By Pk Bartley
On Sunday afternoon U of L women’s basketball team hosted University of Chattanooga. The game was a homecoming for Chattanooga’s senior guard Nneka Irons who played her high school ball at Manual HS, in Louisville. Irons had 17 points in the Moccasins’ win.
“It was great to get a chance to come home,” said Irons. “And play in front of some of my family and friends who haven’t gotten to see me play in collegiate game.”
In the first half, the Cards kept the game close due to their good shooting hitting 50 percent of their field goals. Sophomore guard Angel Bradley who had 10 points in the first half and 24 for the game led them.
Despite the hot shooting, U of L went into the locker room down by four 40-36.
In the second half U of L fell behind by 11 and had to fight their way back. The Cards were able to get back in the game due to a 10-0 run. Louisville was able to get the lead back on a few occasions, but every time they did the Moccasins had an answer.
With 2:43 left in the game, junior guard Kim Graham hit a jumper to make it a one-point game 76-75 Moccasins.
Then the Moccasins went down the court to hit a three making the game 79-75. The Cards kept their cool with 1:21 left, senior Kassidi Bishop hit a jumper to make it a two point game.
The Moccasins got the ball and missed a three-pointer with 46 seconds left. But they out hustled U of L to the rebound and laid it in for a four-point lead.
When Louisville got the ball, Bradley was fouled and went to the line for two shots hitting both of them making it a two point game again with 27 seconds left.
Then with Irons in trouble, Bradley went for the steal but was called for the foul and Irons hit two free-throws to put the game out of reach for U of L.
The Cards lost despite the fact they out-shot the Moccasins 51-48 percent and out-rebounded them 34-32.
“I felt like the biggest difference was that we got out hustled,” said U of L’s head coach Martin Clapp. “You shoot 50 percent for the game you should win the ball game. I felt like they played for the full 40 minutes. Balls going out of bounds we don’t go get it, they sprint after it and end up making a two-point basket out of it. That just kind of typified the night.” The loss drops U of L’s record to 2-3.
The Cards go on the road for the LSU tournament.
The next home game is next Sunday at 4:30 against eastern Illinois.
