books. Louisville went in at half up 44-15...10 Cardinals had played, seven had scored and they had allowed a mere 16 Devilette shots in twenty minutes...10 of those from three point range.

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They went ahead and played the second half anyway.

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Louisville outscored Mississippi Valley State by 30 points in the second stanza and everyone scored but Rachel Story. Five Cardinals end up in double figures, led by Schimmel's 15. Monique Reid added 12 in 14 minutes, Antonita Slaughter pushed in 11 second half points, Polly Harrington 10 in the final twenty minutes and Tia Gibbs totaled 11.

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Other things to like about tonight's romp:

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-The Cards shot 14-16 from the charity stripe. When asked about improvement from the line from previous games...Jeff Walz joked:

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"It's all about getting good free throw shooters to the line."

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(At least I think he was joking.)

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-Louisville went 10-23 from three point range. Schimmel and Slaughter with three each. 6 for 11 in the second half...Slaughter is almost automatic when she can set, square and release.

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-10 rebounds for guard Charmaine Tay, all in the second half. Add six assists to that stat and you begin to get an idea why Jeff Walz was so crazy about her out of high school.

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-Louisville held MVS scoreless for the opening 7:45 on the final half. By then it was 63-15 and Louisville would go on to hold a 81-24 lead with seven minutes to go.

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How does it all translate out as far as a preparation game for Kentucky on Sunday? Coach Walz pointed out that he was pleased with the defense and the way the Cards stopped the screen off the ball, a play UK runs effectively. The open shots weren't too prevalent for the Devilettes and Louisville ran the transition game as good as they have all season long.

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It will be her first time experiencing the UofL /UK rivalry game but Shoni Schimmel wants to help her seven teammates that weathered the UK bombardment last year get a little payback.

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"It means a lot to me. I'm going out, playing as hard as I can and doing the best I can against them. We won't worry about what they can do, we're just going to play our game and make it about us." the sharp passing freshman commented.

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Monique Reid turned up the intensity level tonight and showed a lot of hustle in her 14 minutes tonight. She even commented that she's OK with coming off the bench and contributing to the team that way.

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That's good...because it's a role that Jeff Walz doesn't see changing anytime soon. According to Walz, if she can provide a solid 15-20 minutes without getting tired or slowing down and add 12-14 points...then it's 'job accomplished' for now.

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The University of Louisville's track and field teams open the 2010-11 indoor season Friday at Carbondale, Ill. in the Southern Illinois Fast Start Invitational.

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For the women, two-time weight throw national champion D'Ana McCarty will look to put up big tosses in the event. McCarty is also the BIG EAST indoor weight throw two consecutive years.

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The Cards will compete against national Division II power Lincoln (Mo.), Southern Illinois, South Florida and Belmont. Toss away, Cards!

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At 5 p.m. Friday afternoon, the volleyball Cards begin the quest to win the NCAA Championships with a match against Middle Tennessee State in West Lafayette, IN. Winner of this one gets the victor in the Purdue vs. Kentucky match. MTSU has defeated Louisville the last two times the teams have met in the NCAA Tournament. Not today, Blue Raiders...Spike 'em, Cards!

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Got a e-mail from CARDINAL COUPLE reader Dan Wallace about the Go Cards Beat Purdue legacy. He was in the student section the night of the event. He writes:

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Paul and Sonya:

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Great story and a classic on the Purdue sign.

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What actually happened was...which ever opponent UofL was playing the student section called out that school's name in the cheer. It was the next home game after the Purdue game and the cheerleader used the backside of the Purdue sign to write the name of the opponent the Cards were playing that night. The cheerleader happened to have turned the sign over and upside down to write the name of that night's opponent. So, as the cheerleader is holding the sign down against her body..."PURDUE" is being shown to the student section.

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We all chanted PURDUE before she could place the sign over her head. And a tradition was born.

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Thanks for bringing back the memory!
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Thanks for the eye witness report, Dan! Now... if we could only resurrect the Cardinal Bird bungee jumping from the ceiling of the YUM Center....