Something about playing big games at home for the University of Louisville women’s basketball team. The Cardinals have won 24 of their 29 games, but four of their five losses have come at home. So much for home court advantage in the big games.
The Virginia game was not supposed to be all that big. Easy to overlook, too easy. An opportunity for the Cardinals to notch another easy win in front of a crowd of 8,934 at the KFC Yum! Center.
But a not-so-funny thing happened. The Cardinals come out soft, the Cavaliers arrive with their hair on fire. And it’s another one of those games where the UofL women spend much of their energy playing catch up. And when they do, they are unable to maintain the momentum or hang on to the end. The result another loss at the worst possible time, Virginia emerging with a 74-72 win over Louisville.
Virginia is almost always bad news whether the team is any good or not.
Poor Imari Berry, probably Louisville’s best natural shooter, missing the last shot again with the game on the line. Missing a 3-point attempt from the right corner with time running out. Instant memories of a missed free throw in a recent loss to Duke. The Cardinals learn later in the game that Duke has lost to Clemson, so long to a decent shot of sharing the ACC regular season title.
Making the day even worse was the loss of Tajianna Roberts, who went down with an ankle injury in the first quarter. Her cries of pain echoed throughout the arena, confirming she would not be available the rest of the day. Still no word on Monday from the Cardinal camp on the extent of her injury. Fans can only cross their fingers.
Louisville was led by Elif Istanbulluoglu with her game-high 20 points on 7-for-10 shooting with five rebounds, three assists and two steals. Laura Ziegler tallied her fifth double-double of the season with 11 points, 12 rebounds and had a team-best seven assists for the second-straight game. Reyna Scott (16 points) and Imari Berry (12 points) rounded out the Cardinals in double figures.
Hopefully their good fortune of the road continues in a Thursday night game against Georgia Tech in Atlanta.
But another one of those big home games looms next Sunday when Notre Dame arrives at the KFC Yum! Center to avenge a blowout to the Cards in South Bend.
No time to be meek for the Cardinals. The possible good news is that it is impossible not to take the Irish seriously.
