A year ago Louisville annihilated Oregon State for a trip to the Final Four. Despite the lopsided final score, tonight it took all four quarters for Louisville to get some separation and advance to the Elite 8. The Cards went ice cold from the field for long stretches of the game and with just five minutes left in regulation they held a tenuous 10 point lead. Then within a 40 second stretch Sam Fuehring and Dana Evans made 3 shots and the score ballooned to 54-37 and that was the ballgame.
Dana Evans gives us a little breathing room in the 4th quarter pic.twitter.com/XrUoKP5fxq
— Rachel (@snicklefritz35) March 30, 2019
After the game Coach Walz said, “The first quarter I thought we came out, we were focused, the ball was moving. And then we got a little stagnant there in the second quarter, only scoring nine. But we were fortunate that we continued to defend, and that’s one thing that we continued to talk to our players about, if the ball is not going in the basket you can’t worry about it. And then you’ve got to get back down the other end of the floor.”
Here's how she got them #ncaaW | @UofLWBB pic.twitter.com/PuIsmEjDbe
— NCAA WBB (@ncaawbb) March 30, 2019
Seniors Asia Durr and Sam Fuehring both had 17 points apiece. Both were solid on the boards as well with Asia grabbing 8 rebounds and Sam getting 9. Sam went 3 of 4 from the three-point line. When asked about her teammate’s hot shooting Asia Durr said, “You know, I’m proud of Sam. I’ve said it all year long, like my teammates can score. That goes to show you that’s what they do. I’m very confident in them and very proud of Sam for showing off that three-point shot.” Sam said of taking the three, “Coach Walz has given me confidence in that. The coaches have. My teammates have too. But yeah, it was all shootaround really in preparing for the game. That’s why I shot it and it went down so I just kept shooting it.”
She took that ball and RAN #ncaaW | @UofLWBB pic.twitter.com/XgFcV7IgFt
— NCAA WBB (@ncaawbb) March 30, 2019
Oregon State coach Scott Rueck said of Louisville, “Excellent team, great defensive team, and then just made the plays to win tonight, and that’s what great teams do. They hurt us in transition.” He added, “Fuehring was tough I thought. She just was a leader.”
Arica Carter to Sam Fuehring pic.twitter.com/8ZAwyZgmx0
— Rachel (@snicklefritz35) March 30, 2019
Coach Walz said, “I say it all the time: We might not have the best five players on the floor every single night. Our margin for error is thin. But I do believe when we all play together as a team we’re a pretty darned good basketball team.”
The Jazzy Oop™️ pic.twitter.com/fLMaaucBbs
— Rachel (@snicklefritz35) March 30, 2019
Louisville advances for a rematch with UConn on Sunday, March 31st. The Cards won their first meeting this season 78-69. Coach Walz talked about how people have lamented that his team has to go through UConn to get to the Final Four. “I can tell you from experience being on the opposite side isn’t very good, either. I mean, I think we still own the record for the worst defeat in a title game. So you know, it hasn’t worked out very well for us being on the opposite side. So let’s see how this works out.”
Asia Durr said, “We’re going to get their best shot. It’s going to be a challenge for us guarding them. I’m very confident in my team though, and we’re going to accept this challenge and have fun with it.”
The game is at noon and can be seen on ESPN.
If you have any concern whether or not the Cards are loose heading into the Sweet 16, I give you this gem courtesy of @A_Hooper25. @SamFuehring @CoachJeffWalz @WHAS11 @UofLWBB arica carter pic.twitter.com/oVhBbCqykz
— Whitney Harding (@WHAS11Whitney) March 29, 2019
@23_JJones leading the crowd in Baby Shark at the @UofLWBB team hotel as the players leave for their Sweet 16 game. She certainly knows how to get the crowd fired up!! pic.twitter.com/tCp8a0NgN2
— Keith Geswein (@KeithGeswein) March 30, 2019
Kylee Shook with the “no YOU get outta here” to Jeff Walz pic.twitter.com/GvmP5nTSvQ
— Rachel (@snicklefritz35) March 30, 2019
Thank you!!! Couldn’t have done it without my teammates ❤️ https://t.co/yplBfXiY4y
— Sammi Jean (@SamFuehring) March 30, 2019