No. 12 Louisville WBB Hits the Road, Faces Virginia Tech Thursday

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The No. 12 University of Louisville women’s basketball team hits the road for its second of three games in a seven-day span and faces Virginia Tech on Thursday in Cassell Coliseum in Blacksburg, Va., at 7 p.m.

The Feb. 9 game is being broadcast on ACC Network Extra, with Danny Nokes (play-by-play) and Mack McCarthy (analyst) calling the action. Louisville’s radio broadcast can be heard on WKRD 790 AM, featuring Nick Curran (play-by-play) and Adrienne Johnson (analyst).

Louisville (20-6, 7-4 ACC) is coming off its second-consecutive loss, falling 85-66 at No. 7 Notre Dame. The Cardinals shot 45.5 percent from the field, but turned over the ball 16 times that translated to 20 points for the Fighting Irish. Notre Dame also outscored Louisville 48-22 in the paint.

Asia Durr paced the Cardinals with 21 of her game-high 31 points in the second half. Mariya Moore logged 18 points, seven rebounds, and four assists, and Cortnee Walton chipped in six points and five rebounds.

This season, Durr is pacing Louisville in scoring at 17.4 points per game. She ranks fourth nationally with 81 3-pointers. Moore is second in scoring, producing 13.3 points along with 5.2 rebounds and 4.3 assists. Myisha Hines-Allen has contributed 12.8 points and 8.6 rebounds.

Virginia Tech (16-7, 3-7) has lost six-consecutive games, last falling 87-81 at Georgia Tech on Sunday. The Hokies shot 49.2 percent from the field, connecting on 10 3s. Virginia Tech, though, committed 21 fouls and Georgia Tech went 20 of 25 from the free throw line. The Yellow Jackets also held a 22-7 edge in offensive rebounds, scoring 22 second-chance points.

Chanette Hicks came off the bench and scored a game-high 29 points on 14-of-20 shooting. She also had five rebounds, six assists, and six steals. Vanessa Panousis totaled 17 points, Samantha Hill tallied 12 points, and Sidney Cook finished with 10 points. Zaire O’Neil logged 25 points for Georgia Tech in the victory.

This season, Hicks is pacing the Hokies in scoring (16.4), assists (120), and steals (91). She ranks third nationally in total steals and fourth in steals per game (3.96). Cook is averaging 13.6 points and 8.7 rebounds, and Regan Magarity is contributing 13.0 points, a team-leading 9.7 rebounds, and a team-high 37 blocks.

Collectively, Virginia Tech ranks in the top-50 nationally in turnovers per game (No. 27), fewest turnovers (No. 40), and turnover margin (No. 49). The Hokies are second in the league in fewest personal fouls per game.

SERIES HISTORY – Virginia Tech vs. Louisville
Louisville and Virginia Tech are facing each other for the 35th time, with the series knotted at 17-17. The Cardinals have won the last two meetings.

Last season, Louisville shot just 34.5 percent but scored 18 points off 21 turnovers and earned a 56-45 victory on Jan. 7, 2016, in the KFC Yum! Center. The Cardinals outscored the Hokies 18-5 in the second quarter.

Myisha Hines-Allen totaled 18 points and 10 rebounds, and Briahanna Jackson registered 13 points. Asia Durr totaled 10 points.

In the last meeting in Blacksburg on Feb. 19, 2015, Louisville secured a 69-49 victory in its first year in the ACC. Shawnta’ Dyer scored 15 points, and Mariya Moore added 14 for Louisville, which forced 18 turnovers for 21 points.

For the latest information on Louisville women’s basketball, log on to GoCards.com, or, for up-to-the-minute updates, follow the team’s Twitter account at www.twitter.com/UofLWBB or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/UofLWBB.

GAME FACTS – Louisville at Virginia Tech
Date: Thursday, Feb. 9
Time: 7 p.m. ET
Site: Cassell Coliseum (10,000), Blacksburg, Va.
Television: ACC Network Extra will broadcast the game, with Danny Nokes (play-by-play) and Mack McCarthy (analyst) calling the action.
Radio: WKRD 790 AM will broadcast the game, with Nick Curran (play-by-play) and Adrienne Johnson (analyst) calling the action.
Series History: Series is tied at 17-17 (UofL: 8-7 in Louisville, 6-10 in Blacksburg, 3-0 neutral). Louisville defeated Virginia Tech 56-45 on Jan. 7, 2016, in Louisville, Ky.
Next UofL Game: Sunday, Feb. 12 vs. Boston College, KFC Yum! Center/Crum Court, Louisville, Ky., 3 p.m. ET (RSN/FOX)

Ira Green
Asst. Sports Information Director