The University of Louisville women’s basketball team survived a quarterfinal scare on Friday night in Greensboro North Carolina by holding on to defeat UNC 77-75 in OT.  It truly was a game of runs that resembled a prize fight, and when the final bell rang the Cardinals were the ones left standing.  They advance to take on the Florida State Seminoles in the semi-finals of the ACC tournament Saturday at 2:30.

The game showed that it would be a hotly contested one early on.  Although the Cards got out to an early 8 point lead, the Tar Heels continued to fight and at the half, the Cards were up by the slimmest of margins at 31-30.

In the second half, the runs would continue.  UNC enjoyed a 16-2’run midway through the second half to stretch their lead to 10, but the Cards responded with a 13-2 run of their own and took the lead late in the game.  Sars Hammond scored the last seven points in regulation for the Cards and had secured a 66-63 lead with 7.4 seconds remaining in regulation.  However, UNC in bounded the ball and freshman Jamie Cherry hit a shot from roughly 30 feet out as time expired to send the game into overtime.

In the extra period, the Cardinals would get to the foul line repeatedly and held off another late rally by the Tar Heels.  Up two with less than a minute to go, UNC settled for a three point attempt from the conrner that didn’t connect.  The Cards held on for one last scare as Cherry fired another running three point attempt at the buzzer, but this one sailed wide left and COach Walz’s team escaped with the win.

Saturday’s game will be a re-match of the contest played earlier in the season in Tallahassee won by the Seminoles.  FSU  comes in with a record of 28-3, ranked 7th in the nation.  The winner will advance to Sunday’s final against the winner of Duke and Notre Dame.

 

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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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