University of Louisville
North Carolina State
Cardinals Lose Heartbreaker in Paradise Jam Championship Game
November 27, 2004 | Women's Basketball
Nov. 27, 2004
The University of Louisville women's basketball team fell to NC State 54-49 in the Championship game of the Paradise Jam in St. Thomas on Saturday evening. The Cardinals (2-2) were led by sophomore standout Jazz Covington with 16 points and 11 rebounds. Marquetta Dickens led the Wolfpack (3-1) with 17 points. NC State's Tiffany Stansbury was named the tournament MVP.
NC State jumped out to an early 6-0 lead to start the game. After a Louisville timeout, the Cardinals used went on a 6-0 run to tie the game at the 16 minute mark. The game was close but the Cardinals held the Wolfpack without a field goal for five minutes and managed to finish the half with a 26-21 lead. Louisville finished the half shooting 34.6 percent and held NC State to just 23.3 percent shooting.
The Wolfpack started the second half with a 9-2 run to move ahead of the Cardinals 30-28 with just over 16 minutes remaining. Louisville was held scoreless for a six minute stretch while NC State pulled ahead 34-28. Junior Connie Neal came off the bench and nailed back-to-back three pointers to tie the game at 34.
NC State then went on an 11-2 run in the next three minutes to pull ahead 48-39 with 4:30 left to play. Junior point guard Jessica Huggins nailed a three from the right corner to cut the lead to 49-42 on the next play. With Louisville's next possession Covington layed the ball in to cut the lead to 44-49 with just over two minutes remaining. The Wolfpack's Kadijah Whittington scored on a layup to put NC State back up 51-44.
Missy Taylor stepped up and made her first shot of the half with a three-pointer to cut the lead to 51-47. Huggins stole the ball on the way down the court and passed to Taylor for a quick layup with 43 seconds remaining to get the Cards within three. NC State missed a shot on their next possession and Dickens was able to come up with the rebound. Dickens then hit both free throws to seal the Wolfpack win.
The Cardinals finished the game shooting 34 percent from the field and 23.5 percent from behind the arc. NC State finished the game shooting 36.3 percent from the field and 27.3 percent from behind the arc. Louisville outrebounded NC State 36-32.
Louisville will be back in action on Friday, Dec. 3 as they travel to Bloomington, Ind. to take on the Lady Hoosiers at 7:00 p.m.
