Monday, January 26, 2009

Lady Cards to Test No. 1 UConn on ESPN2



These Cardinal birds tend to fly a bit below the radar, in comparison with their men counterparts.

But tonight it’ll be the No. 10 ranked University of Louisville women’s basketball team that takes center stage when it heads to Connecticut to take on the undefeated and Number 1 ranked Huskies.

The game is at 7:30 and ESPN2 will provide the coverage.

UConn isn’t ranked number 1 by default. They’ve earned it. Last week they beat previously unbeaten and No. 2 North Carolina – at Chapel Hill – by 30.

Back in November the Huskies beat current No. 2 Oklahoma, 106 – 78. These girls are good, and they’ve been distancing themselves from the rest of the pack.

The Huskies average 88.6 points per game, best in the country. Their 53.7% field goal percentage is also nation’s best. Something has to give tonight, as the Cards are giving up less than 54 points per game. But so is UConn.

So besides getting a shot at the hands-down number 1 team in the land, what else is on the line for the Lady Cards tonight? For starters, Louisville and UConn are the only two teams in the Big East with zero conference losses. Louisville’s (19-1, 6-0) only blemish came way back in November when they were upset at Nevada. Since then, they’ve cruised, their only close game coming in a five-point win against 16th ranked Rutgers.

Can the Huskies be topped? That’s yet to be seen. The Cards will need – and expect – a stellar performance out of All-American Angel McCoughtry. She’s averaging 21.4 points per game, 8.7 boards, and an NCAA-leading 4.7 steals. Sophomore point guard Deseree Byrd will be called upon to handle UConn’s suffocating pressure defense.

Last season the Cards fell at UConn 65-59 in the Big East Tourney. The Huskies were ranked number one then also.

But the Cards travel today battle-tested and hungry. Can they escape the fate of the North Carolinas and Oklahomas and give the mighty Huskies a run? Or is UConn just on another level right now? Check it out tonight on the Deuce. And Go Cards.

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