Breckenridge Lane closed following fatal single-car crash. Here's what to know
CARDINALS

Smith's triple-double powers U of L women

Steve Jones
@stevejones_cj

Bria Smith found her way into the University of Louisville record book in the nick of time Tuesday night.

Louisville's Bria Smith hustles to the loose ball before anyone else. 
Nov. 25, 2014

The senior guard found Shawnta' Dyer on a screen-and-roll layup with two seconds remaining for Smith's 10th assist of the game, propelling her to the sixth triple-double in U of L history and putting the final touches on an 89-67 rout of well-regarded Western Kentucky at the KFC Yum! Center.

Smith dominated, posting 22 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists in 32 minutes, and she prevented WKU coach Michelle Clark-Heard from getting a victory over former boss Jeff Walz.

"It was a great night," Walz said of Smith's performance. "She played with a lot of enthusiasm, a lot of passion.

"When she's able to attack the way she did under control, it makes us a better basketball team."

RELATED: Close friends Walz, Clark-Heard to face off

RELATED: Moore sharp as Cardinals top Ball State

Once Smith got within a couple assists of a triple-double, Walz ran some sets to give her the opportunity to make a play, and Smith clearly spent the last couple possessions driving the lane and looking for a key pass.

She got her ninth assist after finding Emmonnie Henderson for a difficult, falling-away shot from the right block with 2:34 left. Then Dyer hit a tough one off the screen and roll right before the horn.

The crowd of 8,463 went wild as Smith finished off U of L's first triple-double since Angel McCoughtry had 18 points, 10 rebounds and 10 steals against Hartford on Dec. 10, 2008.

"It was funny to me because I kept dribbling around looking for everybody, and (Henderson) made this incredible (shot)," Smith said gleefully after the game. "I don't know how she made it, but I'm glad she did. … Shawnta', of course, had my back on the last one. … I give all credit to my teammates."

Smith is the third U of L player to get a triple-double, joining McCoughtry, who had two, and Sara Nord, who had three.

WKU (3-2) couldn't stop Smith's deliberate, poised dribble penetration, and she got just about anywhere she wanted in finding open looks for herself and teammates. Smith also had four steals and moved into sixth place on the school's career list with 209.

Louisville outscored WKU by 30 points in the time Smith was on the court – a remarkable impact on a game with a 22-point margin of victory.

"Bria's got the fastest first step to the basket, I think, of anyone in the nation," U of L's Sara Hammond said. "She's just a phenomenal athlete. She's done a great job of find us when we're open. I'm really proud of her, and I'm happy for her because she deserves it."

Hammond had quite a night herself with 16 points and 10 rebounds for the Cards (5-0), who shot 59 percent in the second half and 52 percent for the game. Myisha Hines-Allen also scored 16, and Henderson finished with 14 points.

It all made for a rough return to Louisville for Clark-Heard, who was on Walz' staff for five years, including the 2009 national runner-up season.

She and Walz, who called Clark-Heard "a dear friend," hugged and chatted for several minutes during pregame warmups. After that, things went in his favor as Smith and some of the other Cards she helped recruit turned up the dial.

"Bria's really good, but she's very, very dominant now on the pull-up jumper," Clark-Heard said. "She has another bounce in her step. I'm happy for her and those kids."

U of L won big despite going 0 for 6 from 3-point range; the Cards instead dominated in the paint 72-26.

Walz had been expecting a tough challenge from the Lady Toppers, who received votes in this week's AP Top 25 poll after winning at Colorado last week and playing Mississippi State closely in a loss in Sunday's Preseason WNIT final.

He said it was obvious WKU was fatigued in playing its fourth game, including the third on the road, in eight days. Chastity Gooch played the entire game, notching 20 points and 10 rebounds. Alexis Govan also scored 20 in 36 minutes.

Henderson came off the bench for eight quick points to help U of L move ahead 22-8. Louisville made as many steals (eight) as it allowed WKU field goals in the first half, taking a 44-26 lead into intermission.

The lead got as big as 34 in the second half, and Walz removed his starters. WKU battled back with a 14-2 run, causing Walz to bring the first group back in. Smith then got so close to the triple-double that he left her in till the end.

"This was by far the hardest (case of) trying to play catch-up (of the season)," Clark-Heard said. "I'm really proud of our girls because they learned if they continue to keep competing … we can chip away at some things."

Steve Jones can be reached at (502) 582-7176 and followed on Twitter at @SteveJones_CJ.