The University of Louisville women’s basketball team had to have this game, its first ever in the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament. But things were headed south with North Carolina owning a 10-point lead over the Cards with 8:55 left in the game.

North Carolina had outscored Louisville 15-2 over a three-minute span, the dreaded scoring drought had settled in again, and the end was in sight.

Sara Hammond eight of nine at the line.
Sara Hammond eight of nine at the line.

Not so fast my friend, the Cardinals are not rolling over this time.

Jude Schimmel will step up, hitting a 3-pointer. Bria Smith will clutch a lay up. And an off-balanced Mariya Moore will make a perfect side-armed pass half the distance of the court to fellow freshman Myisha Hines-Allen to cut the margin to three.

Game on again.

Sara Hammond, as if she has been waiting for this moment for four years, scoring 11 of her game high 20 points during the final seven minutes. Schimmel dribbling, dribbling, looking for Sara, finding her in the crowd. Sara shaking off the pressure, rubbing the soles of her tennis shoes, going through the motions, sinking seven of eight free throws.

North Carolina’s Jamie Cherry, however, hitting a prayer at the buzzer to send the game into overtime with the score 66-66 at the end of regulation.

The overtime mostly a blur, with N’Dea Bryant putting UNC ahead briefly at 68-67. Schimmel would find Hammond under the basket again, going up with her left hand for a lay up. She would complete the three-point trip with another free and UofL would never relinquish its lead.

The fouls catching up with North Carolina big people in the overtime, losing All-Conference first-teamers Stephanie Mavunga and Allisha Gray who had been pounding on the Cardinals all night. UofL, which has struggled at the free throw line all season long, would hit seven of eight in overtime, seven of the team’s 11 points in the 77-75 win.

Mariya Moore, managing only seven points in the game, was four for four at the line during the extra five minutes. Hines-Allen adding 17 points, Shawnta Dyer and Schimmel 9 each. Moore also credited with six assists and three steals.

Speaking of assists, Bria Smith made an amazing one to Hammond in a crowd after UofL’s comeback. Bria was credited with four rebounds, an assist, a block and a steal with the game on the line, earning forgiveness for one of four attempts at the free throw line.

Next comes Florida State, one of five teams to beat UofL this season, this time on a neutral floor. Tip off at 2 p.m.

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By Charlie Springer

Charlie Springer is a former Louisville editor and sportswriter, a public affairs consultant, a UofL grad and longtime fan.

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