Attrition continues for Louisville women’s BB, but outlook improving

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Huge: Shoni Schimmel Picks Louisville

Lady Cards Land Highly Ranked Recruit

This is not just another commitment for the University of Louisville women’s basketball team. This is the reason Jeff Walz has spent many of his waking hours on the West Coast, mentally and physically, hoping to land this phenomenal basketball player.

She’s the reason Walz is doing cartwheels today. She’s the reason Geno Auriemaa at UConn is wondering what in hell is going on at Louisville. She’s the clincher for making this the No. 1 recruiting class in the nation.

Shoni Schimmel, a multi-faceted, exceptionally-talented 5-foot-9 guard from Portland, Ore., has made her decision. She wants to play for Jeff Walz and the Lady Cards, picking U of L over UCLA, Oregon, Rutgers and South Carolina.

She will join the Lady Cards next season, at the ready when Louisville opens against Tennessee in the new basketball arena. Talk about things coming together.

Schimmel averaged 29.9 points, 8.6 rebounds, 7.3 assists and 5.8 steals as a senior, earning Parade Magazine first-team all-American honors. She finished her career as the No. 6 all-time scorer in Oregon with 2,120 points. She was Player of the Year in Oregon during her junior and senior years and was a first-team All-Stater all four years.

She is also believed to be the highest ranked Native American women’s basketball player ever. Based on numerous reports, her physical skills are exceeded only by her intense desire to win.

Check out the video:

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With Schimmel’s decision, interest in women’s basketball will escalate rapidly, even among those who heretofore have considered women’s basketball beneath them. Seat selection for the upcoming season in the brand new 22,000-seat KFC Yum Basketball Center will begin in August at the Yum Practice Center. Call 852-5151 to get on board.

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Say Hey, Lady Cards

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Hamming it up for the camera during the Cardinal Caravan at Captain’s Quarters Thursday were Monique Reid and Becky Burke, two of the leaders on the University of Louisville women’s basketball team. They will be joined by a top five recruiting class next season, and coach Jeff Walz is still working to add more talent. The newcomers will not lack inspiration.

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Louisville Women Back To Freedom Hall

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Louisville Women May Play Again At Freedom Hall

Lady Cards Accept Invitation To Women’s Basketball Invitational

By Sonja Sykes

The University of Louisville women’s basketball team has accepted an invitation to compete in the new 16-team Women’s Basketball Invitational. The full field and tournament pairings will be announced Monday.

Teams not making the NCAA Tournament or WNIT are eligible. First-round match ups will be on Wednesday and Thursday next week. The tournament features an east coast, west coast bracket format, with higher seeded teams hosting home games, and retaining most of the revenue.

Coach Jeff Walz is hopeful Louisville (14-17) can secure a first round game at Freedom Hall. He noted that junior guard LaToya Johnson and freshman guard Nikki Burton could be available for the game. Both have recovered sufficiently from injuries to possibly play if cleared by the U of L medical staff.

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Bracket Junkie Has Louisville In NCAA Field

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Tempers Flare In U of L-Rutgers Women’s Game

By Paul Sykes

In a game marred by technical fouls and shoving matches at the end, Rutgers blew by the University of Louisville women’s basketball team 72-52 in the regular season finale.

With her team up by 20 with seconds remaining in the game, April Sykes decided to drive to the basket instead of letting time expire. Gwen Rucker, who had earlier bloodied Sykes’ nose with an elbow shot, fouls her one more time. Rutgers sub Erika Wheeler shoves Rucker, Rachel Story shoves Wheeler and the whistles erupt.

The officials give Rutgers the ball out of bounds with five seconds remaining. Sykes proceeds to hurl the ball off Monique Reid’s back during the in-bounds play. More shoving and both teams are sent to their benches. Sykes should have held the ball and let the clock run out. It’s what you do when you’re up by 20 points.

In basketball action:

Rachel Story had a career high 16 points for Louisville, most of it mop up duty but an impressive performance, Monique Reid with 13 after sitting eight minutes in the first half with foul problems … Keisha Hines with nine turnovers, mostly traveling violations … Becky Burke with three three-pointers but playing matador defense.

With its 16th loss in 29 games, Louisville will enter the Big East Tournament as the No. 13 seed, playing in the first game on Friday at noon against Pittsburgh, the 12 seed.

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