Louisville started the game yesterday shooting poorly and missing shots, but they managed to keep Syracuse in check and win the game easily. Louisville started the game today shooting poorly and missing shots but unfortunately that gave Florida State confidence. It seemed like the Seminoles were more focused and dialed in to start the game. Still the Cards took a brief lead in the second quarter and kept the game close the rest of the way. In fact, Louisville took a 56-55 lead with 41 seconds left in the game off of a Kylee Shook jumper but they soon lost the lead. After fouls and turnovers in the final minute the Cards still had a chance with the ball and 7 seconds left in the game but Dana Evans missed a shot and the Jazmine Jones put back attempt rattled out and their ACC Tournament run was over.
Dana Evans led the Cards in scoring with 16 but 13 of those were in the first half. She also had 6 assists. Jazmine Jones had a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds. Kylee Shook and Yacine Diop both had 10 points apiece.
After the game Coach Walz said, “The first quarter is where we kinda got behind the eight ball there. Had some great shots, shots we normally make and she just didn’t go in. We go 4 of 17 in the first quarter and that put us behind. We kept clawing and kept clawing and tied back up at half and then when we would get the lead you gotta give Florida State credit they came up with big offensive boards where we couldn’t get any separation.” He added, “So overall, you know, just I thought a great basketball game. I think our young women competed. I’m proud of them.”
.@Danaaakianaaa at the buzzer to end the half! pic.twitter.com/Cw9sH5yStO
— Rachel (@snicklefritz35) March 7, 2020
When asked why the ACC Defensive Player of the Year, Kylee Shook, sat for an extended period Coach Walz said, “She had two fouls...and...they called a foul on Yaya when they put it to the scorer’s table I thought they said 21. So I thought that was Kylee’s third. So we took her out and we went with B [Bionca Dunham] and they went with four guards also and we were having a hard time trying to match-up with two bigs in the game. I thought Bionca was doing a nice job defensively for us again.”
After being a big reason Louisville was in it at the end, Jazmine Jones was asked about the final play of the game and said, “Coach drew up a nice play for Kylee to screen across for me and if Mykasa had Kylee, because they switch, and if Kylee was open she was going to throw it to Kylee, but she wasn’t. So she threw it to Dana and Coach said go for a layup if you can get to the basket and she missed it and I got a chance to try to tip it in and it just didn’t go in.”
Thank you #CardNation! We truly appreciate how many of you made the trip down to Greensboro. We are disappointed in the outcome, but also are determined to keep working and prepare for the NCAA Tournament. We will be back. #GoCards https://t.co/GB3BKJ5p3A
— Jeff Walz (@CoachJeffWalz) March 7, 2020
Coach Walz finished with, “We will regroup. This stings, it hurts, nobody likes to lose, and we put a lot of time and effort into this and our goal was to come in here and be not only be conference champs but win the tournament. Unfortunately we came up a little bit short and now we will get prepared for the NCAA tournament.”
The NCAA Tournament seedings will be announced on Monday, March 16th. The first round games will begin on March 20th and 21st. Louisville will be playing in the Yum Center.