CAVS 2ND LEADING SCORER BACK FROM THUMB INJURY
When Louisville WBB faced Virginia in Charlottesville back on Jan 14th., the Cards took a 59-41 win back with them to Louisville...Myisha Hines-Allen scoring 16 for Louisville. UVA was without Faith Randolph, their second leading scorer. The second team All-ACC selection in the 2014-15 season had broken her thumb a week earlier in a lopsided loss to Notre Dame...in the fourth quarter and long after the outcome had been decided.
With her gone, the 'Hoos went 2-7 over their next nine games. Makayla Venson, Virginia's leading scorer tried to pick up the slack but head coach Joanne Boyle was missing the speedy senior guard...Randolph is the only senior on the Cavs roster.
She returned on Valentine's Day, appropriately enough, and played 36 minutes in the UVA win over Boston College. The doctor's time-table had her on schedule to return tonight against the Cards. Randolph lobbied for action against Syracuse on Feb. 11th....a game UVA lost 91-57.
Randolph will be ready for tonight and will be taking pre-cautionary measures:
"My thumb will be wrapped in tape the rest of the season but that's kind of a blessing in disguise, though, because when you shoot the ball...your really not supposed to bend your thumb...so it's good form."
Virginia (14-12, 5-8) is probably not an NCAA Tournament this season...unless they get hot late and win their final four -- plus make a strong showing in the ACC Tournament.
Louisville (20-6, 11-1) is ranked #11 in the nation. Besides keeping an eye out for Venson and Randolph, the Cards will need to contain Lauren Moses...a strong post that is capable of a double-double anytime she steps on the court and shut down Aliyah Huland El off the bench.
Following a blueprint of the strategy that got the Cards past the Cavs last month would work well here. Louisville held Virginia to six first period points in the first meeting and the Cards forced 19 turnover while allowing UVA just 33% shooting.
Be sure to wear your pink tonight for Breast Cancer Awareness. Even if you don't own pink, wear a pink ribbon to show your support. The game tips at 7 p.m. and ESPN 3 will have coverage. We also recommend the audio from Matt and AJ on Cards Radio KRD 790...and if the sync up gets too annoying, stick with the radio call and then glance at the laptop for a replay of the really good plays.
I'm offering WorldWide the write-up for Friday. He has gone "groundhog" on me and hasn't written in what seems like six weeks. Regardless, one of us will recap it here at the site later today or early Friday.
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SOFTBALL READY FOR NEXT CHALLANGE
Coming off a 4-1 stay in Corpus Christi, the Louisville Softball team heads to Raleigh, NC for the ACC/BIG10 Challenge this weekend. While there, they'll team up with NC State in cross-conference games against Wisconsin and Nebraska...four games over a three-day span.
I caught up with Coach Pearsall and got a great interview that we'll air on our Saturday radio show...the highly acclaimed CARDINAL COUPLE RADIO HOUR.
Here's a couple of teasers to listen for in the interview:
-- Who did Coach Pearsall have to 'bring back to earth' during the Islander Invitational?
-- What impresses Coach Pearsall about ACC Co-Pitcher of the Week Megan Hensley?
-- What worries Coach Pearsall about the Cards home-opening weekend?
For these answers and much more, be sure to catch the broadcast Saturday at 11 a.m. on WCHQ 100.9 FM or on the Internet at www.crescenthillradio.com.
You can also catch our archived broadcasts there, too! Please listen to and support local, non-profit community radio. You just might find out that you like what you're hearing...
paulie
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LOUISVILLE WBB BEGINS THREE GAME ROAD SWING TONIGHT AT VIRGINIA
The term 'cavalier' means "showing a lack of proper concern". That's an attitude the Louisville women's basketball team can ill afford to display tonight when they face the Virginia Cavaliers at 7 p.m. in the John Paul Jones Arena on the UVA campus.
The Cavaliers (or Wahoos...you choose the nickname) are 12-5 overall (just like the Cards) and 2-1 in ACC play. They suffered a huge blow two games ago when they lost their star Faith Randolph...who broke her thumb. She was leading UVA in assists and was second in scoring. Without her, they struggled but managed to win at Wake Forest 52-50....shooting just 29% but forcing 31 Demon Deacons (or Deaconesses, if you prefer) turnovers.
Without Randolph, the squad's only senior, the slack will need to be picked up by guards Mikayla Venson and Breyana Mason who are a crafty, ball-hawking duo, wing Aliyah Huland El and 6'2" forward Lauren Moses.
The Wahoos do have a signature win under their belt with a 20-point trouncing of Miami...the losses have been against Rutgers, Tulane, Iowa, Ohio State and Notre Dame.
Louisville will look to continue the stifling defense they've been administering to ACC opponents over the last two weeks and getting offensive production from the fearsome foursome of Mariya Moore, Myisha Hines-Allen, Briahanna Jackson and Asia Durr. Virginia has been holding opponents to 59.2 points per game.
The Cards will also need a big night on the boards from Cortnee Walton and anyone who can join her in grabbing misses...the Wahoos out-rebound opponents by nearly two grabs a game. Secure ball-control will also be a high priority...UVA gets close to 10 steals per contest and leads in the turnover stats 353-260 against opponents.
Another good night from Louisville's freshman would go a long way in securing the Cards 13th win of the season...especially if Taja Cole and Erin DeGrate can duplicate their efforts that they had against Duke.
Louisville split the series with UVA last season...winning at the KFC YUM! and losing 75-59 in John Paul Jones Arena. In the loss, Randolph had 23 points for the Wahoos and Sarah Imovbioh...who has since transferred to South Carolina...had 22 points. The Cards were led by Emmonnie Henderson's 13 and Shawnta Dyer's 12.
TV prospects for this one? It look likes availability on the Virginia Sports Network at the Cavaliers' website...a pay for view deal. Link below:
http://www.virginiasports.com/collegesportslive/?media=510668
We'll probably opt-out for the dependable call of Matt Andrews and A.J. on WKRD 790 AM.
We'll be back later tonight with the recap.
paulie
CARDS HAVE WON EIGHT STRAIGHT AND ARE 4-0 IN ACC
The University of Louisville women's basketball team faces Virginia today in the KFC YUM! Center at 3 p.m. Louisville will be looking to go 5-0 in ACC play and 17-1 overall. The women's sports programs at UofL will also be looking to get their first win of the season over Virginia. Field Hockey, Soccer and Volleyball have all fallen to the Cavaliers in this first season of ACC play for the Cards.
Virginia (13-4, 3-1) has won four out of their last five. Most recently, they handled Boston College 68-56 on Thursday in Charlottesville. The Wahoo hit 13 three pointers against BC and went 11-13 from the charity stripe.
Faith Randolph had 23 in the win and she's leading the Cavaliers with 17.8 ppg and steals (27). The 5'10" junior guard gets backcourt assistance from Mikayla Venson (11.8 ppg) and Brevana Mason (9.2). Big on the boards for Joanne Boyle's team are Sarah Imovbioh (14.6/11.2)...a season double-double performer and Lauren Moses who averages 6.2 grabs a game and has 23 blocked shots this season.
Losses to Toledo, Illinois and Davidson early in the season raises eyebrows...their sole conference loss to Syracuse perfectly understandable, the 'Cuse is as good as advertised.
The Wahoo was picked to finish 10th in ACC in preseason polling. Louisville and UVA have faced each other one time...Louisville losing in Charlottesville 74-60 back in 1985.
The Cards will need to curtail the activities of Randolph and Venson when they have the ball...they are well capable of driving the lane and scoring inside. Louisville will also need to be aware of the board-busting ball play of Imovbioh and Moses and block out while denying second chance opportunities.
This one will be on Fox Sports South if you can't attend. Drew Deener faces up at center court and Christy Winters Scott will provide color. Matt and AJ handle the radio duties in case the two minute delay gets to be too much....radio feed being first in game action...
An early arrival for CARDINAL COUPLE at the KFC YUM! Center today...the Atlanta Dream is making a special announcement at 2:15 p.m. Watch our twitter feed on the right hand side of the site for updates.
DID YOU KNOW?
-- Bria Smith was verballed to Virginia until the coaching change that brought Boyle to Charlottesville.
-- The Cards have a player from Virginia...freshman reserve Arianna Freeman.
-- Virginia's Faith Randolph is third in the ACC with a .895 free throw %
-- Virginia reserve Sara Beth Barnette was the 2010 Kentucky Miss Basketball and started her career at UK?
-- Sarah Imovbioh had 24 rebounds for the Cavs against Ohio State back on 11/14/14..the highest ACC rebounding total this season.
We'll have a full recap of the action in the Monday edition of CARDINAL COUPLE.
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Our latest CARDINAL COUPLE RADIO broadcast is up and
archived on WCHQ 100.9 Crescent Hill Radio's Soundcloud!
We had a busy show recapping WBB, Lacrosse, Volleyball, Tennis, Track and Field and much, much more.
Give it a listen at the link below:
THE VILLAGE IDIOT HAS RETURNED TO HIS VILLAGE !!
paulie
Be sure to wear your pink tonight for Breast Cancer Awareness. Even if you don't own pink, wear a pink ribbon to show your support. The game tips at 7 p.m. and ESPN 3 will have coverage. We also recommend the audio from Matt and AJ on Cards Radio KRD 790...and if the sync up gets too annoying, stick with the radio call and then glance at the laptop for a replay of the really good plays. 
