When in doubt, let Dana do it.
Dana Evans exploded for 26 points and a 18-3 second quarter Cardinal run put away OVC opponent Tennessee-Martin 85-67 yesterday in front of 2709 fans in the KFC YUM! Center.
Despite a struggling first quarter, where Louisville went 4-19 for 21% from the floor, the Cards went back to the old standby -- quickness -- and buried the SkyHawks in the final six minutes of the second quarter to take a 40-27 lead into the halftime locker room.
Evans never left the court in the first half. As she so eloquently put it in her post-game remarks:
''If shots aren't falling for us, I gotta find a way to get to the basket, get some easy ones going or whether that's jumping a passing lane, getting an easy bucket, but just doing something to get this team going,'' Evans said. ''Because like I always say we're young, we're talented, but I still have to be that leader.''
Make no mistake about it, this is a UTM squad that is going to have a ton of success this season. This was the Skyhawks first game of the season and Chelsey Perry (26 points), the returning OVC Player of the Year is going to be a handful for any opponent this season. Adding Seygan Robins (who did an excellent job of directing the UTM offense despite foul trouble) makes them a squad that can score, play solid defense and slow down a an opponent's tempo. Louisville, however, can come at you in waves and the depth and talent provedd to be too much for the visitors from Martin.
Louisville had a 40-24 points-in-the paint advantage, limited UTM to just two second-chance points and the SkyHawks recorded zero fast break points. You can't say enough about the rebounding efforts of Cochran, Dixon and Parker, who combined for 22 rebounds. Despite a less than stellar shooting afternoon, Hailey Van Lith sank six of seven free throws and corralled seven rebounds
This one, though, was a "W" because of Dana's outstanding 27 minutes. 8-18 from the floor, 4 for 9 from three point range and two threes and a 10-0 Dan scoring run in a third-quarter stretch that saw her go a perfect 4-4 in a three minute stretch that put Louisville up by 17.
Next up, a Wednesday trip to a fan-less Cameron Indoor Stadium (how weird does that sound?) to face a 3-0 Duke squad that has six players averaging double-figures for first-year coach Kara Lawson.
M.O.P. -- Dana.
My favorite Play of the Game -- Kasa Robinson grabbing a rebound with six minutes left in the final quarter, finding Kianna Smith, who calmly knocks down a three to make it 74-54.
Strength in numbers is working well for the Cards. As Jeff Walz mentioned post-game, though:
''The unselfishness that this team shows is what we're going to continue to need for us to continue to be successful and hopefully have a chance to make a good run here during the ACC,'' Walz said.
--sonja--
Dana Evans exploded for 26 points and a 18-3 second quarter Cardinal run put away OVC opponent Tennessee-Martin 85-67 yesterday in front of 2709 fans in the KFC YUM! Center.
Despite a struggling first quarter, where Louisville went 4-19 for 21% from the floor, the Cards went back to the old standby -- quickness -- and buried the SkyHawks in the final six minutes of the second quarter to take a 40-27 lead into the halftime locker room.
Evans never left the court in the first half. As she so eloquently put it in her post-game remarks:
''If shots aren't falling for us, I gotta find a way to get to the basket, get some easy ones going or whether that's jumping a passing lane, getting an easy bucket, but just doing something to get this team going,'' Evans said. ''Because like I always say we're young, we're talented, but I still have to be that leader.''
Make no mistake about it, this is a UTM squad that is going to have a ton of success this season. This was the Skyhawks first game of the season and Chelsey Perry (26 points), the returning OVC Player of the Year is going to be a handful for any opponent this season. Adding Seygan Robins (who did an excellent job of directing the UTM offense despite foul trouble) makes them a squad that can score, play solid defense and slow down a an opponent's tempo. Louisville, however, can come at you in waves and the depth and talent provedd to be too much for the visitors from Martin.
Louisville had a 40-24 points-in-the paint advantage, limited UTM to just two second-chance points and the SkyHawks recorded zero fast break points. You can't say enough about the rebounding efforts of Cochran, Dixon and Parker, who combined for 22 rebounds. Despite a less than stellar shooting afternoon, Hailey Van Lith sank six of seven free throws and corralled seven rebounds
This one, though, was a "W" because of Dana's outstanding 27 minutes. 8-18 from the floor, 4 for 9 from three point range and two threes and a 10-0 Dan scoring run in a third-quarter stretch that saw her go a perfect 4-4 in a three minute stretch that put Louisville up by 17.
Next up, a Wednesday trip to a fan-less Cameron Indoor Stadium (how weird does that sound?) to face a 3-0 Duke squad that has six players averaging double-figures for first-year coach Kara Lawson.
M.O.P. -- Dana.
My favorite Play of the Game -- Kasa Robinson grabbing a rebound with six minutes left in the final quarter, finding Kianna Smith, who calmly knocks down a three to make it 74-54.
Strength in numbers is working well for the Cards. As Jeff Walz mentioned post-game, though:
''The unselfishness that this team shows is what we're going to continue to need for us to continue to be successful and hopefully have a chance to make a good run here during the ACC,'' Walz said.
--sonja--
