
Louisville Defeats Wagner 106-32
December 21, 2012 | Women's Basketball
Dec. 21, 2012
Final Stats | Quotes | Photo Gallery
Jeff Walz Postgame
Louisville, Ky, - The 14th ranked Louisville women's basketball team routed Wagner College 106-32 on Friday night in the KFC Yum! Center. The 106 points is a season-high for Louisville. The Cardinals ended the game with nine players in double figures. Freshman Megan Deines led the way by netting a career-high 19 points, sophomore Jude Schimmel added career-highs with 15 points and eight steals, and sophomore Sara Hammond contributed with 14. Jordyn Peck led the Seahawks with a team-high 15 points.
The teams traded baskets back and forth early on until Jude set the tempo for the rest of the game for the Cardinals. The guard reeled off three consecutive baskets in about a minute time span to put Louisville ahead 11-5, which also featured three steals from the sophomore. The Cardinals then increased their lead to 13 points when Hammond found Walton on the block for an easy two to make it 18-5. Wagner's guard Jordyn Peck ended the Seahawks scoring drought when she knocked down a jump shot at the 12 minute mark. The Cardinals didn't lose focus and quickly responded when Shoni gathered a rebound and threw the outlet pass to a sprinting Smith as she converted the layup.
Hammond finished the first half with a strong performance as she was able to string off six quick points to put Louisville up 38-10. Freshman Cortnee Walton found Hammond cutting through lane and then the forward was able to capitalize on an up-and-under move and finally finished with a put back off an offensive rebound. Shoni also ended the half with an impressive showing. The junior knocked down her second 3-pointer of the game to give the Cardinals a 45-10 lead over the Seahawks. She then followed with another bucket as she nailed a jump shot from the elbow which came off Jude's sixth steal of the half to give Louisville a 47-12 lead going into halftime.
Louisville's smothering defense held Wagner to only 23 percent shooting as the Cardinals were able to connect on 64 percent of their shots. Hammond and Shoni led Cardinals going into the half with 10 a piece, while Chanez Robinson led the Seahawks with four.
The Cardinals began the second half much like the first by scoring quickly. Shoni was able to feed the ball to Hammond who netted the opening basket. Once again Louisville's defense fueled their offense as Antonita Slaughter's pressure forced a steal which led to Jude and Smith displaying unselfish passing on the fast break and eventually Smith converting off the turnover pushing the Cardinals led to 58-14. Louisville was able to take advantage of Wagner's sloppy play by forcing them into 31 turnovers and which contributed to 49 points.
Louisville out rebounded Wagner to a margin of 42-24, which included game-highs of seven a piece from Sheronne Vails and Shoni. The Cardinals ended the game with 22 steals, 20 assists, and only nine turnovers. The margin of defeat ranks second in school history behind the 80-point victory (109-29) over Coastal Carolina on Dec. 18, 1996.
Louisville will back in action agianst Tennessee State on Monday, Dec. 31 at 6:00 p.m. at the KFC YUM! Center.