A great basketball game between the No. 1 and No. 2 teams in women’s college basketball marred by a clown show of officiating.
Here’s to Jeff Walz for maintaining his demeanor during the loss to Notre Dame, the outcome for the game heavily influenced by numerous controversial officiating calls. There have been occasions in the recent past when he would have let the officials have it with both barrels.
Notre Dame would get 39 shots at the free throw line while UofL was limited to only 16. The home crowd at South Bend had to be pleased.
The University of Louisville women’s basketball team in foul trouble early, Jasmine Jones collecting two fouls less than two minutes into the game. Arica Carter and Dana Evans would have three fouls at the half. Asia Durr, Sam Fuehring and Kylee Shook would also have two apiece. UofL with 15 fouls, Notre Dame with six in the first 20 minutes.
The disparity was even more apparent during the late stages of the game. The Irish’s Arike Ogunbowale plowing over Carter at one point, then twice aiming her tennis shoes at Carter’s head during the pileup. A personal foul called on Carter, but no technical for Ogunbowale who badly deserved one.
The worst was the technical called on UofL’s Bionca Dunham in the fourth quarter, when Notre Dame’s Brianna Turner flopped to the floor. Officials hovering several minutes over a video that clearly show Dunham had not made any contact.
A sad commentary on the status on women’s college basketball when officiating is so blatantly inadequate, having a direct effect on the outcomes of many games. Even at the highest levels, in the Final Four and Championship games. Mindful of the old days of the World Wrestling Federation with the blatant fakery dominating a so-called sport.
Yahoo Commentator Pat Forde tweeting at one point, “I don’t watch a ton of women’s games, but the officiating is consistently cringe-worthy. No matter who is playing.”
Louisville women’s basketball deserves better. Women’s basketball deserves better.
Yes, bad officiating this game but Louisville lost this one on the boards and in the last 1:45. It was a 2-point game with less than two minutes to go. Ogunbowale made her foul shots. She hit a big three. Notre Dame outplayed the Cards in the last two minutes.