University of Louisville
New Orleans
Cardinals Advance to Championship of WomensCollegeHoops.com Classic
December 18, 2002 | Women's Basketball
Dec. 18, 2002
Baton Rouge, La. - In her debut as a Cardinal, senior Lori Nero led the team with 14 points and a 56-47 win over New Orleans in the first round of the Womenscollegehoops.com Classic in Baton Rouge, La. Sara Nord and Angel Bradley finished with 12 points and Amanda Wolke added 10.
"I was glad that we had to play a close game and have the team come together," said head coach Martin Clapp. "The pulled it out and that showed the leadership on this team. It was a tough win and we didn't shoot the ball well and they made some tough shots in the second half and it was a hard game for us."
Louisville started the second half with a 7-0 run, led by Nero and Bradley. Then back-to-back three-pointers by the Privateers' Jasmine Smiri stopped the drought and cut the Cardinal lead to six.
With just over three minutes remaining in the second half, Jeannette Jimenez scored back-to-back baskets and hit 1 of 2 from the line to cut the Cardinal lead to 48-47. Then Bradley went 2 for 2 from the line and Nord drove in for a layup to put the Cards up 52-47 at the 2:10 mark.
New Orleans missed two free throws and Nord hit two free throws to go up 54-47 with 28 seconds remaining. Sabrina Minter missed two free throws but Nero got the rebound and Minter scored on a layup as time was running out.
The Cardinals finished the game shooting 42.3 percent from the field and held New Orleans to 28.1 percent. Louisville outrebounded New Orleans 47-42.
The Cardinals will face the winner of the LSU/Ohio game in the Championship of WomensCollegeHoops.com Classic at 8:00 p.m. tomorrow.
