This is the kind of game that makes you have visions of what’s possible in March. Louisville was behind the majority of the game including being down 13 in the third quarter but instead of folding it up and heading home they dug in and went on an 8-0 run to finish the quarter. Early […]
This is the kind of game that makes you have visions of what’s possible in March. Louisville was behind the majority of the game including being down 13 in the third quarter but instead of folding it up and heading home they dug in and went on an 8-0 run to finish the quarter. Early in the 4th quarter the Cards took their first lead. However NC State didn’t quit either and actually got an offensive rebound with 11 seconds to go and could’ve held the ball to potentially win the game but instead took an ill-advised quick shot. Louisville got the rebound and was fouled and the made free throws sent the game into overtime where the Wolfpack seemed to run out of gas. In the end the Cards won 88-80.
As always this was a great team win, but today one player in particular put the team on her back when things looked bleak. Imari Berry came off the bench to get a career-high 33 points, grab 12 rebounds and 3 steals. Skylar Jones subbed in and scored 17 points. Mackenly Randolph was clutch in the final stretch and finished with 12 points.
Coach Walz said, “It was a gutty performance on the road. I’m really proud of these kids. We obviously looked very, very bad in that first quarter and came alive a little bit there at the end of the half… We could’ve been standing on the walking bridge there in Louisville in that first half and I’m not sure any of our kids could’ve thrown it into the Ohio River…. At one time we were 0-11 from three and we ended up 5-19 but what we did is we battled.”
Coach Walz praised Imari Berry: “She stepped up. She’s a kid honestly if I could get her to take 20 shots a game I would and I’m hoping this is just something that gets her going.” On Skylar Jones he said, “She made some big time plays down the stretch— a big time three at the top of the key.”
He finished, “I told them in the locker room when they come out with the lists of Top 20 Players in Women’s Basketball we don’t have one player one it…. but man we’ve got a great basketball team… a gutty group.” He added that he told them “Learn to embrace it and smile. If you’re not excited for Imari Berry right now then shame on you because this goes by fast and this really is a special group…. It’s a collaboration of great people.”
Tajianna Roberts went out with an injury late in the game. Coach Walz said that she sprained an ankle. However, the Cards have a bye week so hopefully she will have time to heal and be ready for Boston College in the Yum Center on January 25th at 2PM. The game is online at ACC Network Extra.
Category: General Sports
