Baseball strikes early, holds on late for 5-3 win vs UK...What is happening at Maryland? -- WEDNESDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

CARDS CORRAL CATS 5-3

Our custom here, as the regular reader knows, is to cover the joy and excitement of UofL women's sports. There were plenty of UofL women's athletes on hand at Jim Patterson Stadium last night, watching and celebrating Louisville baseball's 5-3 win over UK. A crowd of 6210 in attendance to see the annual battle of the Bluegrass on a beautiful Tuesday evening.

Louisville wasted no time in getting the party started.  Five runs in the first three innings gave the Cards a comfortable margin over the visitors and a revolving door at pitcher getting the work done...Louisville used seven hurlers in the nine innings. 

UK made it interesting in the end. Scoring three runs in the ninth and loading the bases before catcher Colby Finch threw out Zack Reks on a steal attempt for the final out.  

A top ten battle between #2 Louisville and #8 Kentucky that set an attendance record at Patterson. Plenty of blue sprinkled in with the red on the berm and in the stands. 

Cardinal head coach Dan McDonnell breaks it down:

"Our bullpen has been good all year. Fortunately, we got the lead early in that three-inning start. You gotta tip your hat to them. Hopefully, we learned a valuable lesson...that good teams don't quit. They [UK] showed they're a top ten team because they didn't quit..." 

The Cards (25-3) bring in Wake Forest for a three-game weekend set next. 


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THREE TRANSFER FROM MARYLAND

Even though the NCAA WBB season has drawn to a close, there is still news out there in the world of women's college basketball. Three players from the University of Maryland have announced they are leaving the program. Destiny Slocum, Kiah Gillespie and Jenna Stalti have been granted permission to transfer. 

Slocum is big news. The freshman was second-team Big 10 and Freshman of the Year in the in the WBCA Coaches poll and in the Big 10. Cardinal fans might remember that she scored the Terps final seven points in Maryland's win over Louisville back on Dec. 7th...and hit six of nine from the free throw line.  

Gillespie is a 6'2" sophomore forward who displayed a nice touch from outside in addition to her inside scoring skills. Stalti, 6'6" freshman center that saw limited time in the post. 

The Terps also graduate their top two scorers in Shatori Walker-Kimbrough and Brionna Jones. 

So, why the mass departure from a squad that went 32-3 and reached the Sweet Sixteen before losing to Oregon in the Bridgeport regional? 

Let's speculate...Slocum was from Idaho and a long way from an ailing mother with breast cancer. A chance to play closer to home might have been the reasoning there. With Gillespie and Stalti, it's probably a question of playing time. Gillespie had a great start in her freshman year but just never seemed to develop after that and didn't figure into the rotation that much as a sophomore. Stalti never really made much of an impact on the roster...a deep backup to Jones. Players want to play on occasion and other opportunities can come to be more desirable after the realization sets in that your expectations aren't matching your court time. 

Let's not forget that Lexie Brown also left the Turtles a couple of seasons ago...her stated reason was to play against the ACC. 

Transferred in, did well. 

Transfers. Yes. we get questions about them. Do we think this girl might end up here or that girl could leave and go over there? We have readers who monitor Twitter accounts looking for clues on who might leave. And, there's always the "I have a friend who knows someone that talked with someone who overhead that (so and so) might be looking around." 

We have no crystal ball nor direct pipeline to the future. Who goes, who stays? We wait and see, like you do. Do I think anyone will transfer out of or into the Louisville WBB program? I try not to think about it, honestly. We'll cover it if it happens. 

Players come. Players go. It's inevitable. As a coach, you deal with a lot of pressure. From the parents, from the players and from the fan base. The bottom line is this. You play those who give you the best chance of winning. Winning is job stability. Coaches like to be employed. Players have the opportunity to earn their playing time. If it doesn't work out, you decide to work that much harder, accept the situation or move on. 

Let's put it in horse racing terms...since we're drawing close to the Kentucky Derby. A trainer gets a promising two-year old to the race track. The horse runs poorly the first time on the track. You give the horse another chance. Another poor effort. You drop the horse down to a level you think it may compete well in. Nothing. So, you decide that maybe the horse might be better off in another barn and you run it in a claimer-type race. The horse isn't to blame. The horse simply isn't good enough to compete at a certain level. Maybe the horse does better at a lower level or for another trainer at another track. Maybe it doesn't. Or maybe the trainer decides to keep working with the horse. The difference is...the horse can't express their contentment, disagreement or sit down for a long talk with the trainer. 

Transferred out...hopes to do well. 

Players can. They sometimes do. The key is this...what is best for the player? Most coaches want what is best for the player. If it means playing for" fake directional state" instead of "Prime Time U"...then that's how it is. 

Fans speculate. Why did this girl want to go to that school when she could have done "this or that" if she had stayed. What's going on at "this school" to make players want to leave? 

Transfers happen. Get used to them. One man gathers what another man spills.



paulie
xxxxx

LOUISVILLE WOMEN'S BASKETBALL -- Cards comeback falls short in 78-72 loss to Maryland

ASIA DURR'S 20 NOT ENOUGH IN LOSS

The University of Louisville women's basketball team used a 11-0 run to start the fourth quarter to erase a nine-point deficit and take a 64-62 led in front of 7816 in the KFC YUM! Center Thursday night...but the comeback died there and #5 Maryland went on a 16-10 run over the final five minutes to down Louisville by six...78-72.  


Heart. Winning and losing. 

Subjects Jeff Walz's kept coming back to in his post-game presser.

After making a gallant bid to overtake the Terps...the Cards were still in a dog-fight with less than three minutes to play...tied at 67-67...but a missed Asia Durr jumper and huge three-point play plus two free throws by Maryland freshman Destiny Slocum keyed a 7-2 Maryland run to make it 74-69 with 46 seconds left on the clock. It seemed the visitors were making the big plays and stops while the Cards were falling short and a step slower. After getting back into the game, the Cards went 3-12 over the final five minutes. Fatigue wasn't a factor...Maryland wanted it more and went and got it.

For some inexplicable, debatable and hard-to-define reason, whatever momentum the Cards had decided to leave through the Main Street exit doors of the KFC YUM! Center in the last three minutes of this one. Rudely and abruptly.
  
Poise. Toughness. Composure. They were things Maryland head coach Brenda Frese pointed to as key elements that brought Maryland back off the ropes. That, and hitting their final seven free throws...Slocum sinking five of them. Slocum being able to shrug off whatever happened earlier in the game and just go get the win. 

Louisville started the contest well...jumping out to a 18-9 lead when Durr sank a three with 3:36 left in the first frame and led after 10 minutes 24-20. It was Durr doing the damage...11 points in that stretch. 

Maryland wasn't intimidated, though and battled back to grab a 28-26 advantage when Shatori Walker-Kimbrough connected with 7:08 until the half off a nice pass from Slocum. They would stretch that out to 40-32 after two Kiah Gillespie free throws at the 3:14 mark...but the Cards would go on a 6-2 run to end the half...A Durr jumper setting the halftime score at 42-38. 

Although Myisha Hines-Allen started to show signs of life in the third quarter after a first half of two points...Louisville fell victim to a 11-2 Terrapin run over a four minutes stretch that had the Big Ten member leading 55-45 after Slocum nailed a jumper. Things weren't looking so good for UofL after three...trailing 62-53. Where would it lead from here? 

It led in a pretty good direction to start...this fourth quarter, get-back-into-it-and-take-the-lead stretch...followed, sadly, by the late letdown for Louisville. When Briahanna Jackson sank a fast-break layup with 5:41 remaining to give the Cards a 64-62 lead...it was deafening in the YUM! Center. Hines-Allen was playing with a renewed vigor and it looked like Louisville might just be ready to grab control of this game again and go on to win. 

Then, the air went out of the balloon.  Hines-Allen basket plus one gave Louisville their final lead at 67-65 but the Cards couldn't get the defensive stops or hit the shots and free throws the rest of the way.

Durr led the Cards with 20 points (on 8-27 shooting...including 3-14 from three-point line) and Myisha and Mariya rounded out the Cards double-digit dwellers with 16 and 13 each. B.J. added nine points and dished out eight assists and Cortnee Walton, getting her first start on the year, played 35 minutes and ended up with eight points and a team-high nine rebounds.

It's hard to explain exactly what happened to Louisville in the final 3:15 Thursday night...even Coach Walz was stumped by it..except that a freshman visited the KFC YUM! Center for the first time (appropriately named Destiny) and had her way with the Cards at the end of the game. 

HOW DID FRED DO? 

'Fred' barely made an appearance tonight. Certainly not like the ones the late Freddy Mercury of Queen ...who is pictured to the left... used to put on for the fans. Speaking of singers...CARDINAL COUPLE RADIO favorite Robbie Bartlett did the National Anthem tonight...and nobody does it better! We love "The Robster". 

-- FREE THROWS -- Louisville went 6-14 from the stripe. That's below 70%...a paltry 42.8% to be exact and we can't award a letter here. 

-- REBOUNDING -- A 48-35 edge for Maryland in the battle of the boards. Having Walton back helped some...and Myisha did grab seven...but when you lose the rebounding battle, especially by 18 on the defensive end, no letter gets awarded here either. 

-- EFFORT/EXECUTION -- We loved the fast start and the furious fourth quarter comeback...but when it came to "crunch time" the Cards were out-played. Asia Durr left it all out on the court, so we'll award a small case "e".

-- DEFENSE -- Louisville held Maryland to 18 points under their season average and 4-23 three point shooting...but Walker-Kimbrough and Brionna Jones were a combined 15-23 from the floor. The Cards forced 18 turnovers, so we'll hand out another small case "d". The defensive intensity at the end left a lot to be desired. 

FINAL FRED STAT:  _-_-e-d


WHAT WE LIKED 

-- Astounding Asia. She gave it her all in 37 minutes of play and, despite the 8-27 shooting and 3-14 three-point night, she showed us again tonight why she's the best player and hardest worker the Cards have currently. 

-- Courageous Cortnee. 35 solid minutes in her first start of the year and providing some key rebounding...plus 4-5 shooting. That's not bad and will probably improve. Welcome back, C.W.

WHAT NEEDS WORK

-- A return to successful three-dom. 4-23 is 17.4% and I don't know of a coach in college hoops that would rave about that. Granted, Asia took 14 of them...but Mariya and B.J. need to get back into a knocking these home mode. 

-- Sealing the deal. Louisville was primed and posed to win this game. They had Maryland back on their heels and all the momentum. Then, it stopped. Call it what you will...lack of heart, no killer instinct, not wanting it as much...but this was a prime opportunity that slipped away. 

FINALLY...

Losing back-to-back games to top #5 teams is certainly no crime, maybe expected by the rest of the basketball world and we wouldn't be surprised to see Maryland (as well as South Carolina) playing in the Final Four come tournament time. The outrage could get pretty vocal, though, if the Cards fall to Kentucky. Cardinal fans want to beat UK in everything and in women's basketball...well, let's just say I'm gonna dread the e-mails and comments here at the site if UofL doesn't win Sunday at home against the gals 80 miles up the road on I-64 East.

There are reasons for concern, sure...about the fact that the Cards can't beat a top-five team. They had a boisterous crowd, home court edge and no referee bias against them last night (total fouls were 19 on Maryland and 20 on Louisville and Dee Kanter, Billy Smith and "Louie" Gonzalez are three of the best in college WBB). Still, the Cards could not get a win.
  
Yes, these are early-season games and this has been the toughest part of a pretty brutal five-game stretch for Louisville. Conference play matters much more...but the patterns you set early in the season can sometimes provide a road-map for the rest of the year.

It's time for this team to show they are a top-ten team instead of talking about their desire to go to Dallas this year. Right now, they aren't a top ten team and would be a prohibitive long-shot for the final four. Time is a saving grace, though, and you need to have a short memory sometimes...but actions speak louder than words. It's time for Louisville to close some doors and out-play the competition. Sunday would be a good day to start. 


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POST GAME WALZ LINK : WALZ POST GAME MARYLAND  (Make sure and catch where Coach "zings me" at the 9:45 mark...loved it!) 

POST GAME HINES-ALLEN AND ASIA DURR LINK: MYSHIA AND ASIA POST GAME MARYLAND

POST GAME BRENDA FRESE: POST GAME MARYLAND WBB HEAD COACH BRENDA FRESE

paulie
xxxxx

LOUISVILLE WOMEN'S BASKETBALL -- #5 TERPS IN TOWN TONIGHT...CARTER DONE FOR YEAR -- THURSDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

MARYLAND SECOND LEADING SCORING TEAM IN NATION 

They may be turtles...but they sure ain't slow. 

The #5 Maryland Terrapin women's basketball squad (6-0) comes to the KFC YUM! Center tonight to face the seventh-ranked 6-1 Louisville Cardinals WBB gals at 7 p.m. A great college basketball contest in the nation's premier facility. 


Welcome, December...right? 

UM will be the Cards second straight top 5 opponent and the first of seven December home games for the Cards. Maryland enters The Bucket off of a 79-69 win over Washington St. on Saturday. A close game that was eventually decided at the foul stripe...where the Terps went 27-38 and WSU 7-21. 

Don't get confused by this but Brionna Jones (no, not Louisville's Brianna Jones) had a 20-point, 20-rebound double-double against the Cougars. They played this one in Vegas, as part of the South Point Shootout. The 6'3" center is not the only Jones on the roster for Brenda Frese (like Louisville's 1 and 1A entry of Brianna and Jazmine) Stephanie Jones is a 6'2" freshman on the roster for the Terrapins...the difference here is that these two are sisters.

Keeping up with the Joneses. (I'm tempted to yell out toward the court 'Miss Jones?' during warm ups and see how many of them look over at me... 

Speaking of Jones stuff...see if you remember this classic 1972 groove by Billy Paul about Mrs. Jones.

LINK: ME AND MRS. JONES

The Maryland squad features plenty of others to keep up with beside the Jones. Kaila Charles and Shatori Walker-Kimbrough are proven threats from last year and Destiny Slocum is doing big things as a freshman guard for Frese...13.2 ppg and an impressive 14-29 from deep water. 

For the Cards, it'll be a test to see if they can contain a Terrapin squad averaging 95 points a game and that is out-rebounding their opponents by 20 a contest. Louisville is no stranger to the scoreboard with 80.3 points an outing and is forcing foes into 23.4 turnovers a night. 

Disruption would seem to be one of the keys tonight for UofL. Taking Maryland out of what they do and forcing them to play Cardinal basketball. A quick start from Asia Durr would be most beneficial for the Cards and keeping Myisha Hines-Allen on the court and away from early fouls. Rebounding will play an essential role in tonight's fray as well...the Cards must go to both baskets with authority and take advantage of all second chance opportunities. If Mariya Moore can continue her outside success and the Cards can get steady and successful point guard play from Briahanna Jackson and Taylor Johnson...Louisville's chances for a win increase greatly. 

Prepare for a track meet tonight in the KFC YUM! Center. If you can't attend...the superlative work of Nick Curran and AJ will be available on Cards Radio 790 WKRD A.M. and also on the ACC Network Extra with "Big Game" Don Russell and former UofL WBB head coach Sara White providing the details. 

This will be the first regular season meeting between the two programs. They've matched up three times in the NCAA Tournament. Last time out, Shoni Schimmel's heroic effort fell just short in a 76-73 loss in the 2014 NCAA Elite Eight action at the KFC YUM! Center. The Cards fell to UM 72-68 in the 2012 NCAA Second Round on the Terps home court but defeated them in the 2009 Elite Eight 77-60. 

We'll be back later tonight/early this morning with the recap. 


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NAISMITH TROPHY PRESEASON WATCH LIST

Myisha Hines-Allen, Mariya Moore and Asia Durr have been named to the prestigious list. They're three of 50 WBB DI womens' players to receive the honor...the list will be narrowed to 30 around mid-season. 

Durr leads the Cards in scoring with 18.7 per contest. Moore follows at 12.9 a game and Hines-Allen carries a 8.9 ppg a night. 

Louisville is one of two ACC teams that had three players named to the list...Notre Dame being the other. UConn leads the way with four players on the list. Louisville's foe tonight has two...Maryland's Walker-Kimbrough and Jones getting the nod. 

Add the Wade Watch list honors for the M&M girls, too. December starting out pretty good for them so far, right? 


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CARTER NAMED AS NOMINEE TO WBCA ALLSTATE GOOD WORKS TEAM 

WBB junior Arica Carter is one of 63 student-athletes nominated for the award that honors representation in the areas of community service and leadership among xxtheir peers. 

Carter has a 3.7 GPA at UofL and has actively participated in St. Jude's Walk, wheelchair basketball and Americans with Disabilities as a sponsor and mentor. 

We're proud of the smiling server...who also assisted Paulie on WBB Media Day as his assistant-interviewer with the players. 

Way to go, A.C!!! Representing the true embodiment of what a student-athlete is all about. 

Sadly, Carter's playing season is done for the year and she'll undergo surgery for the bad groin (an injury similar to Asia Durr's last year) and apply for a red-shirt.

paulie
xxxxx

LOUISVILLE WOMEN'S BASKETBALL...Jazmine Jones...Catch her if you can -- WEDNESDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

TALLAHASSEE TRIPLE THREAT TAKING ON TASKS


We thought we'd take a look at one of the members of University of Louisville's freshman class in today's article. We'll preview the Louisville vs. Maryland match tomorrow...today, we'll take you down south to panhandle Florida and look at the Cardinals version of the popular cartoon character The Roadrunner. 

Look quickly, you just might miss her.

Jazmine Jones flew onto the UofL campus this summer and hasn't slowed down since arriving.

After a stellar, multiple championship-winning high school career at Florida A&M Developmental Research School (and why does the image of lab-coats, test tubes and scientists come to mind?) where "J.J." totaled over 2,000 points, 1000 rebounds, 500 assists and 500 steals...plus 2015-16 Florida Gatorade Player of the Year honors...Jones joined a freshmen class that featured five McDonald's All-American nominees and was ranked as one of the best ever in Louisville WBB history. 

She joined a roster that returned all five starters from the season before and got to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. In cases like this, it's not uncommon to see incoming freshmen spend time watching on the sidelines. Although she hasn't cracked the starting line-up, Jones has seen a good share of playing time in the Cards first seven games...much of it sprinting down the court with the ball ahead of the other nine players...and produced some impressive numbers. 

• 109 minutes (15.6 a game) - 8th best on team and 3rd for the freshmen
• 31 points (4.4 a game) - 7th best on team and 3rd for the freshmen
• 10 steals...which is 2nd best on the team and leads the freshmen.
• 17 rebounds --7th best on the team and third best for the freshmen
• 11 turnovers (third highest on team)

The turnover stat, although high...comes with the high risk/high reward style of hoops J.J. plays. We'd like to see that diminish. We expect she would, too... 

The rest of the numbers are quite impressive on a roster that returns a potential bunch of "time-share" opportunities with eight letter-winners from last year and a four-year starter/transfer. She even has to share her last name on the roster (with wing Brianna Jones). 

As one of two players from Florida (Briahanna Jackson being the other) we'll see if the sometimes chilly Louisville winter weather slows her down any. My guess is the only thing that can stop her is an icy sidewalk. 

We get the question...yes, she's good but what position is she best at? And, it is a good question. She was at point-guard at times in high school...but is on a roster that has four of those. Probably best suited as a #2 guard...a spot that Asia Durr currently lays claim to. She can shoot the three (although we haven't seen it yet) and rebound well...which could make her a driving "3" or a smallish "4"...(positions the M&M girls currently occupy.) 

Let's create a spot for her...we'll call her a "guardward". The "Guardward" had six points and two rebounds against South Carolina last time out

On the court, her quickness grabs your eye right off the bat. Her jumping abilities follow next...at 6'0", we pretty sure she could dunk...and her penchant for stripping the ball from an opposing player and starting the charge of the light brigade to the other basket. 

I've said it before and I'll say it again. You could enter her, B.J., Arica Carter (when healthy) and Bionca Dunham in the ACC Track and Field Championships for the 4 X 100 dash and maybe win it.  

Athleticism isn't something new to the Tallahassee Joneses. Her dad, Reginald, played football at Florida A&M and for the Dallas Cowboys. Her brother played at FIU. Her sister GiGi at App. State and Jacksonville. It would not surprise me if the family dog participated in the Florida Canine Olympics and won the 100 meter dash. (Is there such a thing? 😊) 

She's got her values in order, too...3.3 grade-point average in high school, respect for her grand-parents and family and listing God as her hero. 

She comes from a tradition of winning. A strong family support system (the Joneses were in town for the three-game Hall of Fame stretch. You probably heard them if you were there.) She's fit in well to the team concept at Louisville.

She'll be in action tomorrow when #7 Louisville hosts Maryland. A Maryland team that loves to get the ball up and down the court in a hurry. A Maryland team that is undefeated in six games, has four players averaging in double figures and is averaging 95 points a game. A Maryland team now ranked #5 in the nation. 

We'll look more closely at that one on Thursday. 


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PAULIE ON LOUISVILLE FIRST

I was pleased to join Howie Lindsey on his excellent morning show...LOUISVILLE FIRST...Tuesday morning. We discussed (what else?) Louisville Athletics. 

We owe a lot to Howie for graciously giving us a platform to discuss the joy and excitement of Louisville women's sports...plus other Cardinal Athletics...once a week at CARDS RADIO 790...WKRD 790AM. 

LINK BELOW...Paulie comes on at the 1:09:58 mark: 

LOUISVILLE FIRST...PAULIE SEGMENT




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WHERE TO GO TO LET 'EM KNOW




In case you ever wanted to e-mail some of the sports media and associates aligned with Cardinal Athletics...here ya go...this is a "master list" UofL uses to get information out:  

 "Adam Creech (adamhcreech@gmail.com)" <adamhcreech@gmail.com>, "Allar, Bruce" <ballar@loumag.com>, "Andy Sweeney (AndyS@espnlouisville.com)" <AndyS@espnlouisville.com>, AP Louisvile <aplouisville@ap.org>, Bob Domine <bddoesit@bellsouth.net>, "Bob Valvano (BobV@espnlouisville.com)" <BobV@espnlouisville.com>, "Bozich, Rick" <bozichra@aol.com>, "Brian Winner (bwinner@wave3.com)" <bwinner@wave3.com>, "Brown, Russ" <rbrown928@peoplepc.com>, "Bryan, Nathaniel" <nbryan@thenewsenterprise.com>, "Charlie Springer (csworks1@twc.com)" <csworks1@twc.com>, "Chris Humphreys (chumphreys@voice-tribune.com)" <chumphreys@voice-tribune.com>, Chris Resor <isportswebchrisresor@yahoo.com>, "Clemente,Laura F" <lfclem02@exchange.louisville.edu>, Connie Leonard <cleonard@wave3.com>, "Courier-Journal Photo (photo@courier-journal.com)" <photo@courier-journal.com>, Courier-Journal Sports <sports@courier-journal.com>, "Cowgill, Fred" <fcowgill@hearst.com>, "Crawford, Eric" <ECRAWF@aol.com>, dalton ray <dray@louisvillecardinal.com>, "Dan Koob (dkoob@hearst.com)" <dkoob@hearst.com>, "David Harrison (dharrison@courier-journal.com)" <dharrison@courier-journal.com>, "Denny, Stan" <standenny@earthlink.net>, "Doolittle, Bill" <BDoolittle@aol.com>, Drew Deener <drewdeener@hotmail.com>, "E. Marcel Pourtout (mpourtout@gmail.com)" <mpourtout@gmail.com>, "Editor, Louisville Cardinal" <editor@louisvillecardinal.com>, "Eric Crawford (ecrawford@wdrb.com)" <ecrawford@wdrb.com>, "Forde, Pat" <pfeaglebeak@aol.com>, "Forrest, Derek (dforrest@hearst.com)" <dforrest@hearst.com>, "Garrett Moore (garrett1.moore@twcnews.com)" <garrett1.moore@twcnews.com>, "Gary Graves (GBGraves@ap.org)" <GBGraves@ap.org>, Gates <rgates@courier-journal.com>, "Glenn Osborne (glenn@kyforward.com)" <glenn@kyforward.com>, Haven Harrington <hharrington@maineventsports101.com>, "Howlett, Rick" <rhowlett@wfpl.org>, "Hughes, Mike" <mikehughes1986@yahoo.com>, "Jason Anderson (jason@espnlouisville.com)" <jason@espnlouisville.com>, "Jeff Greer (jgreer@louisvil.gannett.com)" <jgreer@louisvil.gannett.com>, "Jennings, Dave (davejennings@iheartmedia.com)" <davejennings@iheartmedia.com>, "Jody Demling (jodydemling@gmail.com)" <jodydemling@gmail.com>, "John Lewis (jlewis@wdrb.com)" <jlewis@wdrb.com>, "John Ramsey (johneramsey@aol.com)" <johneramsey@aol.com>, "John Wise (jwise@wave3.com)" <jwise@wave3.com>, "Jones, Chuck" <cjones@thenewsenterprise.com>, "Jones, Garry" <GarryLJ@aol.com>, "Jones, Rob" <robjones.lyes@gmail.com>, "Josh Abner (jdabner@gmail.com)" <jdabner@gmail.com>, "Joshua McKinney - ClearChannel - 102.3 (joshuamckinney@iheartmedia.com)" <joshuamckinney@iheartmedia.com>, "jshelton@voice-tribune.com" <Jshelton@voice-tribune.com>, "Kaplan, C.D." <cdk@culturemaven.com>, Kendrick Haskins <khaskins@wave3.com>, Kenneth E Klein <kenneth.klein@louisville.edu>, "Kent Spencer (kspencer@whas11.com)" <kspencer@whas11.com>, Kent Taylor <ktaylor@wave3.com>, "Klasskin, Beth (beth.klasskin@twcnews.com)" <beth.klasskin@twcnews.com>, "Korte, Lori J" <ljkort01@louisville.edu>, "KySportsTV (info@kysports.tv)" <info@kysports.tv>, "Lane, Tom" <tlane@fox41.com>, "Lee DeJarlais (ldejarlais@hearst.com)" <ldejarlais@hearst.com>, "Lindsey, Howie" <howielindsey@gmail.com>, "Mark Blankenbaker (cardsandcats2011@gmail.com)" <cardsandcats2011@gmail.com>, "Mark Hebert (mark.hebert@louisville.edu)" <mark.hebert@louisville.edu>, "Marty Finley (mfinley@bizjournals.com)" <mfinley@bizjournals.com>, "Matt Willinger (mwillinger@bisigimpactgroup.com)" <mwillinger@bisigimpactgroup.com>, "McGee, Kerry" <news@fox41.com>, "Michael Grant (virgiltibbs@hotmail.com)" <virgiltibbs@hotmail.com>, "Michael McCammon (michael.mccammon@gmail.com)" <michael.mccammon@gmail.com>, "Mike Lacett (mlacett@wdrb.com)" <mlacett@wdrb.com>, "Natalie Grise (NGrise@hearst.com)" <NGrise@hearst.com>, "Nick Coffey (NickCoffey@iheartmedia.com)" <NickCoffey@iheartmedia.com>, "Ormay, Doug" <dougormay@gmail.com>, "Paul Miles (whasnews@iheartmedia.com)" <whasnews@iheartmedia.com>, "'Peak, Ed' (ed.peak@twc.com)" <ed.peak@twc.com>, "Pemberton, Kimberli A" <kapemb01@louisville.edu>, remy sisk <rsisk@blue-pub.com>, "Rick Bozich (rbozich@wdrb.com)" <rbozich@wdrb.com>, "Rogers, Paul" <paulr@whas.com>, "Sam Draut (sdraut@louisvillecardinal.com)" <sdraut@louisvillecardinal.com>, "Scott Wilson (swilson@glasgowdailytimes.com)" <swilson@glasgowdailytimes.com>, "Slim Vollinger (svollinger@theacc.org)" <svollinger@theacc.org>, "Spencer Kietzman (spencer@espnlouisville.com)" <spencer@espnlouisville.com>, "Stephen George (stephen@insiderlouisville.com)" <stephen@insiderlouisville.com>, "Steve Jones (swjones1@courier-journal.com)" <swjones1@courier-journal.com>, "Story, Mark" <mstory@herald-leader.com>, "Taylor, Kent" <ktaylor@wave3tv.com>, The Cardinal Sports <sports@louisvillecardinal.com>, "TheSportsInquirer (sportsinquirer@gmail.com)" <sportsinquirer@gmail.com>, "Tim Meredith - CN|2 (Timothy.Meredith@charter.com)" <Timothy.Meredith@charter.com>, "Timothy Easley (tdeasley@mac.com)" <tdeasley@mac.com>, "Tony Vanetti (tonyvanetti@iheartmedia.com)" <tonyvanetti@iheartmedia.com>, "Valvano, Bob" <elcoche@yahoo.com>, "WAVE3 (newsrelease@wave3.com)" <newsrelease@wave3.com>, WBKO <sports@wbko.com>, "WDRB News (news@wdrb.com)" <news@wdrb.com>, WHAS-TV assignment desk <assign@whas11.com>, "Whitney Harding (wharding@whas11.com)" <wharding@whas11.com>, "Will Clark - 84 WHAS (WillClark@iheartmedia.com)" <WillClark@iheartmedia.com>, "Wise, Anita" <awise@hearst.com>, "WLKY News (newstips@wlky.com)" <newstips@wlky.com>, "Worley, Nancy A" <nasmit01@louisville.edu>

( Don't look for Paulie on there...he doesn't exist...in the "eyes of the master" at UofL.)

paulie
xxxxx

Monday Cardinal Couple -- Softball, Lacrosse score wins

MONDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

- Late rally saves softball

- Lacrosse demolishes Bearcats

- NCAA Women's Championship Game: What they wanted


Louisville Softball used a three-run top of the seventh to defeat USF 3-1 Sunday in Tampa and sweep the three game series. Freshman pitcher Maryssa Becker went the distance for the win...giving up just four hits and striking out seven to go to 10-3 on the season.

Louisville tried to strike early on Bulls pitcher Sara Nevins. Whitney Arion singled and Katie Keller doubled in the top of the first with just one out. A walk to Brittany Duncan got the bags full of Cards...but Nevins got a strikeout and popup to escape run damage. 

It stayed scoreless until the bottom of the sixth. With two outs in the inning...two infield singles by USF and a Cards throwing error produced the first run of the game.

Louisville started the seventh with a ground-out but Hannah

Kiyohara singled. Sandy Pearsall inserted Paige Alford to run and she scampered home on Kelsi Jones' double. Arion's single plated Jones to make it 2-1 Cards. Nevins hit Keller with a pitch and Duncan drew her second walk of the game to fill the bases for Becker...who singled home Arion for a 3-1 score. 

The Cards are now 23-15 overall and 5-4 in AAC play. 

Louisville returns home for a Tuesday night game against Evansville. First pitch is 6 p.m.

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With 13 players scoring, the Louisville Lacrosse squad dominated the UC Bearcats yesterday in Cincinnati 23-2. Recently awarded a top-20 ranking, the Cards scored 40 seconds into the game and had rolled up a 5-0 margin nine minutes into the contest...en route to a 14-2 halftime advantage.

Kellie Young played a bunch of Cards in this one...inserting Ashley Peacock in goal to replace Ashley Herbst...in the second half and the Cards continued to score with the reserves. 

Leading Louisville's offense explosion were Laura Patterson, Cortnee Daley and Hannah Koloski with three goals each. 

Louisville held a 44-6 advantage in shots and Kaylin Morissette broke her own game record by controlling 14 draws. The win keeps the Cards (8-3, 2-0) in a three-way tie for top spot in the BIG EAST with Villanova and UConn. 

Given the slaughter...maybe Louisville should have just stayed home and played Bellarmine. Gas is pushing $4 a gallon, after all.

The Cards take to the road again for their next one...a Friday BIG EAST tilt against Temple at 3 p.m. It'll be the fourth out of five straight away contest...Louisville will visit Villanova Sunday...before returning home for three straight. 

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There are two left in the NCAA Women's Tournament and it's the two all the pundits and talking heads wanted to see. Undefeated against undefeated. UConn and Notre Dame. Geno vs. the Muffet. Dogs and Shamrocks.

The Maryland Terrapins rolled over on their shells and stunk up Bridgestone Arena to start the night. Turtle soup. Notre Dame outrebounded them by 3,000 and Alyssa Thomas was sequestered by the suffocating Irish defense.

Thanks for participating Brenda. At least we think that was participation. We'll review it and get back to you. 

Not real happy that UM stole our 'party crashers' term...they didn't even get in the party...Notre Dame asked for ID at the door and turned the crabcake girls away. They also borrowed our 'Unfinished Business' theme. They failed to live up to either. 

UND doesn't seem to be missing Achonwa much at all. Would have Louisville fared better against the relentless Irish attack? Sadly, we'll never know...

At least Stanford put a little fight into the Huskies before booking their flight back to Palo Alto. Stewart and Mosqueda-Lewis woke up in the second half...though...and the Dogs soiled the Trees in the final 20 minutes.

Not even Condi Rice could have intervened and saved the girls from the Farm in this one. Cheney Ogwumike will make one fine WNBA star, though...

So, ESPN'S and a lot of the viewing public

wishes have come true. It'll be the first ever undefeated vs. undefeated ever in a title game. For the women or the men. 

Still thinking that if a certain, undeniable walk would have been called with nine seconds left in a certain game...maybe I'd been driving down I-65 Sunday afternoon to see Red vs. Green. 

I know...one missed call does not a game make. I think Louisville would have put on a little better show defensively and on the boards than Maryland offered, though...and Shoni, Nita and Tia would have opened up that tight Notre Dame defense with some long range bombing. 

Go Irish. I guess...

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THE LATEST BROADCAST OF CARDINAL COUPLE RADIO IS NOW ARCHIVED AND AVAILABLE FOR LISTENING. IT'S THE WOMEN'S BASKETBALL WRAP-UP SHOW FOR THE YEAR. IT'S A GREAT HOUR OF INTERNET RADIO. GIVE A LISTEN BY CLICKING THE WORDS BELOW. 

PAULIE AND JEFF LISTEN TO SOUNDBYTES AND ESPOUSE GLITTERING GENERALITIES


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If you need a hoops fix tonight, you can catch UK try and grab the NCAA Men's Championship Game against Connecticut. I know, the lesser of two evils here to root for...but I have more UK friends than UConn acquaintances....so....

GO BIG BLUE.  And it just might be the first time ever I've put those three words in print here at the website...

paulie