by GREENSBORO, N.C. – The University of Louisville women’s basketball team is preparing for its first Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament this week, entering as the No. 3 seed and facing the winner of No. 6-seed North Carolina and No. 11-seed Georgia Tech on Friday at 8 p.m. ET.
The March 6 contest will air on the ACC Regional Sports Networks (Fox Sports South in Louisville), with Pam Ward (play-by-play) and Debbie Antonelli (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.
No. 10 Louisville (24-5) finished the regular season with a 12-4 league record in its first year in the Atlantic Coast Conference. It’s the fifth-consecutive season the Cardinals have posted at least 20 wins and also the fifth-straight year the program notched double-digit wins in conference play.
Mariya Moore, who earned Blue Ribbon Panel all-ACC second team and all-ACC freshman team honors earlier this week, enters postseason play averaging 15.8 points and 4.0 rebounds over her last four games. The freshman leads Louisville in scoring (13.9), 3-pointers (52), and free throws (108), and is second in assists (108).
Shawnta’ Dyer also has been a key contributor over the last five games, producing 11.2 points on 56 percent shooting and 5.8 rebounds.
Louisville, looking to reach at least its third-consecutive conference tournament semifinal, faced both teams earlier this season.
In their first ACC game in program history, Louisville defeated Georgia Tech 75-48 in the KFC Yum! Center on Jan. 2. The Cardinals connected on 50.0 percent of their shots, scoring 46 of their points in the paint, while holding the Yellow Jackets to just 29.0 percent from the field. Moore scored 22 points, and Bria Smith added nine points, eight rebounds, and three steals.
The Cardinals recorded their fourth win over an AP top-25 team this season, when they defeated No. 17 North Carolina 75-66 on Feb. 15. Louisville hit 26 of its 30 trips to the free throw line and outrebounded North Carolina 47-33. The Cardinals forced 21 turnovers in a game that featured seven ties and four lead changes. Moore had a game-high 28 points in the win.
Directing Louisville into its eighth conference tournament, the Cardinals own an 11-7 record under head coach Jeff Walz. He has guided the program to three conference tournament championship games (2008, 2009, and 2014).
The winner of Friday’s game plays in the semifinals on Saturday afternoon at 2:30 p.m. on ESPNU. The ACC Tournament championship takes place on Sunday at 1 p.m. on ESPN.
GAME FACTS – Louisville vs. North Carolina/Georgia Tech
Date: Friday, March 6
Time: 8 p.m. ET
Site: Greensboro Coliseum (22,000), Greensboro, N.C.
TV: Regional Sports Networks (Fox Sports South in Louisville) will broadcast the game, with Pam Ward (play-by-play) and Debbie Antonelli (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.
