Need a basket bad, absolutely have to have it? Find Myisha Hines-Allen, get the ball to her.
Still another clutch performance for Hines-Allen in the University of Louisville’s 74-59 win over Virginia in a bruising women’s college basketball game at the KFC Yum! Center. A crowd of 8,736 hanging around to the very end.
When Virginia gets within two points at 42-40, Myisha venturing into the paint again, no fear of the bumping and slapping, hitting a jumper. She’s back again less than a minute later, making another jumper, stretch the lead to 46-40 late in the third quarter. That would be as close as Virginia would get the rest of the night.
Myisha gets most of her points the hard way, rarely attempting 3-point shots. She would collect 22 points in this one, making good on nine of 15 field goal attempts and four of four free throw attempts for a game-high 22 points. She would also claim 11 rebounds. Her eighth double-double of the season, the ninth of her career and her eighth 20-point-plus outing of the season.
She’s for real folks, sometimes getting off to deceptively slow starts, steadily adjusting her sights, zeroing in, gathering momentum, making opponents pay. Not that it matters to her, but she could be difficult to ignore when the Atlantic Coast Conference selects a player of the year.
Plenty of credit to go around, an exceptional team effort required to get by an improving Virginia team that will make some noise in the ACC tournament. Mariya Moore, Asia Durr, and Briahanna Jackson scoring 18, 15 and 11 points, respectively. Courtnee Walton playing all 40 minutes, collecting 10 rebounds, two blocks and two steals.
Regular season rapidly nearing an end, the final home game against Pittsburgh on Sunday, Feb. 28 at 12:30 p.m.
Nice write up, Charlie! Hines-Allen had 18 second half points and her mid-range jumper is almost automatic these days.
Love how Hines-Allen has developed this year. Her and Mariya’s improvement are carrying this team farther than I thought they could. Great write up on the game too!