Louisville’s women’s basketball Sweet Sixteen bound, defeat Texas 73-51 Wednesday, Mar 22 2023 

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By Spencer Laws

The Madness Continues

In a night that saw many top seeds going down, the Cards dominated the Texas Longhorns on their home floor from buzzer to buzzer pulling what is considered to be upset.

Louisville women’s basketball punched their ticket into the next round of the NCAA Tournament Monday, beating the Longhorns 73-51. The team will face off with eighth-seeded Ole Miss this Friday, in Seattle in the Sweet Sixteen. 

This match-up comes as somewhat of a surprise; top-seeded Stanford fell to Ole Miss in dramatic fashion on Sunday, 54-49. 

Horns Down

On Monday, the Cards finished the first quarter all tied up at 16 with the Longhorns. The other three perfectly displayed what makes the team such a force. 

Hailey Van Lith led the way for the squad, leading all scorers with 21 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists while playing the whole 40 minutes of the game. Morgan Jones added 10 points off the bench, shooting 5 of 5 from the floor in 16 minutes of playing time. 

After that, the team saw six players add 5 or more points, looking like the team we thought it could be at the beginning of the season. 

Head Coach Jeff Walz and company again seem to get the train rolling at the right time and have everyone hitting on all cylinders. 

On Monday it seemed as if the Cards simply just wanted it more. They were jumping on loose balls and out-hustling the Longhorns during the entirety of the match. 

Post Game Theatrics

Hailey Van Lith and Texas Guard Sonya Morris ended the game with some fireworks. 

Van Lith was going through post-game ceremonies when Morris exchanged some thoughts. Van Lith had no part in the drama and just walked off. 

“I respect the Texas players. I don’t really want to speak on what happened at the end because I don’t want it to dim down the fact that we played really, really well. I have all the respect in the world for Texas, no hard feelings,” she said in her post-game presser. 

This is Jeff Walz and the program’s sixth straight Sweet Sixteen appearance. Walz was questioned about the accomplishment after the game. He answered the question with some laughter, first stating that it is all due to the coaching staff. He corrected himself, saying it’s all due to his players, their ability to buy into the program, and the process.

Throughout the entire game, you could see the visible emotion and reactions from Walz to the way his team was performing.

The Cardinals take on the Rebels Friday, March 24th, at 10 P.M. on ESPN.

Photo Courtesy// GoCards.com //

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Recapping a busy week for U of L athletics Wednesday, Dec 14 2022 

Aiko Jones and Anna Debeer and basketball and Claire Chasussee and Dani Busboom Kelly and Deion Branch and Football and Hailey Van Lith and Jeff Brohm and Jeff Walz and Liz Dixon and Morgan Jones and Scott Satterfield and sports and Volleyball Spencer Laws 11:46 pm

By Spencer Laws

Besides finals week, this round-up of athletics news has been nothing short of hectic for students, athletes, and fans alike. 

#BroughtBrohmHome

On Dec. 8th, the athletic association announced that Jeff Brohm would be the next head coach of the University of Louisville football team. 

Brohm was among every die-hard fan’s pick to take over the reins at Cardinal Stadium. 

His work in West Lafayette as Purdue University’s head coach was enough to catch athletic director Josh Heird’s eye, the deal was done shortly after the meeting between the two. Brohm came in right away and jumped on the recruiting trail. 

Looking to preserve some of the commits from previous head coach Scott Satterfield’s ‘23 class, Brohm went out to California to check up with four-star dual-threat QB Pierce Clarkson, and four-star wide receiver Deandre Moore at St. John’s Bosco. 

Deion Branch is still set to lead the Cards in the Battle for the Keg of Nails in the Wasabi Fenway bowl this Saturday, December 17th. He will step in for former head coach Scott Satterfield.

Volleyball is Back in the Final Four 

In an intense match on Dec. 10th, the volleyball team once again secured their spot in the NCAA Tournament Final Four, making it back-to-back years. 

Dani Busboom Kelly and the team were taken to five sets to settle their matchup with the Oregon Ducks, picking up the first in a close 23-25 battle. Oregon came back and picked up the second set in another tight contest, 23-25. 

Starting off the third set with an impressive 8-0 run, Oregon came out in a dominant and controlled, winning 25-13. With their back against the wall, the pulled out a 27-25 result to force the fifth set. 

The fifth set was all Cards as they sent the Ducks packing with a 15-6 victory to move on. 

Louisville players Aiko Jones and Claire Chaussee were named to the All-Region team. Louisville outside hitter Anna Debeer was named Regional MVP. 

The team will face off with fellow ACC member Pittsburgh this Thursday, December 15th at 9:30 E.T. Their previous matches with the Panthers this season are split 1-1 — a 2-3 loss at the end of October, and a mid-November 3-0 sweep. 

Make it 6 Straight for Women’s Basketball

In addition to all the fun and madness that the University has been experiencing, women’s basketball head coach Jeff Walz and company went down to Lexington and proved they own the state. 

The Cards controlled the Wildcats in another Battle of the Bluegrass, beating the Wildcats 86-72, to pick up their sixth straight win over UK.

Hailey Van Lith had a game-high 21 points. Liz Dixon added 16 of her own for the Cards, and Morgan Jones had 12 points to round out the double-digit scorers. 

Walz and the team have faced some adversity over the last couple of weeks, dropping some uncharacteristic games. In the “Battle for Atlantis” over Thanksgiving break, the team lost an overtime battle with Gonzaga in the opening matchup. After their win over a very good Texas team, they closed the tourney with another loss, this time to the Jackrabbits of South Dakota State. 

The Cards then dropped another tough battle in the ACC/BIG Ten Challenge against No. 5 ranked Ohio State with a 77-96 loss, and a loss to Middle Tennessee in Murfreesboro, 49-67. 

Jeff Walz and the team didn’t panic in the longtime rivalry though. Nor did they against innercity rival Bellarmine, who they trounced 73-43. The team lead by 31 at the beginning of the second half, and the eight points were given up tied the program record for the fewest points allowed in a half. 

Louisville will travel to Pittsburgh to open the conference slate on Sunday, December 18. The Cardinals and Panthers are set to square off at the Peterson Event Center at 2 p.m. and the game will be broadcast on ACC Network.

Photo Courtesy // GoCards.com //

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Final Four Bound! Louisville Women’s Basketball beats Michigan, advancing to the national semifinals Wednesday, Mar 30 2022 

basketball and elite 8 and Final Four and Hailey Van Lith and Louisville Basketball and Louisville women's basketball and Michigan basketball and sports and women's basktball Daniel Rankin 12:01 pm

By Daniel Rankin —

Big smiles, tears of joy, and even bigger celebrations filled the Wichita night as the No. 1 seeded Louisville Cardinals defeated the No. 3 Michigan Wolverines Monday, 62-50, to advance to the Final Four.

Hailey Van Lith led the way late, finishing with 22 points on the night, marking her fourth straight game-breaking the 20 point threshold. However, it was an all-around team effort for the Cards, with multiple players contributing in a tough battle against Michigan.

Chelsie Hall stepped up early when the Michigan defense put substantial pressure on Van Lith, holding the Louisville offense down early. With Louisville’s best shooters covered, Hall stepped up and hit multiple shots to give the Cards the early momentum and finished with a critical 15 points on the night.

“We wouldn’t have won without her,” explained Van Lith. “She brought it on defense by pressuring their guards and was big-time tonight offensively.”

Although the Cardinals led for the entire first half, the game remained extremely tight, with their largest lead only hitting seven points. A late run from the Wolverines brought the game within one point with the chance to take the lead going into the half. However, Hall forced a crucial turnover in the closing seconds allowing Kianna Smith to extend the Cards’ lead to 30-27 going into the half.

In the third quarter, Louisville increased its lead up to nine with key jumpers from Van Lith and intense defense from the likes of Mykasa Robinson and Emily Engstler. But, the Wolverines continued to stay nearby and took advantage of foul trouble from Louisville’s starting forwards.

In a season that has been somewhat overshadowed by two fourth-quarter collapses, the game’s final ten minutes proved this team is ready for the next step forward.

Halfway through the quarter, the Louisville offense started to slow and gave Michigan the momentum. The Wolverines appeared to be on the brink of a game-ending run when Coach Walz called a timeout. The message in the huddle was clear, “We knew if we didn’t get stops in those last minutes, we wouldn’t win the game,” said Kianna Smith after the game. Coming off the timeout, the Cardinals did just that. In fact, more as Louisville held Michigan scoreless for the final 5:42 of the game.

Van Lith explained that their defensive intensity is something Walz has preached all year: “no matter what happens on the offensive end, we have to play tough defense and get stops down the floor.”

Forward Olivia Cochran, visibly exhausted, a foul away from exiting, and wearing an eye mask after getting elbowed against Tennessee, stepped up in a mighty way, icing the game and giving Louisville the Elite 8 victory.

For Head Coach Jeff Walz, it’s the program’s fourth Final Four appearance and first since 2018. The win also continues the trend of having every player under Jeff Walz appearing in the Final Four.

“‘I’m going to do whatever I can to win him a national championship,” stated Senior Emily Engstler, who shared what it means to play for Walz. Hailey Van Lith agreed, saying, “He always has our back and cares for us. It’s not just business or basketball; he works on the person you are off the court. Every girl on this team would run through a wall for him.”

While the team was rightfully excited about the win, they know it isn’t done yet. “We’ve accomplished something amazing, but I know we can go to the national championship and win,” stated Engstler confidently. Van Lith agreed, “We’ll do anything for each other, which makes us so dangerous; we’re doing this for our city.”

The Final Four begins this Friday, April 1, when the Louisville Cardinals face the defending National Champion South Carolina Gamecocks at 7 pm on ESPN.

Stay tuned here for more coverage as we preview and recap the final four and other U of L athletics news.

Photo by Daniel Rankin // The Louisville Cardinal

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Evans Named Kay Yow Scholar-Athlete of the Year Wednesday, Mar 3 2021 

ACC women's basketball and Asia Durr and basketball and dana evans and Elizabeth Dixon and Hailey Van Lith and Kianna Smith and Myisha Hines-Allen and mykasa robinson and sports Eli Hughes 4:00 pm

By Nick Evans–

After being named ACC Player of the Year for the second consecutive season on Tuesday, University of Louisville senior guard Dana Evans has been named the Kay Yow Scholar-Athlete of the Year.

The ACC women’s basketball Scholar-Athlete of the Year award is named in memory of the legendary Yow, who won 737 games as a head coach while directing NC State to four ACC Tournament championships and the 1988 U.S. Olympic Team to a gold medal. Yow, who passed away in January of 2009, is also remembered for her leadership and courage in her fight against breast cancer.

“I am thrilled that Dana Evans has been named the Kay Yow Scholar-Athlete of the Year,” said head coach Jeff Walz. “Beyond Dana’s obvious talent on the basketball court, she has been named to the Dean’s List multiple semesters, has been on the ACC Honor Roll every year and will be the first in her family to earn a college degree. I know Coach Yow would be proud, as are we. Congratulations Dana!”

Evans is the second Louisville player to win the Kay Yow award, joining Asia Durr who won the award in 2018 also after winning back-to-back ACC Player of the Year awards. Evans headlines a group of five Cardinals who were named to the All-ACC academic team, as she is joined by Elizabeth Dixon, Mykasa Robinson, Kianna Smith and Hailey Van Lith. Louisville and NC State tied for the conference lead with five selections each.

Evans is averaging 21.0 points per game this season, which ranks first in the ACC and 19th in the country, while leading the league and ranking second in the country with a 93.8 free throw percentage.

She is averaging 4.3 assists per game, which ranks sixth in the ACC, and in the win at Notre Dame on Sunday she became the sixth player in program history to eclipse 500 career assists.

Evans will graduate in the spring with a degree in sport administration and a minor in communication. She has a 3.493 cumulative grade point average, along with a 3.721 GPA in fall 2020. She is a six-time member of the Athletic Director’s Honor Roll and four times has been named to the Dean’s List. Three times she has been named to the ACC Honor Roll and a Red & Black Scholar Athlete. She was also named to the Chi Alpha Sigma National College Athlete Honor Society in 2020-21.

She was also named to the ACC All-Academic team following her sophomore and junior seasons.

Dixon is pursuing a degree in management. She had a 3.512 GPA last semester and a 3.355 GPA for her career. Three times she has been named to the Athletic Director’s Honor Roll, she was named a Red & Black Scholar Athlete in 2020-21 and to the ACC Honor Roll in 2019-20. She was also named to the Dean’s List in the fall 2020.

A candidate for the ACC Most Improved Player, Dixon has improved in several statistical categories. Her scoring average has moved from 4.4 to 8.7 points per game, while her field goal percentage has improved from 49.6 to 59.3 percent. She is also averaging 5.9 rebounds per game after averaging just 3.6 per game as a sophomore.

Robinson is pursuing a degree in exercise science, with a minor in sport administration. She had a 3.006 GPA last semester and a 3.281 GPA for her career. Five times she has been named to the Athletic Director’s Honor Roll, twice she was named to the ACC Honor Roll and a Red & Black Scholar Athlete, and she was named to the Dean’s List in spring 2020.

Yesterday, Robinson was named to the ACC All-Defensive team, cementing her spot as not just one of the best defenders in the conference, but in the country. In the win at Notre Dame, she drew an impressive five charges and has drawn 19 charges in 16 ACC games.

Smith is pursuing a degree in marketing. She had a 3.812 GPA last semester and a 3.71 GPA for her career. She has been named to the Dean’s List and the Athletic Director’s Honor Roll three times and was twice was named a Red & Black Scholar Athlete and to the Chi Alpha Sigma National College Athlete Honor Society. She was also named to the ACC Honor Roll in 2019-20.

One of the best shooters in the league, Smith ranks fifth in the ACC with a 39.1 3-point field goal percentage, 11th with 45 made 3-pointers and 12th with 2.14 3-pointers made per game. She ranks second on the team with 11.7 points per game.

Van Lith is pursuing a degree in business and has a perfect 4.0 GPA. The freshman was named a Dean’s Scholar, a Red & Black Scholar Athlete and to the Athletic Director’s Honor Roll.

A member of the ACC All-Freshman team, Van Lith ranks sixth among ACC freshmen with 11.0 points per game and 5.4 rebounds per game. Her 35 made 3-pointers rank third among ACC freshmen. Early in the season, she had 20-plus points in back-to-back games against Eastern Kentucky and DePaul, becoming the first UofL freshmen with consecutive 20-point games since Myisha Hines-Allen did so in January of 2015.

ACC Scholar-Athlete of the Year awards were established in September 2007 to be awarded annually to the top junior or senior student-athlete in their respective sports. Candidates for the awards must have maintained a 3.0 grade point average for their career as well as a 3.0 for each of the last two semesters. The award is based 60 percent on academic achievement and 40 percent on athletic accomplishment.

Minimum academic requirements for selection to the All-ACC Academic Team are a 3.0 grade point average for the previous semester and a 3.0 cumulative average during one’s academic career. Athletic achievements during the most recent season are also considered in selecting the All-ACC Academic Team.

The ACC Honor Roll, which recognizes all conference student-athletes with a grade point average of 3.0 for the current academic year, will be released in July.

After claiming its fourth straight ACC regular season title, No. 5 Louisville (21-2, 14-2) will be the 1-seed in the 2021 ACC Tournament in Greensboro, NC. The Cardinals open play on Friday, March 5 at 12 p.m. against either 8-seed North Carolina or 9-seed Wake Forest.

For the latest on Louisville women’s basketball, visit GoCards.com, follow the team’s Twitter account at @UofLWBB or on Facebook at facebook.com/UofLWBB.

Story and Photo Courtesy of GoCards

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The Cardinal previews U of L’s women’s basketball season Monday, Sep 7 2020 

Ahlana Smith and basketball and Elizabeth Balogun and Elizabeth Dixon and Hailey Van Lith and jazmine jones and Kiana Smith and kylee shook and Nyah Green and Olivia Cochran and Remani Parker and sports and women's basketball Cole Emery 1:00 pm

By Cole Emery– 

After a 28-4 season with the first outright ACC regular season title in school history, the women’s basketball team is looking to repeat last year’s success. 

With Jazmine Jones and Kylee Shook being selected 12th and 13th in the WNBA draft, the Cardinals will have some big shoes to fill. Both players were members of the All-ACC First Team, and Shook was the first player since 2009 to win a conference “Defensive Player of the Year” award.

Reigning ACC “Player of the Year” Dana Evans is entering her senior year with a lot of confidence. After transferring last year, Elizabeth Balogun and Elizabeth Dixon will be looking to make a bigger impact. Evans and Balogun started many games in the back court, so this experienced backcourt will be very helpful to next year’s squad. 

Three players were on the roster last year  but did not play a game. Nyah Green, a 6-foot-1 guard, redshirted her freshman year, but came to Louisville as a McDonald’s All-American and 12th ranked prospect by espnW Hoop Gurlz in the Class of 2019. Remani Parker, a 6-foot-4 forward, redshirted last year and was the 99th rated prospect by espnW Hoop Gurlz in the Class of 2019. Kiana Smith, a 6-foot guard, sat out last season after transferring from CAL due to NCAA transfer rules. 

The Cards are bringing on Hailey Van Lith, who was the top-ranked guard in the 2020 recruiting class according to espnW HoopGurlz. Van Lith was a member of the under 19 USA squad that won gold in the FIBA World Cup in 2019. She was also named 2019 FIBA 3×3 under 18 World Cup MVP and 2018 USA Basketball under 18 National Championship MVP.

Another big recruit coming next year is Olivia Cochran, a 6-foot-1 forward, who is ranked as the fourth-best forward in the 2020 recruiting class. She was also on the FIBA 3×3 under 18 World Cup team that won gold in 2019. 

Louisville is bringing in a new transfer as well. Ahlana Smith, a 5-foot-9 guard, played for UCLA during her freshman year then played for Gulf Coast State during her sophomore season. During her season at Gulf Coast State, she was named the 2019-2020 National Junior College Athletic Association Division I Women’s Basketball Player of the Year. 

Even with some Louisville greats moving on from their collegiate career, the Cardinals continue to work towards success and are looking to have a talented squad entering the 2021 season.

File Photo // The Louisville Cardinal

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