LOUISVILLE Ky. (WDRB) — The University of Louisville ladies’s basketball group entered the postseason in opposition to a Wake Forest group attempting to win its third sport in three days after a 20-point comeback upset of Florida State on Thursday.
But Louisville, and junior guard Hailey Van Lith, tore into the postseason like a buzzsaw. Van Lith had 17 of the Cards’ 20 first-quarter factors and completed with a game-high 26 as No. 4 seed Louisville ended Wake Forest’s ACC Tournament run with a 74-48 victory in Greensboro Coliseum.
It was the most important margin of victory ever for U of L in an ACC Tournament sport.
How It Went:
Louisville jumped to an early 17-6 lead and was up 12 on the break. The Cards prolonged their result in 18 within the second quarter however went scoreless the final 3:37 of the half, and Wake Forest closed on an 8-0 run to remain inside hanging distance, down simply 10 at halftime.
The Cards opened the second half decided to finish Wake’s upset hopes, getting six fast factors from Olivia Cochran to spark a 19-4 run that put them in command, up 25 factors.
The fourth quarter was one in every of Louisville’s greatest offensive stretches of the season. Louisville made 7 of its first 9 photographs within the quarter earlier than Louisville coach Jeff Walz pulled his starters with a number of minutes remaining.
Star of the Game:
After 21 first-half factors, Van Lith cooled off within the third quarter however picked again up within the fourth to complete with 26, simply two factors wanting the Louisville scoring document for an ACC Tournament sport, breaking set by Asia Durr.
“I knew I wanted to come back out and be aggressive early and set my teammates up for fulfillment, Van Lith advised the ACC Network. “They had been simply getting into for me right this moment. I simply felt assured and let it go. It was nice.”
The Numbers:
Chrislyn Carr responded to a return to the beginning lineup by scoring 16 factors. Mykasa Robinson completed with 10 assists, eight rebounds and three steals. The Cards outscored Wake Forest 21-5 off turnovers and allowed simply 4 second-chance factors.
Quotable:
At halftime, Walz advised the ACC Network: “I assumed, for quarter-hour, we performed extraordinarily nicely after which we do what we do, which isn’t a superb factor, and that is turned the ball over on unforced turnovers. We do not dash again. I received one, Marissah Russell, busting her tail to get again and make her miss the layup, and the remainder of them are on a Sunday stroll. Unfortunately, it is Friday, and we have got to nonetheless work so you have to dash. … (Wake) goes to proceed to combat, so we have got to distant our heads from our rear ends and play like we did for the primary quarter-hour after which we have got an opportunity to be a fairly darn good basketball group.”
Next Up:
Louisville will face the winner of top-seeded Notre Dame’s quarterfinal in opposition to No. 9 seed N.C. State at midday on Saturday (ACC Network).
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