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This week, after a 72-59 win over No. 18 University of Pittsburgh, the University of Louisville women’s basketball team takes on unranked Villanova this evening at the Pavilion in Philadelphia, PA. Villanova comes into the game with a losing record in the Big East, 1-6.
Although Villanova is in the bottom of the Big East, Louisville head coach Tom Collen has not overlooked the Wildcats.
“Villanova is anther trap game for us,” said Collen. “They are very hard to beat in Philadelphia, especially, because they take you long in the shot clock. I am glad we have extra days to play for them. They run something different than what everybody else runs and I am sure every other team wishes that they have the time that we do to prepare.”
Villanova brings a veteran that Collen and Cards have to keep an eye out for. Senior Jackie Adamshick currently leads the team in scoring with 294 points in 20 games, averaging 14.7 points per game. Adamshick is also strong in the rebound column, getting 294 rebounds and averaging 8.6 per game.
Louisville also has to watch out for sophomore Lisa Karcic. Karcic leads the team in steals, and is also dominant at blocking the ball, with 24, the next closest person has 7. To add, Karcic is second in scoring with a .370 shooting percentage.
Adding to the mix are freshmen Maria Getty and Tia Grant. Getty is .374 for shooting on the season and .346 in the Big East. Gettty also brings 8 points per game. Grant has a .307 percentage, but also helps the team in assists.
Meanwhile, Louisville comes off a win against the Pitt Panthers. The Panthers dropped to 15-4 while Louisville improved their record to 19-2 and 5-2 in the Big East.
In the game against Pitt, senior Jazz Covington helped the Cards with 17 points while also breaking the school record and becoming the all time rebound leader.
Her rebounding record is an amazing achievement,” said Coach Collen. “Having a rebounding record is a blue collar record, coming in night in and night out and working hard. She needs to be proud of it, she deserves it.”
“[Earlier this season] I was a role player, but I said I guess it’s just my time to show up. Eventually you have got to step out and be who you are,” said Covington.
Meanwhile, sophomore Angel McCoughtry is still putting away double-doubles night after night. She scored 18 points, making six from the field then 15 under the net.
“Angel gets her points the hardest way she can, just hard work,” said Pitt women’s basketball head coach Agnus Berenato, of McCoughtry in her post game press conference.
Yuliya Tokova and Brandie Radde also showed up against Pitt getting 10 a piece. Tokova was 3-7 from the field while Radde was 4-8 in field goal range and made two three-pointers.
Already the team is looking forward to their game against Villanova.
“I think we are more athletic [than Villanova],” said McCoughtry after the game, “We can run them.”
