Briahanna Jackson can always be counted on for pure basketball entertainment, seen here sailing into a crowd of Dartmouth defenders. This one was rejected but Jackson was good for 14 points in the University of Louisville women’s 94-52 win over the Ivy League school.
A 42-point win over anybody would normally please a coach but Jeff Walz was not a happy camper following the win before 7,971 fans. “We allowed to get their season’s average,” he said. “We’re really having a tough time communicating the importance of defense to our kids.”
The UofL coach said he’s still having a tough time getting them to understand. The women have only three more non-conference games remaining before they begin Atlantic Coast Conference play — against a strong Florida State team at home on New Year’s Day. “We’ve got to get much better in a big hurry,” he said.
Dartmouth was 2-8 entering the game, looking every bit its dismal record. The run-away provided the freshman with a bonanza of proving time. They responded with a total of 47 points — Sam Fuehring with 14, Asia Durr with 12, Erin Degrate with 10, Dakota Weatherford with 8, and Taja Cole with 3.
Walz was looking for defense, however, and his young freshman were scheduled to hit the practice court early Wednesday morning for a heavy dose of fundamentals, followed later in the day by a second session with the upperclassmen and more fundamentals.