CARDINALS

Early run keys U of L win vs. NC State

Michael Grant
@MichaelGrant_CJ

The University of Louisville women's basketball team started strong and held on.

No. 4 U of L beat NC State 65-58 at the KFC Yum! Center Wednesday night. The Cardinals used a 20-0 first-half run and led by as many as 17 points. In the second half, that margin shrunk to 55-51 with four minutes left. They extended their winning streak to eight in a row. They haven't lost since the December home setback to the University of Kentucky.

Freshman Mariya Moore scored 12 of her 17 points in the second half. and had four assists and no turnovers. Senior Sara Hammond added 13 points and 10 rebounds for her second double-double of the season. Shawnta' Dyer came off the bench with 11 points.

"It started well for us tonight but we have to learn how to finish," Hammond said.

This looked like it would be a rout. NC State surged to within 55-51. The Cardinals responded with a 7-0 spurt, started by Moore, who made 1 of 2 free throws and capped the run with a lay-up to make the score 62-51 with 1:52 left. Jude Schimmel made two free throws and Hammond had a jumper during the 7-0 run.

The Cardinals' inconsistent play annoyed coach Jeff Walz.

"You have to be reliable," he said. "I don't know what I'm going to get day in and day out. They have to change. We have some kids that have to change in order for us to be great."

U of L (16-1, 4-0) is trying to build its case as the best team in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

In the preseason coaches poll, U of L was picked to finish third in its inaugural season in the league behind favorite Notre Dame and Duke. The Cardinals are the highest-ranked ACC team in the Associated Press Top 25 poll and one of two teams unbeaten in ACC play. (3-0 Miami was the other).

Hammond credited NC State with playing well down the stretch.

"That's the ACC." she said. "Every night you're going to get the opponent's best. That's why we wanted to be in the ACC. We wanted to play the best."

U of L has made a habit of strong starts. It entered this game with an average halftime lead of 16.3 points. Against NC State, after falling behind 6-2, it exploded with its 20-0 run. It was impressive considering second-leading scorer Myisha Hines-Allen (12.7 points per game) went to the bench after the first three minutes. The freshman's jumper started the 20-0 run but she quickly picked up her second foul with her team down 6-4.

Walz has built a team with multiple weapons. Four players average double figures in scoring. With Hines-Allen out, Hammond went to work. The senior tallied nine points and six rebounds to give the Cardinals a 32-19 halftime lead.

Walz thought the halftime lead should have been more.

"We took some very poor shots," the coach said. "We rushed shots. We got it to 17 but then lost all focus."

NC State endured a 10-plus minute first-half scoring drought and was 7 of 27 from the floor. In the second half, the Wolfpack (11-6, 2-2) shot 14 of 30. Len'Nique Brown-Hoskin (18 points, 10 rebounds) helped lead the rally.

When Chelsea Nelson scored with 4:11 to go that pulled the Wolfpark within 55-51.

"I didn't say a word," Walz said. "It's all about effort. I think they scored on six or seven possessions. If you can't guard somebody, it's tough to win."

U of L will next play Sunday at home against Virginia.

Among the 7,736 in attendance was newly crowned Miss Kentucky Katie George. She is a member of the University of Louisville volleyball team.

Contact Michael Grant at (502) 582-4069, and on Twitter @MichaelGrant_CJ

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