The University of Louisville women’s basketball team is back from its holiday break and resumes competition on Monday, when it plays host to UT Martin in the KFC Yum! Center at 7 p.m.

 The meeting will air on CardsTV, and the radio broadcast will be available on WKRD 790 AM in Louisville, with Matt Andrews (play-by-play) and Adrienne Johnson (analyst) calling the action.

Louisville (7-5) is riding a four-game winning streak, defeating College of Charleston 71-67 on Dec. 20 on the road. The Cardinals shot 50.9 percent from the field, assisting on 22 made baskets, and outrebounded the Cougars 40-20.

Myisha Hines-Allen, the reigning ACC Player of the Week, had a double-double of 22 points and a career-best 14 rebounds in the victory. Mariya Moore recorded her second career double-double, with 15 points and 12 assists, and Briahanna Jackson added 19 points and seven rebounds.

Hines-Allen, over the last nine games, has logged three double-doubles and is averaging 17.0 points on 58.6 percent shooting and 8.8 rebounds. She connected on 73.3 percent of her free throws in that span.

On the year, Hines-Allen is leading the Cardinals in scoring (15.4) and rebounding (8.3) and has a team-best 53.7 percent shooting. Jackson, second in scoring at 14.9 points, has the most steals on the team (30), and Moore, who rounds out the top three scorers (13.3), leads the program with 55 assists.

The Skyhawks also sport a 7-5 record after their five-game winning streak was snapped last time out.

UT Martin, which played on Dec. 21, lost a tight 64-61 battle on the road to Vanderbilt. The Skyhawks, despite hitting 8-of-12 shots in the second quarter, finished the game at 39.6 percent from the floor and were held to 10 points in the third quarter.

DaiJia Ruffin, a Louisville native, led UT Martin with 15 points in the loss. The Skyhawks also had three others finish in double figures: Jessy Ward (14), Chelsea Roberts (11), and Katie Schubert (10). Starter Haley Howard collected game highs of 10 rebounds and four steals. Christa Reed paced Vanderbilt with 20 points.

Through 12 games, Ruffin is leading the team in scoring (14.7) and steals (18). Ward, who is averaging 13.3 points, has taken 76 percent of her shot attempts from 3 (135 field goal attempts, 102 from 3), and Howard rounds out the top three scorers (13.2). Roberts has a team-best 5.8 rebounding average.

Nationally, UT Martin ranks third in the country in total 3-point field goals (121), fourth in 3-pointers per game (10.1), and 13th in turnovers per game (12.5).

The Skyhawks are under the direction of sixth-year coach Kevin McMillan, who has guided the program to a 105-67 record. UT Martin was picked to finish second in the Ohio Valley Conference preseason poll, earning 10 first-place votes. Ward earned preseason all-conference honors.

SERIES HISTORY – UT Martin vs. Louisville

Louisville and UT Martin have met four times on the court, with the Cardinals boasting a 4-0 series advantage.

The two programs last played on Nov. 14, 2014, when Louisville earned a 77-43 victory in the KFC Yum! Center. All five of the Cardinals’ starters scored in double figures, paced by 14 points apiece from Myisha Hines-Allen and Bria Smith. The Cardinals connected on 21-of-26 free throws and scored 28 points off of 23 forced turnovers.

UT Martin shot just 25.5 percent from the field (12-for-47), scoring 14 points in the opening half. Jessy Ward had a team-high 12 points.

GAME FACTS – UT Martin at Louisville
Date: Monday, Dec. 28
 Time: 7 p.m. ET
 Site: KFC Yum! Center/Crum Court (22,000), Louisville, Ky.
 Video: The game will be broadcast on CardsTV.
 Radio: WKRD 790 AM will broadcast the game, with Matt Andrews (play-by-play) and Adrienne Johnson (analyst) calling the action.
 Series History: Louisville leads the all-time series 4-0 (3-0 in Louisville, 1-0 in Martin). Louisville defeated UT Martin 77-43 on Nov. 16, 2014, in the KFC Yum! Center.
 Next UofL Game: Friday, Jan. 1 vs. Florida State, KFC Yum! Center, Louisville, Ky., 4 p.m. ET (ESPNU)

 

 

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Keith Poynter

Keith Poynter graduated from the Louis D. Brandeis School of Law in May of 2011. While in law school, Keith studied Sports Law as well as other core curriculum. Prior to becoming an attorney, Keith worked in the insurance industry for 6 years, and was a police officer in both Kentucky and Tennessee for 6 years. As an avid sports fan, former basketball official and current youth sports coach, Keith is heavily involved in sports when not at work or with his family at the lake. Keith's diverse background makes him an excellent source for legal opinion about issues surrounding the sporting world. Whether the matter be criminal or contractual, Keith's unique experience and education allows him to offer insight that may be missed by the casual fan. Keith is available for commentary on any legal issues that may arise in the Kentuckiana area and will routinely post articles concerning local and national sports law topics.

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