It was wonderful to see the WBB 2009 Final Four team again yesterday at halftime. Angel, Candyce, Dez, Gwen, Becky, Keisha, Laura, Chauntise and all but three of the squad were introduced at halftime. Angel wins in the "nattily attired" category and Laura Terry takes the "are you sure it's her" prize...with a spiked, punk haircut.
For face dives, Evans efforts, rebounding woes and balanced playing and scoring time -- let's gather in a semi-circle and applaud each other while we're introduced in today's..
FIVE THINGS ABOUT THIS GAME
5) Speed Defeats Rebounding. The Norse, in strong Viking fashion, were a large and healthy group of girls but they could not match the quickness of Jazmine Jones Airlines flights #23, #11 and #1. The Cards were outrebounded 39-33 in the contest but won fast break points 16-0, the steals battle 10-4 and forced 21 NKU turnovers while just committing only five. I'm pretty sure Dana Evans is still stripping the ball from the freshman Norse guards and sauntering in for layups in a darkened YUM! Center this morning.
4) Shooken, not stirred. Kylee Shook was a Cardinal who did have some success inside with a strong 15 points and 11 rebounds. Despite the sore knees, she had the Cards only double-double. When asked in the post-game presser what she wanted for Christmas, she glibly replied "A new body". Somewhere, deep in the dark recesses of the mad scientist Jeff Walz's laboratory, that XMAS wish is probably underway. (Insert evil, chilling laugh here).
3) Distracted by the presentation? The awesome halftime videos, presentations and introductions of the 2009 squad were witnessed by the current UofL WBB squad. They did not return to the locker room. Maybe that was still on their minds as the second half began. The Cards were out-scored 21-15 in the third frame by Northern Kentucky and had their 51-24 halftime lead trimmed to 18 at 59-41 before ending the quarter with the 66-45 advantage. Maybe they were dreaming about when they'll be gathered to come out and receive their Final Four accolades in 2027.
2) She's down, but she's back up. She's OK !! Jess Laemmle has no fear. The Cardinal reserve Attack Yorkie will plunge into any situation, anytime on the court. A lot of times, she'll end up on the floor because, well, she's the smallest one out there. In the fourth quarter, she was turning to fill out a lane on yet another Cardinal fast-break but pivoted too quickly and lost her balance while starting to run. Ensuing was a scary face-plant on the court. But, she jumped back up and got down court. Paulie mentioned to Asia post-game, while walking by both of them in the northeast corner of the arena, that Asia should have yelled "Heel" to slow Jess down. Both "Nite-nite" and Jess smiled over the comment. We love Jess, she embodies the fight and spirit on this squad.
1) You can stop what you can't catch. If you look up "speed" in Webster's Dictionary, you'll probably see a picture of Dana Evans. She came off the bench for a game and career high 21 points on 8-12 shooting. A lot of those were off fast breaks.. She also added six assists, four steals and hit all four free throws. All in just 20 minutes of court time. It's rumored that one of the YUM! Center assigned policemen wrote her a speeding ticket at halftime.
All in all, a nice win on a day where Louisville honored the first of Walz's three Final Four teams and took care of business on the hardwood. 17 days before they return to Denny Crum Court. It's hard to believe we won't see them down by the river until next year.
-- sonja --
For face dives, Evans efforts, rebounding woes and balanced playing and scoring time -- let's gather in a semi-circle and applaud each other while we're introduced in today's..
FIVE THINGS ABOUT THIS GAME
5) Speed Defeats Rebounding. The Norse, in strong Viking fashion, were a large and healthy group of girls but they could not match the quickness of Jazmine Jones Airlines flights #23, #11 and #1. The Cards were outrebounded 39-33 in the contest but won fast break points 16-0, the steals battle 10-4 and forced 21 NKU turnovers while just committing only five. I'm pretty sure Dana Evans is still stripping the ball from the freshman Norse guards and sauntering in for layups in a darkened YUM! Center this morning.
4) Shooken, not stirred. Kylee Shook was a Cardinal who did have some success inside with a strong 15 points and 11 rebounds. Despite the sore knees, she had the Cards only double-double. When asked in the post-game presser what she wanted for Christmas, she glibly replied "A new body". Somewhere, deep in the dark recesses of the mad scientist Jeff Walz's laboratory, that XMAS wish is probably underway. (Insert evil, chilling laugh here).
3) Distracted by the presentation? The awesome halftime videos, presentations and introductions of the 2009 squad were witnessed by the current UofL WBB squad. They did not return to the locker room. Maybe that was still on their minds as the second half began. The Cards were out-scored 21-15 in the third frame by Northern Kentucky and had their 51-24 halftime lead trimmed to 18 at 59-41 before ending the quarter with the 66-45 advantage. Maybe they were dreaming about when they'll be gathered to come out and receive their Final Four accolades in 2027.
2) She's down, but she's back up. She's OK !! Jess Laemmle has no fear. The Cardinal reserve Attack Yorkie will plunge into any situation, anytime on the court. A lot of times, she'll end up on the floor because, well, she's the smallest one out there. In the fourth quarter, she was turning to fill out a lane on yet another Cardinal fast-break but pivoted too quickly and lost her balance while starting to run. Ensuing was a scary face-plant on the court. But, she jumped back up and got down court. Paulie mentioned to Asia post-game, while walking by both of them in the northeast corner of the arena, that Asia should have yelled "Heel" to slow Jess down. Both "Nite-nite" and Jess smiled over the comment. We love Jess, she embodies the fight and spirit on this squad.
1) You can stop what you can't catch. If you look up "speed" in Webster's Dictionary, you'll probably see a picture of Dana Evans. She came off the bench for a game and career high 21 points on 8-12 shooting. A lot of those were off fast breaks.. She also added six assists, four steals and hit all four free throws. All in just 20 minutes of court time. It's rumored that one of the YUM! Center assigned policemen wrote her a speeding ticket at halftime.
All in all, a nice win on a day where Louisville honored the first of Walz's three Final Four teams and took care of business on the hardwood. 17 days before they return to Denny Crum Court. It's hard to believe we won't see them down by the river until next year.
-- sonja --
