Associated Press
NEW ORLEANS ó Louisville basketball has reached new heights ó in the women’s game, that is.
While Louisville’s men prepare to play North Carolina in an NCAA regional final in Charlotte tonight, the women’s teams from the same two schools will meet earlier in the day in New Orleans in the third round of the women’s tournament.
“We just hope that our guys’ and women’s teams can make history by both beating North Carolina,” Louisville forward Angel McCoughtry said.
Tournament success is more of a novelty for Louisville’s women’s squad, making its first appearance in the round of 16 as the fourth seed in the New Orleans regional.
To move on, they’ll have to beat top-seeded North Carolina (32-2), which won the ACC and comes in having won 15 straight games, with only one loss in its last 24 contests.
“We’re looking hopefully to do bigger and better things,” North Carolina coach Sylvia Hatchell said.”
While Louisville (26-9) is new to the regional round, it’s old hat for first-year coach Jeff Walz, who was an assistant on Maryland’s national championship squad two seasons ago.
North Carolina has five players who average double figures in scoring, led by junior guard Rashanda McCants at 16 points.
Senior center LaToya Pringle and senior forward Erlana Larkins each average 14 points, while freshman guard Cetera DeGraffenreid is averaging nearly 12 points and sophomore forward Jessica Breland nearly 11.
At their best, the Tar Heels turn rebounds into quick transition points in bunches.
“When we get tired quickly, that’s almost a good sign because it means we’re running up and down the court, playing Carolina basketball,” Pringle said.
The Tar Heels also feel they have some unfinished business to take care of, given that they came up two victories short of a national title last season, losing to eventual champion Tennessee in the national semifinals.
“We’ve been to this point before. We knew how great we would be, losing Ivory and Camille, because we had the core which is sitting over here back,” Larkins said, nodding toward McCants and Pringle. “We just had to make everybody else believe it.
“I’m not satisfied at all because I’m a senior and we haven’t won a national championship,” Larkins added. “That’s what we’re focused on.”