You like close, down to the wire games where the visitors defy the odds and eke out a win?
Then last night was right up your alley. Louisville WBB overcame a 59-50 deficit with 6:14 to go in the game and escaped the Hurricanes 69-66 last night. A balanced team effort on defense and 21 points from Kianna Smith take the Cards to 19-2 overall and 9-1 in the ACC. UofL's win, coupled with an NC State loss at Notre Dame, elevate the Cards into a first-place conference tie with the Wolfpack (at least in the loss column).
Miami gave Louisville all they wanted in this one and played the Cards to a first half tie at 35-35. A Kelsey Marshall three with anywhere from 2-3 seconds left in half tied it up, and it also brought the fans in Watsco Arena a Three Stooges comedy routine. It seems no one could figure out just how much time remained in the half. (Gee, I wonder what the timekeeper was doing, watching the NCST game?) So, after posturing, huddling around the scorekeepers table and staring blankly at each other, they decided the half was over. All we needed was a pie in someone's face and someone falling down on the court and doing the Curly shuffle. Miami probably would have liked to have those seconds back at the end of the game...
Kianna Smith led the Cards in the first 20 with 15 points.
Louisville started the second half slowly but finally gained the lead at 42-41 with about four minutes left in the third quarter. Miami wasn't having it, though ,and used an 8-4 run to close the half. The Cards defense was stopping Miami 's All-ACC performer but others were stepping up for the Coral Gables school. 49-46 Canes with 10 minutes to go.
A wild fourth quarter ensued. Louisville cut the lead to two on a Cochran jumper created by a Kasa Robinson steal. That just served to get Miami more fired up than they already were, though, and the Canes went on a 9-2 run to grab a 59-50 lead with 6:14 to play.
How would the Cards respond?
Slowly, at first, it was 61-55 with five minutes to go. A clutch Hailey Van Lith three cut the lead to three and K. Smith trimmed Bassy the Ibuses flocks edge to 63-62. A minute later, a huge Chelsie Hall three gave UofL a 65-63 lead. UM's Marshall had one more three ball left in her, though, and the lead went back to "the U" with 47 seconds to go
The Cards got the ball to Cochran, who was absolutely screaming for it, and she drained a jumper to give UofL a 67-66 lead with 32 seconds left. Kasa Robinson then came up with the defensive play of the game (in my opinion) when she created a steal and got the ball to Kianna Smith. UM had to foul, they did, and Kianna sank both charity tosses. 69-66. Cards.
The Canes had a chance to tie, but, good Louisville defense prevented the home team from getting a good look. Marshall flung a desperate three with the clock going to 00:00, but it was off the mark and Louisville had survived and prospered. Championship teams overcome obstacles and find a way to win. Mission accomplished.
Next up, a Thursday trip to Clemson for the Cards.
It's started out to be a frantic Feburary for Cards WBB, but when you're #4 in the land, every where you go, you can expect you're going to get an opponent's best shot. Let's hope the Tigers are tame enough Thursday to not interrupt or ruin the Cards trip to the land of Palmetto's and boiled peanuts.
--sonja--
Then last night was right up your alley. Louisville WBB overcame a 59-50 deficit with 6:14 to go in the game and escaped the Hurricanes 69-66 last night. A balanced team effort on defense and 21 points from Kianna Smith take the Cards to 19-2 overall and 9-1 in the ACC. UofL's win, coupled with an NC State loss at Notre Dame, elevate the Cards into a first-place conference tie with the Wolfpack (at least in the loss column).
Miami gave Louisville all they wanted in this one and played the Cards to a first half tie at 35-35. A Kelsey Marshall three with anywhere from 2-3 seconds left in half tied it up, and it also brought the fans in Watsco Arena a Three Stooges comedy routine. It seems no one could figure out just how much time remained in the half. (Gee, I wonder what the timekeeper was doing, watching the NCST game?) So, after posturing, huddling around the scorekeepers table and staring blankly at each other, they decided the half was over. All we needed was a pie in someone's face and someone falling down on the court and doing the Curly shuffle. Miami probably would have liked to have those seconds back at the end of the game...
Kianna Smith led the Cards in the first 20 with 15 points.
Louisville started the second half slowly but finally gained the lead at 42-41 with about four minutes left in the third quarter. Miami wasn't having it, though ,and used an 8-4 run to close the half. The Cards defense was stopping Miami 's All-ACC performer but others were stepping up for the Coral Gables school. 49-46 Canes with 10 minutes to go.
A wild fourth quarter ensued. Louisville cut the lead to two on a Cochran jumper created by a Kasa Robinson steal. That just served to get Miami more fired up than they already were, though, and the Canes went on a 9-2 run to grab a 59-50 lead with 6:14 to play.
How would the Cards respond?
Slowly, at first, it was 61-55 with five minutes to go. A clutch Hailey Van Lith three cut the lead to three and K. Smith trimmed Bassy the Ibuses flocks edge to 63-62. A minute later, a huge Chelsie Hall three gave UofL a 65-63 lead. UM's Marshall had one more three ball left in her, though, and the lead went back to "the U" with 47 seconds to go
The Cards got the ball to Cochran, who was absolutely screaming for it, and she drained a jumper to give UofL a 67-66 lead with 32 seconds left. Kasa Robinson then came up with the defensive play of the game (in my opinion) when she created a steal and got the ball to Kianna Smith. UM had to foul, they did, and Kianna sank both charity tosses. 69-66. Cards.
The Canes had a chance to tie, but, good Louisville defense prevented the home team from getting a good look. Marshall flung a desperate three with the clock going to 00:00, but it was off the mark and Louisville had survived and prospered. Championship teams overcome obstacles and find a way to win. Mission accomplished.
Next up, a Thursday trip to Clemson for the Cards.
It's started out to be a frantic Feburary for Cards WBB, but when you're #4 in the land, every where you go, you can expect you're going to get an opponent's best shot. Let's hope the Tigers are tame enough Thursday to not interrupt or ruin the Cards trip to the land of Palmetto's and boiled peanuts.
--sonja--
