Women's Basketball to Play in 2018 South Point Shootout in Las Vegas
June 20, 2018 | Women's Basketball
The Cardinals will be joined by Arizona State, Baylor, Buffalo, Georgetown, Hartford, South Dakota State and Southern Illinois.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - University of Louisville women's basketball will compete in the 2018 South Point Thanksgiving Shootout, which is set for November 23 and 24 in fun-filled Las Vegas. The field includes a slate of eight squads: Arizona State, Baylor, Buffalo, Georgetown, Hartford, Louisville, South Dakota State and Southern Illinois.
Game times and opponents will be announced at a later date.
The Cardinals produced a program-best 36-3 record in 2017-18 as they reached their third Final Four. Louisville opened last season with a 20-0 record, which marked the best start and longest winning streak in program history, and reached as high as No. 2 in the Associated Press poll.
Louisville returns four of five starters from a year ago, including 2017-18 ACC Player of the Year and All-American Asia Durr. Durr averaged 18.7 points per game as a junior, while knocking down 108 3-point field goals and shooting 41.7 percent from beyond the arc. She has 1,743 career points, which ranks seventh in school history, and her 278 made 3-point field goals rank second.
They also return seniors Arica Carter and Sam Fuehring, who were named ACC All-Tournament Team and NCAA Lexington Regional All-Tournament Team last season, and junior Jazmine Jones, who was named ACC All-Tournament Team. Â
Despite not having any seniors last season, Arizona State tied the school records for consecutive NCAA appearances and 20-win seasons. The Sun Devils exceeded expectations in a season of rebuilding, finishing with a 22-13 record. Under coach Charli Turner Thorne, the winningest coach in ASU history, the Sun Devils earned wins over three teams that advanced to the NCAA Sweet 16.
After winning their ninth Big 12 Tournament title in March, the Baylor Lady Bears entered the NCAAs as a No. 2 seed and ranked No. 2 in the nation. The Bears had a good run before falling in the Sweet Sixteen, ending their season at 33-2. The Lady Bears return seven letter winners including Kalani Brown, the reigning Big 12 Player of the Year and Lauren Cox, the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year.
Buffalo finished the historic season under coach Felisha Legette-Jack at 29-6 after falling to the 2017 NCAA National Champion South Carolina Gamecocks in the Sweet Sixteen. The Bulls stunned the nation as an 11th seed, taking down higher ranked teams in the early rounds of the tournament. Buffalo returns leading scorer Cierra Dillard for the 2018-19 campaign.
Under first-year head coach James Howard, Georgetown made history in 2017-18 by advancing to the Big East Tournament semifinals for the first time in 19 seasons. The Hoyas also made it to the second round of the WNIT for the first time since 2009. The squad returns leading scorer Dionna White.
Under third-year head coach Kim McNeill, Hartford finished 2017-18 with a 19-14 record, the most wins for the team since the 2012-13 season. The Hawks reached the title game of the America East Tournament after downing the No. 2 and No. 3 seeds. Hartford returns its leading scorer, rising senior Lindsey Abed.
South Dakota State earned an automatic berth to the 2018 NCAA tournament after toppling the regular-season Summit League champions South Dakota in the conference tournament. The Jackrabbits finished the season with an outstanding 26-7 record. South Dakota State returners included the 2018 Summit League Player of the Year, guard Macy Miller, who only needs 171 points to become the program's career scoring leader.
Southern Illinois enters 2018-19 on the heels of a fourth straight winning season. The Salukis finished last season with a 17-14 record and ended the season in the semifinals of the MVC Tournament after falling to top-seeded Drake. The young and promising team returns the bulk of its roster including leading scorer, forward Nicole Martin.
The South Point Shootout takes place at the four-star South Point Hotel and Casino, a spacious resort that offers fans a wide range of family-friendly entertainment from movies to bowling. Fan room rates will be available at a later date.
For more information on the South Point Shootout, visit SportTours.net and keep up-to-date on Twitter and Instagram: @SportTours.
