A game the University of Louisville women’s basketball team could not seem to put away. Coach Jeff Walz could never got comfortable, doing a lot of lecturing. with his team. Louisville holding on for 63-55 win over Georgia Tech in front of 7,633 Thursday at the KFC Yum! Center.
Hailey Van Lith leading UofL (12-5, 3-1) with 24 points while Olivia Cochran was adding 10 points and six rebounds.
Louisville built a 12-point lead in the third quarter only to see Tech close with in four points on several occasions in the final period. Clinging to a four- point lead, one of the smallest players on the floor Mykasa Robinson rebounded a missed Van Lith shot for a rebound basket and a six point lead with about 1:30 to play. Robinson also added two free throws with 23 seconds staking Louisville to a 61-53 lead that helped secure the victory. Robinson had four points, two rebounds and two assist.
Every time the Cardinals would get a little separation the Yellow Jackets fought back. Open baskets or free throws time and again. Freshman Kara Dunn led the Yellow Jackets with 17 points. Her team made seven of 17 three point shots.
“We’ve just to keep grinding,” said Walz. “I don’t think you’re going to see 20-point wins.”
Louisville was coming off a loss at Duke, 63-56, Sunday. So this was a needed win. “We’ll take it,” said Walz. “We’re not going to give it back. I know it’s going to be a grind. There are no easy wins in this league. Our league has gotten better. It is going to be a grind.
“I told them during the last time out. Let’s practice like when it’s a three point game,” said Walz. “I told them to foul them. Just got to foul. We didn’t. I asked them, ‘what happened. Well I forgot.’ We can’t forget. We can’t forget if we want to be the team we want to be. Got to keep getting better.”
Louisville is now 10-0 versus Georgia Tech (9-6, 0-4) which started two freshman in this one.
The Cards host Pittsburgh, Sunday at 2 p.m.