Getting to be predictable, not a good thing, with the University of Louisville women’s basketball team on its way to a blowout, suddenly becoming all thumbs and allowing teams back in the game. Another needless teeth grinder on Sunday with UofL giving up a 20-point lead only to be hanging on for dear life in the closing minutes. A positive result, if not an entirely happy ending with Louisville defeating Stanford 74-65.
Coach Jeff Walz said the Cardinals seemed lose focus going into the four quarter. “We turned the ball over three straight times, then we stopped guarding, then we started fouling,” he said. “You can’t lose focus if you intend to be really good. We’re going to have look at film and show them what is happening. We can’t just run them in the ground with rep after rep, they have to have legs.There are times when they look good, really good, but then go to looking bad in the same three-minute stretch. We have to get a handle on things.”
He noted that Jayda Curry made some key plays down the stretch to preserve the win. The UofL senior had of her 19 points in the fourth quarter, including one 3-pointer and six of six free throws.
Tajianna Roberts was the force for good in the first three quarters, racking up 21 points while hitting eight of 17 field goal attempts, including four 3-pointers. She also had four rebound, four assists and two steals. She was unreal in the third quarter, almost single handedly putting the game out of reach with 14 points.
Still waiting for Imari Berry to find her groove, a player with one of the prettiest 3-point shots in the college game. A five-star prospect, she needs to tap into her obvious potential as the Louisville women enter the stretch.
Another nice crowd at the KFC Yum! Center, some 8,021 of them on Super Bowl Sunday. UofL hits the road for Tallahassee on Thursday for a game against 22nd-ranked Florida State at 6 p.m.
