Swimming awards, Tennis 'Shines'

THURSDAY at CARDINAL COUPLE:

-Raine Thompson BIG EAST Swimmer of the Week

-Women's Tennis in FGCU Invitational.

-MAIL CALL

Liz Sherwood (pictured right) has drawn the interest of a CARDINAL COUPLE reader. No, she doesn't have any eligibility left...

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Congratulations to sophomore swimmer Raine Thompson for being named BIG EAST swimmer of the Week. Raine had a big day recently in a dual meet against Cincinnati...winning three events. She took the 200-yard butterfly in 2:03:14. Next was the 500-yard freestyle in 4:58:62. She also was a part of the 400 medley relay team that crossed the wire first at 3:45:37...a school record. The Lady Cards splashers are 3-0 in BIG EAST dual meets and head to Lexington next for a Saturday 2 p.m. drowning of the Pool Kats.

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Women's Tennis finished their Invitational part of the season with a strong showing in the FGCU Invitational in Florida with a doubles championship, singles championship and two co-championships. Sarah Miller and Becca Shine combined to win the Flight 3 doubles, knocking off Illinois. Julie Fellerhoff took the Flight 1 singles championship with an impressive match win over Aline Berkerbrock of North Florida. In other singles action, UofL's Amelia Harris and Stefanie Villajuan were co-champs in Flight 8 and 9 singles.

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Mark Beckham has assembled a strong group of players for the 2011 season and comments on the recent Invitational:

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"This was our last individual event before the start of the dual season. I wanted to test the team and see how they would respond to a very strong tournament outside...after being indoors for the past three months. They responded very well...doing better than I expected. This team is as ready as we can be to start the dual season this Friday and I think we are going to do very well this year. ".

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The Cards open dual play against Bowling Green at the Bass-Rudd Tennis Center on Friday at 2 p.m. and Morehead State and West Virginia come to town Sunday.

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FROM THE MAIL CENTER:

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Cardinal Couple:

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We heard Liz Sherwood briefly on the radio during the UofL vs. Connecticut game Saturday. Something was mentioned about her bring a UConn player, I think. Details on her, please?

-William

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Hey, William!

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(And here we thought we were the only ones that were listening on faint 101.7)

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Liz is a graduate assistant for the Lady Cards and Jeff Walz this year. She did play college ball for first UConn and then Vanderbilt. She was on the air with Jim Kelch for the broadcast since neither Paul Sanderford nor A.J. made the trip to Hartford. CARDINAL COUPLE'S Paul got the chance to see her at the start of the season at a UofL practice. She's 6'4", a great help and teacher for UofL's "bigs" and, according to Paul, doesn't smile much. WE watched some YOU TUBE of her and she was a player you didn't want to mess with inside. WE actually did an article here on the site about her when she first came to Louisville. If you go to the bottom of today's post, look at the 'lables' section under the column and click on her name...you can find it in our archives and read it. Thanks for writing!

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YO, C.C...hollar

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Who u got as Big East First team so far this year beside Maya Moore? I got Shoni, Liz from WVU, Hampton at DePaul and Digs up at N.D.

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-ballin' at ballard.

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Thanks for asking, ballin'! If this is who WE think it is, WE'RE glad you are getting some playing time! WE'RE going to agree with Maya, Keishia Hampton and Skylar Diggins. WE'RE putting Georgetown's Sugar Rodgers and Monique Reid in our top five. Keep hustling, superstar! The future belongs to you...you could make this list someday.

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Paul and Sonja:

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We see you two on press row for the UofL women's games and appreciate your coverage here at this site. We miss you in the stands..but are glad you have access to the program. Not sure if you can answer this or not, but we see Kim Pemberton stop by and talk briefly with you near the end of games. Can you tell us what's going on? Thanks.

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Section 115.

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Hey Section 115! We had a lot of fun in the Hall sitting with you all...Kim is stopping by to see if Sonja wants to get in a few minutes at power forward. Just kidding...She asks us and a few others that cover the games...like Howie Lindsey and Jody Demling...which players we would like to ask questions of at the post game press conference. Jody, Howie and Bob Domine usually ask most of the questions...we like Monique Reid's candor and descriptions at the post game pressers, Shoni is very well spoken and has a wry sense of humor, Becky Burke comes up with some great one-liners and the other girls do a great job, too. Our favorite post gamer was after the UK game and Victoria Dunlap and Adia Mathies were on the podium for the Cats. They were so banged and bruised up, that it was like being in a triage unit in the emergency room. Ice packs and wraps everywhere. They were gracious in defeat...but pretty anxious to get off the stage and on the bus to Lexington....

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CARDS put 393 on first semester honor roll

WEDNESDAY @ C.C.

-Honors...

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-WBB after 19 games...

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-David Watson commentary

The University of Louisville had 393 scholar athletes make the honor roll with 3.0 or better grades during the first semester. Jeff Walz had eight of his Lady Cards hoopsters named to the list. Becky Burke, Shawnta Dyer, Tia Gibbs, Shelby Harper, Keisha Hines, LaToya Johnson, Shoni Schimmel and Antonita Slaughter all acheived the grades. Other womens sports:

(Burke and Schimmel...they shoot and study!)

-Volleyball (9)

-Tennis (8)

-Softball (11)

-Soccer (23)

Golf (7)

Rowing (32)

Field Hockey (16)

Swimming/Diviing (23)

Track and Field (23)

Congratulations to all scholars and keep up the good work!

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Some numbers after 19 games for WBB:

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-Six Lady Cards have played in all 19 games...Reid, Schimmel, Gibbs, Burke, Hines and Vails.

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-Reid (16.2) leads the team in scoring, Schimmel in double figures also (16.0). 308 points for Reid, 304 for Schimmel.

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-Slaughter leads in 3-point percentage (20-48) .417. Gibbs (27-67) .403, Burke (36-90). 400 and Schimmel (50-136) .368 follow. LaToya Johnson is 1-1 (1.000).

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-Keisha Hines has 123 rebounds (6.5) followed by Monique Reid with 102 (5.4). Hines also leads the way with fouls (71) followed by Vails (47).

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-Louisville has outscored their opponents 1459-1173. An average of 15.1 per game...76.8 to 61.7.

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-The Cards have 252 steals this year...tops in the BIG EAST and 99 more than their opponents. They've also forced opponents into 447 turnovers while committing 342.

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-Five LADY CARDS average 20 minutes a game or better. Schimmel (29.7), Reid (26.2), Gibbs (25.8), Burke (25.0) and Hines (21.1). Vails nearly makes the list with (19.3) a game.

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Watson weighs in:

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I'm not much of a stat tracker or follower, but there are two stats about this year's Lady Cards team that do catch my eye. In games in the KFC YUM! Center...Louisville is 8-1. The loss came to top ten ranked Tennessee. Outside of the KFC YUM! Center they are 4-6. Louisville has 11 games remaining in the regular season and six are at home. Based on my highly unscientific formula, I can now offer that the University of Louisville womens' basketball team will finish the regular season 19-11. I'll further offer that they win two games in the BIG EAST Tournament and two in the NCAA Tournament. Nothing like sticking your nexk out there, is there?

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What say you, David and why? I figure the Cards, based on the numbers above, will go 5-1 at home the rest of the year. It'll probably be DePaul who dishes out that loss. If not, WVU would be glad to step in. I generously predict that Louisville will go 2-3 on the road the rest of the year. I HOPE I'm wrong on this but, once again, I'm just playing the numbers. Let's say wins over Providence and Villanova and losses to Syracuse, USF and Marquette. Once again, just the numbers talking. 19-11 ( 10-6 in conference) is a heck of a regular season.

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My own opinion, taking the numbers out of play, is a 20-10 finish. Louisville will handle Cincinnati, Marquette, Rutgers, Georgetown, Villanova, USF, Seton Hall and Providence. They will struggle with WVU, DePaul and Syracuse.

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So, what does 20-10 ( 11-5 in conference) get you? The record should be good for a top 5 berth in the BIG EAST Tournament. Put Connecticut, WVU, Notre Dame and DePaul above you. The numbers should also easily guarantee a NCAA Tournament appearance, too. Same scenario as above, two wins in the BIG EAST and two wins in the NCAA Tournaments.

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I've also designed a "doomsday" outcome as well. Let's say the Cards can handle Cincinnati, Villanova, Seton Hall, Providence and USF. Let's say they lose to WVU, Syracuse, Marquette, DePaul, Rutgers and Georgetown. This makes UofL 17-13 (8-8 in conference). They're squarely on the bubble for the NCAA...but get slighted and go one to win 4 games in the NIT. This one is evil, ignore it please.

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The philosophy I like best is that of my youngest daughter. She says that UofL will win all eleven games and the BIG EAST tournament. They make the FINAL FOUR in the NCAA but lose to Stanford. She's got a future with the BCS Bowl Selection Committee. Someone get me Lou Holtz's number and please pry this calculator out of my hands.

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(David Watson is a special contributor to CARDINAL COUPLE. He also claims to be able to tour most golf courses in 90 or under. Maybe Putt-Putt, David...we've seen your swing and it ain't pretty...)

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CATCHING UP WITH...JAZZ COVINGTON

TUESDAY at C.C.

-"All that Jazz" still making music.

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-Zenyatta better than Blame?
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Before there was Jeff Walz and Angel McCoughtry and a trip to the NCAA Championship Game, a tough as nails post player from Adel, GA. prowled the paint for Tom Collen and the Lady Cards. In her four years at Louisville, Jazz Covington posted some very memorable stats. She is the third leading scorer of all time at UofL and led the Cards in scoring in 2004-05 and 2005-06. She 's also 2nd all time in career rebounding for Louisville and she led UofL in field goal shooting percentage her first three years as a Cardinal. Covington led teams made NCAA Tournament appearances her final three years and she played in 125 games as a Cardinal...going 88-37.

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We caught up with #12 recently and here's an update on her:

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Cardinal Couple: Fill us in on what you're doing these days.

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JAZZ: I'm in my fourth season as a professional basketball player in Europe. Currently I am playing in France for Union Hainaut (UHBSA).

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Cardinal Couple: Do you stay in touch with any of your teammates from your UofL days?

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JAZZ: Yes! I still keep in contact with a few of my old teammates on a regular basis.

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Cardinal Couple: Recalling those days...what was your favorite moment as a Cardinal?

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JAZZ: Senior night.

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Cardinal Couple: Out of 125 career games, is there a most memorable one?

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JAZZ: My most memorable game is the game against UK my freshman year in their gym. It was the first time I had ever played in a gym with that many people. I mean...it was packed and the air was thin! Let's not forget that UofL and UK are rivals! I remember being up against Se Se Helm...considerably one of the best centers that year. It was a battle...senior on freshman. I fouled out with 4:00 in regulation but for 30 minutes I battled it out with Se Se. I was upset about the overtime loss yet pleased with my performance and effort.

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Cardinal Couple: What might we be doing with Jazz on a night that she's not on the court? An evening of fun...

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JAZZ: First, we're going to go out to eat. I can't do anything on an empty stomach. After, we would go have drinks at a nice spot with live music, preferably some jazz, blues or neo soul...you know, something for the grown folk. Clubs aren't really my thing but every now and then I might go.

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Cardinal Couple: We're making dinner for Jazz! What are her favorite foods?

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JAZZ: Aw, man! I LOVE lasagna with a lot of meat and very cheesy, not too hot though because I want to be able to chow down without having to blow on every fork full. Ocean Spray CranApple juice to drink! As for desert, red velvet cake...made from scratch, not that chocolate cake with red food coloring stuff. On top, some BlueBell Vanilla Ice Cream! And, a glass of vanilla soy milk to top it off.

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Cardinal Couple: Who was the toughest opponent you faced in college?

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JAZZ: Myself. I'm always my toughest opponent and critic. No one is harder on me than me. I expect so much out of me. And...'to whom much is given, much more is expected'.

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Cardinal Couple: Toughest team you faced in college?

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JAZZ: We played a lot of good teams from Conference USA and the BIG EAST. Just to name a few...UConn, Rutgers, TCU and Houston were all very good...but the toughest, grimiest, fight on your hands teams were West Virginia's 2006-07 team and East Carolina's 2004-05 team. It was always a battle in the paint for me when we played those two...

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Cardinal Couple: Name four players that you would recruit to play in a starting five with you...

JAZZ:

Marjo Carpreaux (ESBVA)-PG

Amanda Jackson (Miami-Ohio)-G

Sylvia Fowles (LSU-WNBA)-C (pictured right)

and

Angel...

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Cardinal Couple:

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We're riding in Jazz's car. What are we likely to hear playing?

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JAZZ: Hip hop. Ice Cube, Bun B., Scarface...when I feel like letting my inner G out. But, mainly...R&B/Neo Soul...Raheem DeVaughn, Tank, Algebra Blesset...when I'm just riding. Especially at night.

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Cardinal Couple:

If you could change one thing about your collegiate career, what would it be?

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JAZZ: Nothing. Everything happened according to HIS plan for me. I'm rolling with it!

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Cardinal Couple:

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What do you want to be doing five years from now?

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JAZZ: Exactly what I'm doing right now! Travelling the world and doing what I so passionately love to do-play basketball!!

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Cardinal Couple:

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The three most important things to you?

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JAZZ: GOD, my happiness and my family...in that order.

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Cardinal Couple:

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Anyone special you'd like to acknowledge or 'shout out' to in closing?

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JAZZ: I want to say 'Hi' to my good friend and mentor Monica Fitzpatrick. Thru good, bad and sometimes ugly...you remained the same and always told me exactly what I needed to hear, not what I wanted to hear. A true friend... from the first day we spoke in the airport my freshman year to now. I love you Ma!

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WE thank Jazz for sharing and opening up to us for our readers. Here at CARDINAL COUPLE, we've always hoped to see her play again on this side of the Atlantic in the WNBA and wish her the best of luck in Euroball. A fierce competitor who ruled with style, grace and authority during her Cardinal days...Jazz Covington continues to 'pull em down and put em back in'.

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IS THERE A FORMER LADY CARD YOU'D LIKE TO SEE A "CATCHING UP' ARTICLE ON? SHOOT US A E-MAIL OR COMMENT ON THIS ARTICLE. WE'LL DO OUR BEST TO TRACK THEM DOWN!

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Zenyatta over Blame for Horse of the Year? Really? WE have to disagree here at CARDINAL COUPLE. Most of the awards that were given out last night at the 2010 Eclipse Awards we have no problem with. In fact, we were right there with the awards on Two-Year-Old Male (Uncle Mo), Two-Year-Old Filly (Awesome Feather) and Three-Year-Old Male (Lookin At Lucky). We'll even agree with Ramon Dominguez as Jockey of The Year. Can't go with Zenyatta, though...

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Here's the argument. The two met in the Breeders Cup Classic. Blame beat Zenyatta. Would you give the NCAA Women's Championship to Louisville in 2009 because they came in second to Connecticut? Of course not. Blame deserves the honor. The Daily Racing Form voters, from the most knowledgeable source of thoroughbred racing...voted convincingly for Blame. But, other voters included the National Turf Writers and Broadcasters, National Thoroughbred Racing Association and Equibase members. Popularity contest...sure, Zenyatta wins hands down. But the best met and the best horse won. Blame won the battle but lost the war. Undeservedly.

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Martin Luther King Jr - I Have a Dream

MONDAY @ CARDINAL COUPLE:
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We take a day away from the joy and excitement of University of Louisville womens athletics to celebrate the holiday of a man whose efforts dramatically changed the landscape of the world as we know it. His efforts to acheive equality, fairness and human rights for all God's children during a time of uncertainy and strife in our society sadly ended in the ultimate sacrifice...his death for his cause.
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Please take the time to recall some important words from Martin Luther King, Jr. on this day of his celebration and rememberance. And try to live the tone and theme of what he taught us...if you can dream it, you can acheive it.
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Tomorrow, we'll return with an exclusive interview with one of the finest to ever don a jersey for the University of Louisville's women's basketball team. Today, we ask you to join us in celebrating the freedoms we have here in America that we sometimes take for granted...freedoms not available for some human beings here on earth below. We also ask you to join us in prayer for those who still search, still strive and fight for the basic rights and freedoms denied them...in hopes that someday soon, they'll also be free at last.
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Cards sink Bearcats in Ralph Wright Natatorium

SUNDAY CARDINAL COUPLE:

Swimming/Diving sweeps UC.

Track/Field scores at UK.

Breaking Down the UConn numbers.

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Good job, guys!

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Lindsey LaPorte, pictured here, had two wins in the dual meet against Cincinnati yesterday in the Ralph Wright Natatorium. She was one of many Cards taking at least two events in the win. Louisville won every event...the men scoring 214-69 and the ladies 211-83. LaPorte was successful in the 1650 meter free style and 800 free relay.

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Pedro Oliveria and Raine Thompson had four wins on the day. Following with two were Hannah Gadd, Cameron Dehn, Fanny Lillestrom, Therese Bergstrom, Aileen Cole, Matt Schlytter, Grite Apanaviciute, Alex Burtch and Breann McDowell.

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Both Louisville teams are 3-0 in BIG EAST competition this season.

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The Lady Cards track and field team had a big day Saturday in the Kentucky Invitational at the Nutter Field House in Lexington. Charachesica Lockhart took the long jump, and Khadija Abdullah won the shot put. Rachel Gehret finished first in the high jump. Other Cardinal scoring well:

-Chinwe Okoro...4th shot put

-D'Ana McCarty...5th shot put

-Megan Schubert..2nd high jump.

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Louisville managed to force Connecticut into 18 turnovers yesterday in a 78-55 loss in the XL Center in Hartford, CT., but returned the favor with 18 of their own. Freshman guard Shoni Schimmel had seven of the miscues...no other Cardinal had more than two. The Cards won the steals category 12-9 (Tia Gibbs 4, Charmaine Tay 3) but UConn took assists 17-12 (Schimmel 6, Monique Reid 4). Louisville committed 16 fouls (Keisha Hines 5, Gibbs 4, Sherrone Vails 3) compared to the Huskies' 14.

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UConn went 30-56 (53.6%) from the field...Louisville 20-63 (31.7%). The Huskies also won the 3-point battle with 6-15 shooting (40%) while Louisville went 7-21 (33%). For the Lady Cards, Schimmel was 3-12 from behind the arc, Gibbs 3-5, Becky Burke 1-3 and Reid 0-1. Bria Hartley led all trifecta attempters..going 4-8.

Free throws went in UConn's favor also, the Huskies going 12-16 (75%) from the stripe. Louisville (8-12, 66%) was led by Asia Taylor's 3 out of 4. The Cards did go 6-7 from the line in the second half.

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Jeff Walz played 10 Cardinals in the game...Schimmel getting 38 minutes. Gibbs had 31, Reid 30, Burke 23, Keisha Hines 20 and both Sherrone Vails and Charmaine Tay logging 19 each. Taylor had 14 minutes...Antonita Slaughter and Rachel Story added 3 each. The Cards lost the rebounding battle to the Huskies 43-30...Hines grabbing five for Louisville.

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Louisville's freshmen accounted for 23 Cardinal points and 10 turnovers. Last year's participants against the Huskies were good for 23 points and Gibbs added 9.

The freshmen were 9-27 from the floor, the rest of the Cards 11-36. Louisville's two leading scorers on the season, Schimmel and Reid...went a combined 7 for 31 from the field.

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Three stats that tell the story of this game are the decided rebounding advantage for the Huskies, the pitiful shooting of Reid and Schimmel and the second half point differential. UConn outscored Louisville by 18 (47-29) in the second half...creating that advantage in the last fifteen minutes of the game. As Coach Walz always says, you gotta play 40 minutes of good basketball to win...

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A great comeback yesterday for Rick Pitino's guys in the KFC YUM Center. Down by 18 with less than six minutes to go, the Cards staged a furious rally and took the lead at 71-70 when Preston Knowles found "the King" Kyle Kuric underneath the basket for a goal with four second to go. It was one of the best games (at least the end) WE'VE seen in a long time...and congrats to the guys for never giving up.

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Second half surge sends Huskies past Cards 78-55

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Moore and Hartley's 50 points doom Cards

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UConn used a 17-5 early second half run to bury Louisville and outscored the Cards 47-29 in the final twenty minutes to go to 16-1, 6-0 in the BIG EAST in front of a sold out XL Center in Hartford, Connecticut this afternoon. #2 Connecticut broke open a 39-34 game with 15 minutes remaining the the second half and led the Cards 56-39 with 7:46 left in the game. Maya Moore (pictured right) led all scorers with 26 points.

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The Cards battled hard against UConn early on, leading

several times early in the contest. Their final lead came after a Keisha Hines basket to make it 9-7 six minutes into the contest. Connecticut went on a 7-0 run to gain the lead for good and led 29-18 with 3:42 remaining in the first half before a 8-2 half ending Cardinal rally made it 31-26 at the end of first half action. The Cards were aided by Maya Moore going to the bench with 5:16 remaining in the half. Moore still led the Huskies with 14 first half points. The Cards used balanced scoring to stay within reach against UConn...Tia Gibbs with two 3-pointers and six points and Keisha Hines and Shoni Schimmel with five each.

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Louisville hung with Geno's squad early in the final stanza and after a Shoni Schimmel jumper with 15 minutes left in the game was back within five at 39-34. Moore and Hartley took over after that, though...scoring 15 of the next 19 Huskies points. The Cards would steadily fade the remainder of the contest...trailing 61-44 when Keisha Hines fouled out with 5:51 left in the game. UConn led 73-49 after a Hartley jumper with 2:53 remaining and played out the rest of the game with reserves to notch the win.

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Louisville was led by Shoni Schimmel's 15 points. Gibbs and Hines had nine each for the Cards and Charmaine Tay added seven from off the bench. Becky Burke and Asia Taylor contributed five each. Monique Reid was held to four points on 1-11 shooting...the first time this year she has failed to reach double figures in a game.

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UConn starter Tiffany Hayes left the contest at the 18:30 mark in the first half following a collision on the court and did not return for the Huskies. Maybe a rueful blessing for the Cards, since Hayes has been one of the main Huskies catalysts this season. We hope she's OK.

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Louisville falls to 12-7, 3-2 with the road loss. The Cards once again found out that 40 minutes of solid basketball is needed to win in the tough BIG EAST. Costly turnovers, missed defensive assignments and blown scoring opportunities plagued the Cards during the Huskies 17-5 second half run that spanned nearly eight minutes...and Hines going to the bench a couple of minutes later pretty much sealed the door on any late Louisville rally. UConn outscored the Cards 20-11 after the senior LADY CARDS center left the game.

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A week of preparation for Walz's bunch before their next game...a visit from Cincinnati next Saturday at 2 p.m. in the YUM Center. Despite the lopsided final score, the Cards can gather some positive things from the defeat...especially from the first half...when Louisville's outside shooting and interior play gave UConn fits at times. Next objective: to put the good traits together against a Bearcat team that has improved leaps and bound since the Cards defeated them in Cincinnati back on December 15th.

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Jim Kelch handled the broadcast duites by himself for CARDS RADIO this afternoon, except for a few occasional comments by Lady Cards staffer Liz Sherwood, a former UConn grad. As usual, cool as a cucumber and showing grace under pressure...Kelch delivered another top notch play by play recount on 101.7 WKRD FM...since the men were on 790 AM today. It's one tough channel to get a clear broadcast on unless you happen to live next door to the transmitter...and coupled with watching the men on TV...I'm as worn out as the Cards after this one. Congrats to Pitino's crew...pulling out an amazing come from behind win over Marquette in the YUM this afternoon. NO MORE SAME DAY, OVERLAPPING GAMES FOR THE MEN AND WOMEN, TOM JURICH!!PLEASE....Between a scratchy radio signal and television feed that kept cutting in and out during the first half...plus the 11 a.m. start...I feel like I've put in 12 hours already in the middle of the afternoon....

McCarty wins at Kentucky...Watson weighs in

SATURDAY at the COUPLE:

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-UofL women's track in Lexington

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David Watson discusses UConn game

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BE SURE TO CHECK BACK LATER TODAY FOR A FULL REPORT ON THE UofL vs. CONNECTICUT WOMENS GAME RECAP AND RESULTS.

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The University of Louisville had success yesterday at the Kentucky Invitational in Lexington at the Nutter Field House. D'Ana McCarty won the weight throw competition , beating the competition by more than a meter with a toss of 21.11m. Patrice Gates grabbed fifth in the event with a hurl of 17.95m. McCarty, the two-time defending weight throw champion, has now won nine straight weight throw competitions.

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Charachesicia Lockhart used a leap of 12.39m to finish third in the triple jump. The events continue today.

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CARDINAL COUPLE received this from special correspondent DAVID WATSON about the UofL vs. Connecticut game that will tip at noon Saturday.

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Call it improbable, unlikely, out of the question or remote. Not the scenario that my teenage daughter will clean her room. I'm referring to this hope that Louisville can pull out the win at Connecticut today. Never say never or impossible, though. Stranger and wilder things have happen in the history of NCAA Womens Basketball.

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Geno Auriemma is probably enjoying coaching as much or more than he ever has since his time at UConn. His Huskies aren't the 30+ favorite in every game this year, which means he actually has to do a little coaching during timeouts. The Huskies have actually lost once this year, escaped by the skin on Maya Moore's knee in South Bend and are #2 in the nation.

Aliens who receive these radio broadcasts decades from now will probably riot in the streets when they get the news that UConn lost. That and the whole Lindsay Lohan scenario probably is their main source of entertainment galaxies away.

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I don't wager money on professional sporting events except for the occasional trip to the horse race track. If today's game were a horse race, UConn would have 1/9 odds and Louisville would be higher than 99-1 on the tote board. I have no idea what the sports palaces in Lost Wages, Nevada are offering for a lone on this game. I would be very surprised, though, if UConn was anything less than a 25 point favorite. I'll put up this $2 off coupon I have for pizza right now squarely on the Cards, though.

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Call it premonition, too much coffee, call it "Bob" if you wish, but I think Louisville will play the Huskies very close today. We'll know in a few hours whether I'm a prophet or need to switch to decaf. Happy Saturday, all!

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David Watson is a special correspondent for CARDINAL COUPLE. He sends us thoughts and observations from time to time when he takes a break from sorting and arranging his 8-track tape collection by artist and issue date.

Basketball heads up busy womens sports weekend

FRIDAY CARDINAL COUPLE:

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-LADY CARDS face UConn

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-Swimming & Diving host Cincy

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Cards in Kentucky Invitational track meet.

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Barack Obama, pictured right, decides to forego the rest of his presidency and play basketball for Geno at UConn. Although there are plenty of U.S. American citizens that would wholeheartedly approve the move, the picture is actually from when the Hustlin' Huskies visited the White House after winning the 2010 NCAA Women's Basketball Championship. Unconfirmed rumors that Obama put on the Air Jordans, shot around with Geno's gals on his private court and got schooled by former Husky great Tina Charles could not be verified. Maya Moore did go off for 33 against Hillary Clinton, though.

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The "from the fire to the frying pan" road trip continues for Jeff Walz's University of Louisville Lady Cards Saturday with a noon tip off against #2 UConn. Maybe the coach can summons the late, great John Belushi's pep talk from Animal House to motivate his 12-6 tribe. The Huskies are 15-1, 5-0 so far this season...losing to Stanford at Stanford and are coming off a 84-52 dismantling of St. John's in their last court appearance.

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UConn is led by All-American Maya Moore and although she could probably play with two waitresses, Bill the Goat and my aunt Sarah and still be 15-1, the Huskies have several other players that can light opponents up. It's Geno, after all...what else would you expect?

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The Huskies have starters Kelly Faris, Stephanie Dolson, Tiffany Hayes and Loren Dixon to call on if Moore decides to take a night off. Faris, Hayes and Dixon were all key contributors during last year's title grab and freshman Dolson is an impressive rebounder that is learning quickly as she goes for Geno. The second five that sees action for UConn could probably start for most of the other schools in Division I...Samarie Walker, Lauren Engeln, Bria Hartley, Heather Buck and Michala Johnson were all top class recruits coming out off high school and the Huskies' production doesn't suffer too badly when they enter the game. Carolyn Doty is also listed...but not playing due to injury.

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How do the Cards compete against such a worthy opponent? Rhetoric and theory are great things and we could lay out a ton of situational scenario for you to digest, but for Louisville to win...they must play their best game of the year...and then some. A Kentucky type effort might keep Louisville within 12-15 points. In short, no defensive lapses, tentative rebounding, mediocre 3-point shooting or points off turnover squandering. Is it in you, Louisville? We'll know early Saturday afternoon..

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The University of Louisville swimming and diving teams hosts Cincinnati for a dual meet on Saturday in the Ralph Wright Natatorium. Both the men's and women's squads are 2-0 on the year in the BIG EAST after downing WVU and Pitt. Splash away, aquatic heroes!

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Track and Field heads to Lexington this afternoon for a 2 day meet in the Kentucky Invitational in UK's Nutter Field House. On the women's side...14 squads will compete. D'Ana McCarty tries to top her NCAA #2 throw in the Weight Throw and Khadija Abdullah goes for a NCAA best in the shot put. The Cards will also compete in the Pole Vault, Triple Jump, High Jump and Long Jump in the field and seven track events over the 2 day meet. You can follow the results on http://www.ukathletics.com/ or just check back here for the outcomes.

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Irish thump Lady Cards 80-60

THURSDAY CARDINAL COUPLE:

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-Notre Dame gives Louisville first BIG EAST loss 80-60.

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Louisville played with the Irish for a good deal of the first half before a late run turned a 21-20 narrow Notre Dame lead into a 37-22 halftime advantage. Asia Taylor (pictured right) came off the bench to score 16 points in the LADY CARDS loss.

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The Irish started the second half with a roar also and led the Cards 48-24 before Jeff Walz replaced the starters with five players off the bench. They managed to cut the Irish lead to sixteen a couple of times before Walz started mixing the starters back into the lineup...but Louisville never seriously threatened to contend for the win.

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The reserves that Walz inserted into the game (Taylor, Rachel Story, Polly Harrington, Antonita Slaughter and Shelby Harper) played with a sense of urgency and more intensity than those they replaced....Louisville actually outscored the Irish 36-32 the remainder of the contest. The tactic employed by Walz was a strong statement...designed to show the Cards that he will go to whatever means neccessary to insure that 100% hustle and effort on the court is produced whether Louisville is up by 30 or down by 20.

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Numbers speak loud here and Notre Dame outrebounded Louisville 45-35. The Irish also outshot the Cards 45.5% to 29.6% in the first half...and 47.3% to 34.4% for the game.

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The end of first half blitzkrieg by Muffet McGraw's crew was sparked by the play of Brittany Mallory from deep and Becca Bruszweski and Devereaux Peters inside. Six Irish ended up in double figures...Peters and Kayla McBride with 14 each, Skylar Diggins and Natalie Novosel with 12, and Mallory and Bruszweski adding 11. Peters and Bruszweski found the going easy in the paint against the Cards...shooting a combined 12-19 from mostly around the basket.

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Tough to find any silver linings in a black cloud loss like this...but the play of Asia Taylor did prevent Louisville from getting totally blown out of the Purcell Pavilion. Coming off the bench for 23 minutes, Taylor added six rebounds and three steals to her 7 for 9 shooting for the Cards.

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Most of Asia's points, unfortunately, came after the issue was decided...but hopefully this is the beginning chapter of a story where Taylor can contribute quality minutes to the Cardinals short-handed post contingent. Keisha Hines provided seven points and seven rebounds in twenty minutes in the paint for Louisville but Sherrone Vails could only manage two points and a rebound with four fouls against UND in 12 minutes.

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Besides Taylor's 16 points, Shoni Schimmel added 11 points on 4 for 16 shooting and Monique Reid was the other Cardinal to hit double figures with 10 points on 3 for 10 shooting. The Cards cold streak from three point land continued last night...going 4 for 17 (23.5%). Becky Burke 1-5 from the deep, Schimmel 2-8 and Antonita Slaughter 1-3. Louisville cleared .500 from the foul line with a 14-23 effort but the Irish dominated that stat with 24-38 numbers on the charity stripe.

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Call it a loss that most expected against a solid and talented Irish squad that can hurt you in multiple ways. Encouraging that Louisville was able to hang tough with the Irish for most of the first half...but the 27-4 run over two halves was the key component in the Notre Dame victory.

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For Louisville, it was a matter of not being able to stop the Irish from scoring inside and failure to block out and go to the boards. It was a concern that Louisville head coach discussed after the Louisville win over Pitt...and also has to be a prime worry when the Cards take the court Saturday against #2 Connecticut.

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The BIG EAST has had its share of surprising games this year. Add this one to the list...not because the Irish won...but for the surprisingly easy way they blew UofL apart for a crucial moments last night.

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Adrienne Johnson filled in for snowbound Paul Sanderford with the radio commentary alongside Jim Kelch last night. It's a shame the Cards couldn't get her into a jersey to combat the powerful paint play of Peters, Bruszewski and freshman Natalie Achonwa...who grabbed nine boards (seven on the defensive end) for Notre Dame last night.

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Cards and Irish square off tonight

WEDNESDAY @ THE COUPLE:
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-Cards travel to South Bend for Irish
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Lacrosse signs eight for 2012

An early BIG EAST schedule tester for Louisville tonight in South Bend to face #14 Notre Dame in Purcell Pavilion. Reconfigured for basketball last year, Muffet McGraw (pictured right) can invite over 9,000 of her closest friends in to watch this one...the Irish have sold out the arena twice this year and could very well again tonight. Notre Dame is third in the BIG EAST in home attendance behind Louisville and Connecticut. (Photo by AP).
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The Irish were picked to finish 4th in the pre-season BIG EAST Coaches Poll and have amassed a 13-4, 2-2 record so far in the 2010-11 season. Devereaux Peters, fully recovered from knee injuries that have plagued her career at Notre Dame, has had the top hand for McGraw's team as of late and nearly averages a double-double (12.3, 9.7) on the year. She's deadly on the boards and can run the court very well. Skylar Diggins is another outstanding performer wearing the gold and green, the flashy and solid shooting point guard runs the show for the Irish and must be respected whenever she totes the rock. Impressive this year for Notre Dame
is 6'3" freshman post Natalie Achonwa...who hails from Ontario, Canada. She's a rebounding machine that also scores productively from in the paint.
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Natalie Novosel, a Lexington (KY) Catholic product, is a big time scoring forward for Muffet's muppets...a player that will post you up and take you to the rim or burn you from outside if you slack off her. Becca Bruszewski is the enforcer and pounder on the boards...close to scoring 1000 career points for the Irish and way over that total in elbows thrown and picks set. She's a brawler that doesn't back down or give way. She'll be trouble for the Cards. Erica Soloman is another that is capable of a double-double on any night. Brittany Mallory, a clever senior guard, can spark the Irish with her hustle and deadly outside shooting.
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So, it appears the Cards have numerous weapons and threats to worry about as they take the floor tonight. Given the Cardinal philosophy and creed, though...they'll concentrate more on what they can do, their game and try to dictate the pace and flow of the contest. This won't be easy for Jeff Walz's bunch. Notre Dame comes out smothering with defensive intensity and will trap, press and corner opposing guards into steals and turnovers.
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Shoni Schimmel's magician-like ball handling skills will get perhaps the toughest test of the season so far tonight...with no disrespect to Tennessee or Xavier. Connecticut struggled against the Irish defensive intensity and needed Maya Moore to take over the game late to stagger to a win in Purcell...a game that Geno's bunch trailed most of the way. Louisville has shown the ability to jump on opponents early, build a commanding lead and then maintain it the rest of the game...but such a performance tonight would be surprising for the Cards. If this bunch can overcome the road woes they've experienced this year...they'll be competitive and could take the Irish to the final buzzer.
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Game time is 7 p.m. No TV anywhere that we're aware of...which is a shame...but Jim and Paul will do the radio feed for CARDS RADIO 790 AM / 101.7 FM WKRD.
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Kellie Young has inked eight players for the 2012 University of Louisville lacrosse season and the group has a decidedly east coast flavor....four of them from Maryland, one from North Carolina and one from Pennsylvania. The class:
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-Faye Brust...midfielder/attack from Bel Air, MD. A three sport star at John Carroll H.S.
-Carissa Corbett...midfielder from Wilmington, NC. Team captain and MVP at Hoggard High
-Cat Gordon...midfielder/attack from Glen Arm, MD. Played with Brust at John Carroll.
-Kendall Gordon...defense from Worthington, OH. All league, all district.
-Taylor Hagin...midfielder/attack from Cummings, GA. Offensive MVP three years.
-Emily Kolsevich...attack from Pottstown, PA. Prolific scorer in high school.
-Danielle Lazo...midfielder from Stevensville, MD. U.S. Lacrosse U-19 member.
-Casey Pepperman...midfielder from Baltimore, MD. Speedy midfielder, huge potential.


Coach Young is building a solid program here at Louisville and threatens to contend for the BIG EAST top honors this year. We can't wait for the action to begin this spring and with a solid returning class....the CARDS should notch plenty of wins this season. Louisville went 11-6 last year and return stars Bergan Foley, Emily Dashiell, Katie Oliverio, Meghan Ryan, Danielle Pawliw and Liz Lovejoy along with 14 other players from last year and nine freshmen. 10 home games are scheduled for the Cards...beginning Feb., 20th. against Binghamton. If you haven't attended a match, be sure to get out this spring and watch the fast paced, exciting action on Louisville's state of the art field next to Papa John's Cardinal Stadium and the YUM practice facility on Floyd St.
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