Cards win preseason WNIT with 97-92 O.T. win over O.U.

MONDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

-GIBBS HAS 23 IN CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

What a wild and wooly afternoon of basketball in Norman on Sunday...Louisville overcoming a 17-2 early deficit to win in overtime 97-92. Asia Taylor and Sara Hammond were named to the All-Tournament team and Sara was selected the MVP.

This one couldn't have started much worse for Walz's women. Five minutes of cold shooting left Louisville on the short end of a 17-2 opening salvo from Sherri Coale's Sooners.

The Cards started to battle back after 300 seconds of sub-par hoops. Megan Deines' free throw brought Louisville back to within ten at 27-17 with 9:30 left. A 17-8 run got the Cards within one at 35-34. Tia Gibbs' three gave Louisville their first lead of the game with 2:25 remaining and the Cards built upon it...taking a 48-43 lead to the locker room.

Gibbs was unconscious in the first half...with 20 points. The Cards outscored OU 46-26 in the final fifteen minutes of the half and it looked like the rout might be on.

The Cards started the second half strong. 50-40 Cards after the first seven minutes and Louisville increased that to 70-58 on a Shoni three with 8:18 showing on the clock.

Oklahoma wasn't ready to go back to the prairie just yet, though.

A Sooner 10-0 run over the next three minutes pulled them to within two with 5:09 to go. A Shoni three made it 73-68 with 4:40 left. OU rallied to tie it a 73-73 over the next minute. They regained the lead 76-73 on a Carter three and led 83-77 with 1:28 left in regulation.

It looked like game over...but the Cards were not to be denied. Shoni hit a layup and got a free throw. Sara Hammond's two free throws with 51 seconds to go to make it 83-82 Sooners. Aaryn Ellenberg's jumper gave OU an 85-82 lead...but Jude Schimmel went coast-to-coast on a layup to make it 85-84 with 17 seconds. After an OU 1-2 at the line, Jude did it again...driving the length of the court for another layup to tie it 86-86 with 13 seconds on the clock.

Extra session!

OU hit a free throw to gain a 87-86 lead to start the overtime. The Cards rolled off the next nine points...a Nita Slaughter three, Shoni steal and layup, a Jude layup on a Shoni pass and Sara Hammond strong inside gave UofL a 95-87 edge and 1:45 to go.

OU made one last charge...getting to within 95-92 on an Ellenberg three with 32 seconds left. The Sooners then missed two threes over the next 26 seconds and Asia Taylor put the icing on the cake with two free throws with 6 seconds left to provide the final 97-92 Cardinal win.

CARDS WIN! CARDS WIN!

Louisville shot 42% for the contest and went 9-29 from three point range. A 20-27 effort from the free throw line gave the Cards a 77% stat line.

Gibbs had 23 points to lead Louisville and had eight boards. Shoni added 16 to the scoring stats (all in the final 25 minutes) and Nita buried three threes as part of her 15 points. Asia Taylor recorded a double-double with 10 points and grabs and Jude Schimmel ended up with eight.

With the win, Jeff Walz gets his 152nd of his career at Louisville....which ties him with Bud Childers for the most in UofL hoops history for a coach.

The Cards return to the KFC YUM! Center to face Ohio Thursday night at 7 p.m.

THE FINAL WORD

Gotta love the Cards gutty comeback effort after looking like the blowout was on early. It is so good to see Tia Gibbs back and producing like she did three years ago. This win was a road effort early in the season that shows the Cards have multiple weapons...consider Smith and Shoni played a total of eight minutes in the first half and Louisville led by five.

Nervous moments in the end when Sooners went up by six with 1:28 left in regulation for me...but the Cards did what they had to do to force the OT...including attack Yorkie Jude with two un-guarded layups to guide them back.

The questionable move to play this one at OU when Louisville was clearly the higher seed and better squad backfires for the anti-Cardinal WNIT planners and designers.

Put this one in the YUM! and no way that OU breaks out to a 17-2 early lead or comes back to take it to OT. Walz's technical was for stepping outside the coaches box. Thishappens about 80 times a game...so why call it today?

Bad girl

Coale isn't the prom queen we all thought, I guess. A CBS close-up of her during a time out showed her clearly saying to a player in the huddle:

"What the f&%$ were you thinking?"

( Bad girl, BIG HAIR...Yummy.) Ms. Coale has a potty mouth. If the obviously pro-Sooner refs had seen or heard Walz mouth something like that...they would have tossed him from the game and taken him off the court bound and gagged.

Maybe it's a BIG 12 conference thing....those "Girls Gone Wild" WBB Coaches.

And it's still the middle of November. A fun season awaits.

-paulie

Soccer loses and basketball goes for the title

SUNDAY CARDINAL COUPLE
 
******************FINAL****************

Louisville wins in overtime 97-92! Tied at 86 at the end of regulation...Louisville outscored OU 9-1 in the first 3 1/2 minutes to win. Sara Hammond was selected MVP of the tournament. We'll have much more in the MONDAY edition of Cardinal Couple.

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************SCORE UPDATE***********


Down early 17-2, the Cards went on a late first half run and lead Oklahoma 48-43 at the half. TIA GIBBS with 20 1st half points. Smith and Shoni on the bench with fouls. Both teams in double bonus with nine minutes to go...

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( JENNY O'BRYAN REVIEWS SOCCER'S HEARTBREAKING LOSS IN THE NCAA TOURNAMENT AND BASKETBALL'S TOUGH TASK AHEAD TODAY)



-Soccer falls on the final penalty kick

The Kickin’ Cards lost a heartbreaker to Illinois State Redbirds on Saturday to close out the 2013 season, as well as their stay in Cardinal Park.  The team went out in dramatic fashion with the game --  hanging in the balance down to the last penalty kick.   The Cardinals have spent a lot of time this season in overtime, but they just couldn’t finish today.  Cards lose, a tied score of 1-1 after two overtimes led to a shoot out of penalty kicks, where the Redbirds took the advantage, 4-3. 

The Cards came onto the field at the start, ready to play.  Less than 5 minutes in to the game Char Corral had a shot on goal that was saved only by a great play from the keeper.    The first half of the game saw the Cardinals dominating possession. The Cards threatened, but could only find the back of the net once in the half.   Sophomore Lexie Niedoba scored her first career goal with this shot. 

It looked to this novice fan to be all Cardinal going in to halftime with 4 shots on goal, 7 corners and a 1-0 lead.   Conversely, the Redbirds had no shots on goal, 1 corner, and the keeper was kept busy with 3 saves. 

For all the momentum the Cardinals had the first half, the Redbirds came out of halftime with their game face on.  The second half of play saw the Cardinals in defensive mode most of the half, giving up only one goal, but spending a lot of time on the wrong side of the field. 

At end of regulation we were all knotted up.  The fans in the bleachers were looking for that golden goal, that first score in overtime that would declare victory.  It was not to be.   The Cardinals, again, dominated possession, and looked to be the easy victor controlling the ball and threatening around the net for likely 9 of the 10 minutes in overtime.  They were achingly close on several shots, only to be denied.   All of that momentum, though, came to a halt as the whistle blew and still, no change to the score. 

At this point it had seemed the teams were taking turns controlling the ball.  Holding true, the final overtime period looked to be all Redbirds.  The Cardinal defense looked exhausted.  Twice the Redbirds came down the field, on the right, drawing the keeper away from the pipes, only to send a beautiful cross to center, to have an excellent chance to end it.  Both times the kick went high, and Cardinal fans groaned out sighs of relief.   The Redbirds seemed to dominate the second overtime, but were unable to finish.

On to the final shoot out. Penalty kicks.  Cardinals were up first.  Corral converted.  Redbirds were up, and made it.  Louisville would go on to miss the next two shots.  The Redbirds made their second and missed their third.   Christine Exeter came up for the 4^th kick.  She found the back of the net.  2-2.  Redbirds up, another kick in the net.  Redbirds up 3-2.  The Cardinals arrive for their final pk.  No pressure, right?  If it is in, we are all tied up.  A miss, and it is all over.  Niedoba, who scored the only goal in regulation, is up for the final pk.  She sinks it in the back of the net.   No sweat.  Again, we are all tied.  It is 3-3 in PK’s.  The Redibrds have one kick remaining.  It all comes down to this final kick.  Somehow, the ball gets past the keeper and the Redbirds declare victory. 

It was a heartbreaking loss for the Cardinals, cutting short their post season run.  They played a good game but could just not find a way to finish.   They close out the season exiting the tournament in the first round. 

So here we are.  Cardinal Park has seen the last of these Cards.   A very good season ends with the Cards 12-5-2.

(EDITOR'S NOTE...THE WOMEN'S SOCCER TEAM NOW HAS A CLEAR AN DEMANDING TASK AHEAD OF THEM TO TRY AND PRODUCE THIS KIND OF WIN/LOSS RECORD IN THE MUCH TOUGHER ACC WOMEN'S SOCCER CONFERENCE THIS SEASON. A LOOK AT THE 2013 TOURNAMENT SELECTIONS SHOWS EIGHT ACC MEMBERS IN THE BIG DANCE, THEY HAD ALL FOUR #1 SEEDS AND WENT 8-0 IN FIRST ROUND PLAY.

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-Preseason WNIT Championship game a WUG reunion?

The women’s basketball team travels to Norman, Oklahoma to take on the Oklahoma Sooners in the championship game of the WNIT.  It is a reunion of sorts, as Shoni Schimmel spent some time with Oklahoma  Coach Sherri Coale this past summer with the World University Games.  Also on that same team was Sooner standout, senior guard Aaryn Ellenberg. 

As I watched the WUG’s this past summer, I often wondered why Schimmel spent most of the time on the bench.  Coach Coale will not be able to keep Shoni benched this time, and with the way she has been playing, my guess is she will wish she still had the reigns. 

This will be the second time the two teams meet.  The last time was in 2009 when the Cardinals made the March to the Arch, meeting Connecticut in the championship game.  The Cards were the underdogs then, and upset the Sooners 61-59. ( I remember the game very well.) 

This meeting has the Cardinals ranked 5^th vs. the 11^th ranked Sooners.  The Sooners were the preseason favorite to win the Big 12, surely the first time in the last 4 years, with Brittney Griner having been in the conference. 

The main star power is guard Aaryn Ellenberg.  She is a preseason pick for the All Big 12 Team and also on the watchtlist for Wade, Wooden and Naismith Awards. 

The Sooners return 4 of their 5 starters from last season and a veteran squad that is said to be 14 deep. 

Projected starters for the Sooners are:

Ellenberg, point guard Morgan Hook (who injured her ankle in the Gonzaga game, but who is a projected starter as of this writing), Sharane Campbell, Nicole Korney and Nicole Griffin.  Griffin has the potential to provide a size advantage in the paint, standing in at 6-6. 

Points of interest for the Cards

-Lack of rebounding, specifically offensive rebounding, was exposed by Gonzaga and kept them in the game til the end.    The Cardinals will need to continue the recent trend of outrebounding their opponent, and second chance points on the offensive boards will help put this in the win column.    

-Ellenberg will most certainly be a focal point in the scouting report.  Containing her will go a long way in securing the win for the Cards. 

-The Sooners are priding themselves on defense and speed.  Slowing them down offensively will go a very long way.  The Sooners will try to push tempo and are practicing scoring within 6 seconds of ball possession.  Stopping the transition and slowing the tempo will work to the Cardinals advantage. 

- Gonzaga (in the semifinal game) kept the Sooners in the game by fouling.  The Sooners made a living at the line and won the game down the stretch at the line. The Cardinals will need to stay away from the hand check fouls game and keep the Sooners off the line, who shot roughly 70% most recently. 

I have all the faith in both the coaching staff and the team to be prepared.  The Cardinals very recently showed they can rebound and play tough defense.  I expect to see more of that carrying over from the LSU game. 

I’ve got the Cardinals winning this game going away, much like the LSU game.  Tune in today on CBS Sports Network at 4:00 p.m. to cheer on your Cardinals! 

( EDITOR'S NOTE...LET'S HOPE THIS ONE DOESN'T BECOME A FREE THROW SHOOTING CONTEST. LET 'EM PLAY, REFS! WE DISCUSSED THIS ON THE MOST RECENT BROADCAST OF CARDINAL COUPLE RADIO AND YOU CAN HEAR THE ENTIRE BROADCAST AT THE LINK BELOW   --PAULIE)

CARDINAL COUPLE RADIO

-Jenny O'Bryan

Tuesday Cardinal Couple -- USA WBB WUGS get Gold

TUESDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

- USA WBB WUGS roll past Russia 90-71

- Corral, Mexico fall in final to Great Britian

- Two days left to vote for ESPY's

It was hyped to be the ultimate matchup. A Russian team that had obliterated its previous five opponents against a USA squad, also undefeated, that had undergone a blood pressure check in escaping against a determined Aussie team two days earlier. Russia and the USA in a donnybrook.

It turned out to be a rout...USA jumping out to a 13-3 lead to begin the game and never in any serious danger while winning the third consecutive gold medal for the United States in World University Games women's basketball.

Offense, it is said...fills the seats but defense wins games. The USA WUGS applied a blistering first half defense that limited Russia to 31.4% shooting and a 41-27 halftime lead

With four players in double figures and shooting 52.5% for the game, the United States led by 24 with nine minutes left in the fourth quarter and Russia never got closer than 15 the rest of the way.

As for Ms. Schimmel...three minutes of mop up play...gathering one assist and taking no shots. She finished the six games with a 4.6 ppg, 3 assists stat line while averaging 12.6 minutes a game. Those numbers pretty much garnered from the first three games...she saw a total of 10 minutes and no points against Brazil, Australia and Russia in the final three USA contests. 

Still, she's only the second Lady Cardinal to ever win a gold medal with USA Basketball...Angel McCoughtry preceding her in the category. On a team deep with guards, Schimmel fell to the bottom of head coach Sherri Coale's rotation..behind talented Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis, Bria Hartley, Odyssey Sims, Ariel Massengale, Aaryn Ellenberg and Crystal Bradford. We've expressed our thoughts on Coale's rotation...the bottom line, however is that it takes a team effort to win championships and Shoni's role, although limited, was in a team venue and concept.

Hey...there's a lot worse ways to spend two week in July. Shoni got to travel, practice against the best in women's college basketball and add to her resume. All things that will bode well for the UofL senior as she and her teammates attempt to return to the NCAA WBB Final Four. A quick turn-around for Shoni...from Kazan, Russia to the ESPY awards Wednesday night in Los Angeles...where her 2012-13 UofL team is nominated for Upset of the Year.

Could anyone blame her for wanting to take the upcoming weekend off?

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Louisville women's soccer star Charlyn Corral scored once in Mexico's 6-2 defeat to Great Britian in the WUGS women's soccer gold match.

Her goal gave Mexico a 2-1 lead at the 28 minute mark of the championship game. It was 2-2 late in the contest before the Brits exploded for four goals after the 86 minute mark.

Corral's 10 goals in six matches was four goals better than anyone else in the competition. The senior-to-be at Louisville brings the silver back to campus after a outstanding performance on the world's stage.

Could anyone blame Louisville head soccer coach Karen Ferguson Dayes for walking around campus with a big smile these days? A healthy Corral and Christine Exeter gives Louisville two prime weapons against the competition this fall. We're trying to catch up with Coach Karen for an interview for Saturday's radio show. We may have to check the stratosphere...since Coach Karen is probably walking on air lately...

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The ESPY's are Wednesday night. Two Louisville categories we think you should for for are the best coach and biggest upset. Louisville in each category, of course.

Just got off the phone with coach Jeff Walz this morning, who is driving to St. Louis to fly out for the ceremonies. He'll hook up with Jude, Shoni, Bria, Sara and Nita out there for the show.

We'll have the full phone interview on the Saturday edition of CARDINAL COUPLE RADIO on Crescent Hill Radio. A couple of teasers...

-What benefits does Coach Walz think being a candidate for an award provide for Louisville women's basketball?

-Is it Coach Walz's first trip to the ESPY's?

-Were Coach Walz and Shoni staying in touch during the WUGS?

Tune in Saturday morning for these answers and more words from Walz at 11 a.m.

www.crescenthillradio.com
 
You can also listen to last Saturday's show and previous CARDINAL COUPLE RADIO shows in the archives section at Crescent Hill Radio's homepage.

Also, when listening to the show "live" ... you do have to pick a selection (like Windows Media or another) to hear the broadcast. The preview that plays on the home page DOES NOT automatically connect you to our show. Sonja found that out the hard way last week.



--Paulie

..

Monday Cardinal Couple -- Shoni selected for WUGS

MONDAY CARDINAL COUPLE


-Shoni one of twelve picked for World University Games team

-Shoni and Jude

-Walz, Shoni to meet with media today

-The hunt to replace Cam -- Some suggestions.

-JSW to transfer?


33 enter, 12 emerge.

Louisville's do-it-all senior guard Shoni Schimmel has been selected to play in the 2013 World University Games for the USA Women's Basketball team in Kazan, Russia July 8-15.

Sheri Coale (Oklahoma) head coach of the WUGS is excited about the squad and the upcoming event:

"Fun - that's the first thing that comes to mind. I think they will be a really interesting bunch to coach. They can do a lot of different things. There were a lot of shooters on this team. A lot of versatility, guys who can step out and score and we also have guys who can break you down off the dribble. Good pieces. Really good pieces and really good parts."

But none of them with as stunning hair as you, Sheri.

Her quote is interesting. Last I checked, she was the women's head coach but has two "guys" references. I know, it's popular parlance these days in coach speak...but then the pieces and parts references. She's either pleased with the 12-piece bucket she got at KFC or quite excited about the roster.

I live for Sherri Coale interviews.

Unfortunately, for Cardinal fans...our Bria Smith and Sara
Hammond did not make the roster. Honor enough to be invited, I suppose, but...hey!...this was the national runner-up squad and UConn got two on the squad.

Just sayin'...


Here's the roster with my own observations:

Ariel Massengale   G   Tennessee  Clutch shooter, solid "D".
Bria Hartley  G  UConn  Another good shooter, court savvy.
Cassie Harberts  F  USC Strong on boards, nice inside shot.
Reshanda Gray  F  Cal Card fans will remember her inside.
Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis  G  UConn Three-point deadly.
Aaryn Ellenberg  G  Okla Knows Coale's system. Explosive.
Crystal Bradford  G  Cent. Mich. Good energy, hustle.
Shoni Schimmel  G  Louisville The wizard of the hardwood
Theresa Plainsance  F  LSU. Will be the glass cleaner.
Odyssey Sims  G  Baylor Quick, driving. Shoni's best pal.
Tricia Lister  G  Duke A good fit with these. Energy, scores
Jordan Hooper  F  Nebraska. Did she actually beat out Sara?

Louisville head coach Jeff Walz is happy for Shoni as well:

"This is a great opportunity for Shoni to play against some of the best competition in the world throughout the summer. It is an honor to have her represent USA Basketball, the University of Louisville, her family and her heritage on the world stage."

And, as several of you have mentioned in e-mails to me...she'll show up for summer sessions and fall practice at UofL in shape.

The squad starts against Belarus on July 8th. and the Czech Republic on July 9th.

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More good stuff on Shoni (and Jude) in the link below. Thanks to the several e-mails I received on this article. I'm always thankful and grateful for the links that our wonderful readership base provides us with. And, always glad to post them for all when we can.

Whoever is sending me the Brianna Stewart photos can stop though. Seriously.

LINKIE:

JUDE AND SHONI TALK GOALS AND INSPIRATION




"We're out of the house soup!!!"

UofL has called a press conference for Monday at 4:15 p.m. so members of the media can talk to Shoni and Coach Walz.
I'll meander on down there and report the festivities to you in the Tuesday Edition of Cardinal Couple. My guess is that they'll talk about the WUGS experience.

Either that, or they're opening a restaurant to compete with Geno's. I wonder if they'll offer a WALZdorf Salad and if Shoni will get up in your face for your order...ala Griner.


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We're getting e-mails about who will replace Cam Newbauer as an assistant for UofL women's basketball. We have no way of knowing who has applied, who is on the short list or who is on first. But, it true CARDINAL COUPLE sophomoric and parody fashion...the staff chimps came up with a list...of sorts.

10) Julie Hermann - It could be the one thing that would make her recant on the Rutgers job and stay here in the Ville.
9)  C Viv Stringer - She's said she likes the KFC YUM! Center and she and Walz appear to get along. We think she'd love 4th Street Live, too.
8)  Brianna Stewart - Has there ever been a player/coach in the history of NCAA WBB? Walz could set a rim-shaking trend here with the hire.
7)  Alicja Wolny - She mentioned to us on Cardinal Couple Radio that she will be looking for a job after graduation. She's popular, pretty, smart and could double as hitting coach for softball.
6)  Bonita Spence -  She and Walz have a wonderful relationship and she could cue the players in on what is and what isn't a foul. Plus, it would get her out of officiating.
5)  Jeff McAdams -  We think Jeff is an excellent writer, gets along with everyone and his selection would give us an unprecedented insider look and source to the program.
4)  Jerry Abramson -  He already has seats on the floor, has leadership experience and definitely knows the city. He can't be that busy as Lt. Gov...and has a great smile.
3)  Charlie Strong - Just look what he did for football! He attends games anyway, so why not 'get on the train' and add Charlie. Availability might be a problem until January...
2)  CeCe Moses - She raised 12% of the current roster, has coaching experience and knows her way around the cameras. Snappy dresser, too..which is always a plus.
1)  Geno -  Another candidate who likes the KFC YUM! Center, will be stuck in "The American" after next year and is looking to expand his restaurant and spaghetti sauce empire. Plus, he'd probably bring Chris Dailey! Bonus!

I will ask Coach later today how the prospective search is going for Cam's replacement. If they let me attend the presser...

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We are getting a few comments and e-mails that Jasmine Smithson-Willett has asked to be released from her softball scholarship from Louisville. No official verification on this yet. We'll keep you posted.

-Paulie

--

Juneau BIG EAST Golfer of the year, Bria Smith news, Rowing ready for BIG EAST.

SATURDAY with CARDINAL COUPLE:

Anna-Karin Ljungstorm joined Juneau
and Laura Anderson on the All-
BIG EAST first team.

-Sara-Maude named BIG EAST Golfer of the Year

-Bria Smith gets a visit from Sherry Coale

-Louisville rowing ready for BIG EAST Championships

Louisville senior Sara-Maude Juneau earned her second straight BIG EAST Player of the Year honor, announced by the conference office on Friday. Fellow senior Laura Anderson and sophomore Anna-Karin Ljungstrom joined her on the All-BIG EAST team.

Juneau led the BIG EAST with a 73.15 scoring average and was ranked #19 in the country. She participated in nine tournament this year...winning the Irish Invitational and gathering five top five finishes.

Anderson made the All-BIG EAST team for the fourth straight year.
She was third on the team in stroke average. She had three top twenty finishes this season and one in the top ten.

Anna-Karin Ljungstrom gathers her second straight BIG EAST honor. She had two top five finishes on the links and came in second in the BIG EAST Championships...losing in a sudden death playoff.

The Cards will participate in the NCAA Championships, ranked #13 in the East Regional. They tee it up beginning Friday, May 5th.

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Sherry Coale, head coach at Oklahoma, made a surprise visit to Bria Smith's Christ the King high school on Thursday. Coale got a talk in with head coach Bob Mackey and Smith and then left. Smith's reaction to the visit?

"It means they want you." A lot of people do. Mackey referred to the fact he had talked to over 100 coaches since Smith de-committed from Virginia following Debbie Ryan's retirement. Smith has made two visits...to Tennessee and Louisville and says she could visit two more schools before she makes her decision. That decision could come at the NY Daily News basketball awards dinner at B.B. King Blues Club on May 10th. Who's the leaders for her services?

Sherri Coale is the head coach at Oklahoma. She
paid an unannounced visit to Bria Smith and her coach.

"I'm not really sure. I made two trips this spring break, I think that's enough for spring break. I just have to think about what I'm going to do next." Smith has said she loved her trips to Louisville and Tennessee and that Oklahoma is in the picture now, as well. Smith's mother said that Bria has also expressed an interest in Georgia.

"I just have to make the process of finding a new school fun," she commented. "Hopefully, by next year, I'll be at a new school with a championship under my feet."

(Portions of this report came from Mitch Abramson's article in the New York Daily News, Friday April 29th, 2011.)

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Cardinal women's rowing enters the BIG EAST Championships at Mercer Lake in West Windsor, NJ with the #1 seed in the varsity eight and varsity four races. They'll practice today and hold the races Sunday. Louisville head rowing coach Laura Aubrey commented on the team and the preparation.

Louisville rowing opened a brand new facility
earlier this month by the Ohio River. It's nice!

"This team is very prepared for the BIG EAST Championships and despite the horrific Ohio River conditions, the morale, focus and determination of the team has not faltered for one second. They remain hungry, enthusiastic and prepared to perform at their absolute best this upcoming weekend. I am very proud of this team right now. We stress all year about taking care of the little things, building trust amongst each other, making good and selfless decisions and staying accountable for all of your actions. Right now, we are definitely feeling the benefits of the commitment we made to those principals.....I know this team is ready for their BIG EAST Championship and nothing is going to get in their way or stop them from reaching their goal."

(Good thing that the BIG EAST Championships aren't in Louisville this weekend. The Ohio River is way over flood stage and the rowers would have to contend with swift currents, trees and other debris floating down the muddy Ohio. Good luck girls, bring home the title and trophy.)