University of Louisville
Charlotte
Cards Win Thriller in Overtime Against Charlotte
February 11, 2005 | Women's Basketball
Feb. 11, 2005
Charlotte, N.C. - The Louisville Cardinals (17-6, 8-2) pulled out a 63-60 overtime win over Charlotte Friday evening in Halton Arena, giving the 49ers their first home loss of the season. Jazz Covington and Yuliya Tokova combined for 36 points and 22 rebounds to lead the Cardinals. Covington finished with 18 points and 12 rebounds while freshman Tokova, in just her fifth start of the season, finished with a career-high 18 points and 10 rebounds. Monica League led Charlotte with 12 points.
Charlotte led Louisville 43-35 with 10 minutes remaining in the second half. The Cardinals then went on an 8-0 run to tie the game at 43 when Katie Olson hit a jumper on the baseline at the 3:58 mark. Olson then hit another jumper on the Cardinals' next possession to give Louisville its first lead since the 16:56 mark of the second half. League hit her fourth three-pointer to push Charlotte ahead 46-45 with just over two minutes left in regulation.
Tokova made a layup to put Louisville back on top but the 49ers' Sabrina Gregory answered with jumper in the lane to tie it at 48 with 1:12 left. Covington connected on two foul shots to give Louisville a 49-48 with 55 seconds remaining. The 49ers missed a shot on the next possession and Olson grabbed the rebound. Charlotte trapped Olson in the corner and she was called for a turnover.
With 11 seconds remaining in regulation, Charlotte's Pam Brown made a layup to give the 49ers a one point advantage. Senior Angel Bradley got the ball and the inbound pass and started up the court and was called for an offensive foul. Sakellie Daniels hit two foul shots to put Charlotte up 51-49 with eight seconds remaining.
The Cardinals got the ball down court and Connie Neal passed the ball to Tokova who went in for the layup and was fouled with three seconds left in the game. Tokova stepped to the line and took one dribble and then knocked down the shot to tie the score at 52. Charlotte was unable to convert a shot, forcing overtime.
Louisville controlled the game from tipoff of the overtime period. Covington scored on Louisville's first possession and Charlotte missed three straight shots before scoring their first point of the overtime period with 1:53 left. Neal connected on a three-pointer on the next Cardinal possession to give Louisville a 59-54 lead with just over a minute remaining. Charlotte missed another shot and Jessica Huggins hit two foul shots to give the Cards a seven point cushion with 42 seconds remaining. Charlotte wouldn't give up and scored on two consecutive possessions to cut the Louisville lead to three with 18 seconds remaining. Huggins once again hit two foul shots to secure the Cardinal win.
Louisville finished the game shooting 39 percent from the field and just 18.8 percent from the three-point line. Charlotte finished the game shooting 31 percent from the field and 25 percent from behind the arc. The Cardinals outrebounded Charlotte 52-38.
Louisville will be back in action on Sunday, Feb. 13 as they travel to Greenville, N.C. to take on East Carolina at 2:00 p.m. in Williams Arena.
