University of Louisville
DEPAUL
Women's Basketball Handles DePaul In Home Finale, 75-62
February 25, 2012 | Women's Basketball
Feb. 25, 2012
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Louisville, Ky. - The No. 16/17 University of Louisville Cardinals (20-8, 9-6) were able to avenge an earlier loss against No. 21/18 DePaul Blue Demons (20-9, 8-7) with a 75-62 victory on Saturday afternoon in the KFC Yum! Center. Senior guard Becky Burke stepped up in her final home game to lead four Cardinal players in double figures with 20 points. Anna Martin led DePaul with 18 points.
Louisville also got big contributions from Shawnta' Dyer with 12 points and 11 rebounds, for her second double-double in the last 11 days, and Shoni Schimmel with 18 points, nine assists and five steals. Freshman Bria Smith also poured in 10 points for the Cardinals.
Both teams came out of the gates playing tough as they traded baskets for almost half of the first half. Louisville finally was able to build some momentum as they built a seven point lead, going up 21-14 at the 8:12 mark after a jumper from Sara Hammond. The lead was short lived as the Blue Demons used a 5-0 run over a two minute span to get the score to 21-19 off a free throw from Brittany Hrynko.
With the Cardinals holding onto a one point lead at 25-24 with 4:18 remaining, they were able to muscle their lead back up to seven (31-24) using a 6-0 run led by two jumpers from Schimmel.
Much like the rest of the first half, Louisville could not find a way to sustain any separation from DePaul as a three-pointer from Martin and a Jasmine Penny layup cut the score to 31-29 with 1:42 to play.
The Cardinals found a go-to player in the final 1:30 with Smith, who scored on a layup and in the final seconds knocked down a jumper as time expired to put Louisville up 35-29 heading into the locker room.
Louisville finished the half shooting 46.9 percent from the floor and 20.0 percent from behind the arc. The Cardinals finished the half out rebounding the Blue Demons 19-15.
The Cardinals opened up the second half with a 10-4 run to give them their largest lead of the game off an old-fashioned three point play from Dyer for a 46-33 advantage with 13:21 left to play.
DePaul used an 8-0 run over a one minute span to get within 58-54 at the 6:11 mark that was capped off by a five point play as head coach Jeff Walz was called for a technical. Martin converted the three point play and knocked down two free throws from the technical.
Louisville answered back with a five point play as well when Burke knocked down a three-point shot and Smith was fouled under the basket during the shot. Smith stepped to the line and knocked down both free throws to extend the lead 63-54 with 5:48 remaining.
The Cardinals finished out the remainder of the game outscoring the Blue Demons 12-8 to end with a 75-62 final score, tying the largest lead of the game.
Louisville finished the game shooting 43.5 percent from the floor and 44.4 percent from beyond the arc. The Cardinals ended the game with a 36-33 rebounding edge.
Louisville will be back in action for their final regular season game on Monday, Feb. 27 as they travel to Seton Hall for a 7:00 p.m. tip time.
