No. 7 Louisville to Start First Game ACC Play, Faces Georgia Tech on Friday

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The University of Louisville women’s basketball team is taking part in a historic moment on Friday, when the program competes in its first Atlantic Coast Conference game in school history.

The No. 7 Cardinals, riding a four-game winning streak, play host to Georgia Tech on Jan. 2 at 7 p.m. in the KFC Yum! Center. It is the sixth conference the program has been affiliated with since its inception in 1975-76.

The contest will air on ESPN3, with Gary Fogle (play-by-play) and Sara White (analyst) on the call. 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.

Last time out, Louisville (12-1) defeated Evansville at home 73-51 on Dec. 29. The Cardinals held a 45-26 advantage on the boards, while forcing 20 turnovers that translated into 28 points. Louisville’s defense limited Evansville to just one second-chance point and 16 inside the paint.

Individually, Jude Schimmel and Emmonnie Henderson each scored 12 to lead UofL. Bria Smithadded 11, and Shawnta’ Dyer came off the bench to drop in eight points. Myisha Hines-Allencollected a season-best 10 rebounds, her first game with double-digit boards.

Freshman Mariya Moore is leading Louisville in scoring (13.2) and ranks second on the team with 46 assists. Hines-Allen is second with 12.9 points, connecting on a team-best 56.3 percent from the floor. Sara Hammond has a team-best 6.5 rebounding average, and Jude Schimmel (Umatilla) continues to pace Louisville and the ACC with 36 steals.

Georgia Tech (10-4) also has compiled a string of victories, winning its last five games.

The Yellow Jackets recently posted a 96-81 win over Louisiana Tech on Dec. 30, capturing the Georgia Tech Holiday Tournament crown. Georgia Tech won the rebounding battle 56-35 and capitalized on second-chance opportunities with 27 points. The Yellow Jackets also benefitted from a 23-for-27 performance from the charity stripe.

Kaela Davis scored a career-best 35 on 13-of-28 shooting. Zaire O’Neil came off the bench to add 20, and Aaliyah Whiteside chipped in 17 points and nine rebounds. Davis earned Georgia Tech Holiday Tournament MVP honors after a two-game total of 63 points on 24-of-53 shooting.

Davis is pacing the team with 21.2 points, Sydney Wallace – who missed last game with an injury – is averaging 13.1 points, and Roddreka Rogers, who has a team-best 58.7 percent clip from the floor, is averaging 8.1 points and 9.3 rebounds.

Georgia Tech, under the direction of 12th-year coach MaChelle Joseph, returns three starters from last year’s squad that went 20-12 and reached the NCAA Tournament. The team was picked to finish seventh in the ACC Preseason Media Poll.

GAME FACTS – Georgia Tech at Louisville
Date: Friday, Jan. 2
Time: 7:02 p.m. ET
Site: KFC Yum! Center/Crum Court (22,000), Louisville, Ky.
TV: ESPN3 will broadcast the game, with Gary Fogle (play-by-play) and Sara White (analyst) calling the action.
Radio: WKRD 790 AM will broadcast the game, with Matt Andrews (play-by-play) and Adrienne Johnson (analyst) calling the action.
Series History: First meeting
Next UofL Game: Sunday, Jan. 4 at Pittsburgh, Petersen Events Center, Pittsburgh, Pa., 2 p.m. ET (ESPN3)