University of Louisville
Baylor
Stage Set for Louisville, Baylor Sweet 16 Rematch on Friday
March 23, 2017 | Women's Basketball
The Cardinals and Lady Bears take the court in Oklahoma City on Friday on ESPN2.
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – The stage is prepared for a rematch of one of the most exciting women's college basketball games in NCAA Tournament history.
The University of Louisville women's basketball team and Baylor square off for the third time in series history on Friday at approximately 9:30 p.m., when the programs meet in the NCAA Oklahoma City Regional semifinal on ESPN2, with Pam Ward (play-by-play), Gail Goestenkors (analyst), and Kaylee Hartung (reporter) calling the action. The radio broadcast is available on WKRD 790 AM in Louisville, with Nick Curran (play by play) and Adrienne Johnson (analyst) on the call.
The last time the two teams met, the Cardinals led the game for 38:58, and despite the Lady Bears taking their first lead with nine seconds left in regulation, Louisville didn't appear to shutter. Monique Reid earned a trip to the free throw line, connected on both of her attempts with three seconds left, and secured Louisville's victory for the largest upset in an NCAA Tournament game in school history.
Both programs boast impressive résumés coming into the game.
Louisville stands at 29-7, reaching the Sweet 16 for the seventh time in program history and ensuring its seventh-consecutive season with 20 wins.
The Cardinals are coming off an impressive 75-64 victory over Tennessee. Asia Durr scored a team-high 23 points, Mariya Moore totaled 19 points, nine rebounds, and four assists, and Myisha Hines-Allen added 14 points and 13 rebounds.
Durr, one of the nation's top scorers, is averaging 19.2 points and has tallied 114 3-pointers this year, third most nationally. During the victory over the Lady Vols, she became the 28th member of the school's 1,000-point club. She has collected 63 assists and a team-best 45 steals. Hines-Allen, who has 17 double-doubles this year, is producing 13.9 points and 9.3 rebounds, while Moore is contributing 12.1 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 5.0 assists.
Baylor (32-3) is playing in its ninth-consecutive Sweet 16 after a decisive 86-46 victory over California in the NCAA Tournament second round. The Lady Bears forced 24 turnovers for 26 points and scored 46 in the paint.
Three players scored in double figures, led by 16 points apiece from Nina Davis and Alexis Prince. Kristy Wallace had 10 points, nine assists, and two steals.
Baylor leads the country in a host of categories, including scoring margin, field goal percentage defense, rebounding margin, blocked shots per game, and 3-point field goal percentage.
Freshman Kalani Brown ranks first on the team in scoring (15.1), rebounding (8.1), and blocked shots (65). Alexis Jones is contributing 13.4 points and has dished out 132 assists. Davis (12.6) and Prince (12.1) also are averaging double figure points.
The winner of Friday's game advances to the regional final on Sunday.
GAME FACTS – Baylor vs. Louisville
Date: Friday, March 24
Time: 9:30 p.m. ET
Site: Chesapeake Energy Arena (18,203), Oklahoma City, Okla.
Television: ESPN2 will broadcast the game, with Pam Ward (play-by-play), Gail Goestenkors (analyst), and Kaylee Hartung (reporter) calling the action.
Radio: WKRD 790 AM will broadcast the game, with Nick Curran (play-by-play) and Adrienne Johnson (analyst) calling the action.
Series History: Louisville leads the series 2-0 (0-0 in Louisville, 0-0 in Waco, 2-0 neutral). Louisville defeated Baylor 82-81 on March 31, 2013, in Oklahoma City, Okla.
Next UofL Game: Should UofL advance, it faces the winner of No. 2-seed Mississippi State/No. 3-seed Washington, Sunday, March 26, Chesapeake Energy Arena, Oklahoma City, Okla., Time TBA (TV TBA)
