University of Louisville
UT Martin
Women’s Basketball Welcomes 2016-17 Season, Faces UT Martin Friday
November 10, 2016 | Women's Basketball
The Cardinals and Skyhawks meet on Friday in Tennessee at 6:30 p.m. ET.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The 'busiest' offseason Louisville has encountered is finally coming to an end.
The Cardinals' women's basketball team opens the 2016-17 campaign on Friday at UT Martin at 6:30 p.m. ET. For Louisville, which begins its 42nd season in program history, it follows a fall in which the team held 10 practices before its three contests against the Cuban national team and the Cardinals' first exhibition since 2013-14 – a 97-50 win over Lindsey Wilson on Sunday.
The experiences should only benefit the fifth-ranked team that regins eight letterwinners, including all five starters.
With those pieces, Louisville is being held to lofty expectations this year, especially behind reigning and preseason ACC Player of the Year Myisha Hines-Allen and all-conference selections Mariya Moore and Asia Durr – now fully healthy after being limited last season. Combined, the trio averaged 42.7 points, 15.7 rebounds, and 3.7 steals per game.
Not to be overlooked, the Cardinals boast plenty of experience with Briahanna Jackson (11.1 points, 2.0 steals), Cortnee Walton (5.9 points, 7.3 rebounds), Arica Carter (4.1 points, 2.6 assists), and graduate transfer Taylor Johnson, who averaged 14.2 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 2.5 steals in 93 games at Loyola Chicago.
The Cardinals' incoming freshman class – ranked sixth nationally – also features a plethora of talent, highlighted by McDonalds All-Americans Ciera Johnson and Kylee Shook and highly touted recruits Bionca Dunham, Jazmine Jones, Sydney Zambrotta, and Jessica Laemmle.
The Cardinals, under 10th-year leader and the winningest coach in program history Jeff Walz, were picked to finish second in the Atlantic Coast Conference's Blue Ribbon Panel and coaches' preseason poll.
UT Martin returns two starters from last year's team that helped the Skyhawks win their third-consecutive regular-season Ohio Valley Conference title. The program went 22-10 and finished the year falling to Western Kentucky in the first round of the WNIT.
Jessy Ward (13.0 points, 2.1 rebounds in 2015-16) and Emanye Robertson (4.8 points, 2.3 assists), both starters last year, lead a team that was picked to finish second in the OVC's preseason poll. Last year, the group compiled a 14-2 mark in league play.
UT Martin is coming off exhibition victory, defeating Christian Brothers 76-48 on Monday. Kendall Spray had a game-high 21 points to pace the Skyhawks, who connected on 13 3-pointers. Teddy Vincent added 15 points, and Ansley Eubank totaled nine points and 11 rebounds.
The program is under the direction of seventh-year head coach Kevin McMillan, who has directed the program to a 142-83 mark.
For the latest information on Louisville women's basketball, log on to GoCards.com, or, for up-to-the-minute updates, follow the team's Twitter account at www.twitter.com/UofLWBB or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/UofLWBB.
SERIES HISTORY – UT Martin vs. Louisville
Louisville boasts a 5-0 all-time record against California, defeating the Skyhawks 88-66 in the KFC Yum! Center on Dec. 28, 2015. Collectively, the Cardinals shot 54.0 percent from the floor, while boasting a 32-21 edge on the glass.
Myisha Hines-Allen scored a team-high 13 points, while Cortnee Walton (nine rebounds), Briahanna Jackson, and Asia Durr each added 12.
GAME FACTS – Louisville at UT Martin
Date: Friday, Nov. 11
Time: 6:30 p.m. ET
Site: Skyhawk Arena (7,000), Martin, Tenn.
Video: The Ohio Valley Conference Digital Network (online, free) will carry the game.
Radio: WTFX 93.1 FM will broadcast the game, with Nick Curran (play-by-play) and Adrienne Johnson (analyst) calling the action.
Series History: Louisville leads the all-time series 5-0 (4-0 in Louisville, 1-0 Martin). Louisville defeated UT Martin 88-66 on Dec. 28, 2015, in the KFC Yum! Center.
Next UofL Game: Sunday, Nov. 13 vs. Belmont, KFC Yum! Center, Louisville, Ky., 2 p.m. ET (ACC Network Extra)
