Dec. 2, 2013
Louisville Game Notes
Eastern Kentucky Game Notes (Available by 5 p.m. Wednesday)
Missouri State Lady Bears (1-4/0-0 MVC) at
#3/7 Louisville Cardinals (7-1/0-0 American), 6 p.m. Tuesday
Eastern Kentucky Colonels (3-5, 0-0 Ohio Valley), 6 p.m. Thursday
Locations:
Tue. - Louisville, Ky.
Thur. - Richmond, Ky.
Sites:
Tue. - KFC Yum! Center (22,000)
Thur. - McBrayer Arena (6,500)
Radio: KTXR 101.3 FM
Live Audio: RadioSpringfield.com
Live Video: Louisville | Eastern Kentucky
Live Stats: | Eastern Kentucky
The Missouri State Lady Bears (1-4, 0-0 MVC) are on the road for two games in Kentucky this week, beginning Tuesday at 6 p.m. Central when they visit 2013 NCAA runner-up Louisville (7-1). The Cardinals were ranked third and fourth in the two major polls last week before a Sunday loss at No. 7 Kentucky, and check in at seventh in the AP Poll this week.
Missouri State is 19-39 all-time against nationally-ranked teams and has lost its last two meetings with the top-25 by just 12 combined points. The Lady Bears hosted No. 9 Louisville in 2011, losing a hard-fought 73-64 decision to the Cardinals.
MSU's difficult schedule continues Thursday (Dec. 5) at 6 p.m. against Eastern Kentucky (3-5) in the sixth of eight consecutive games against teams that played in the postseason last year.
The Lady Bears return to JQH Arena on Dec. 15 when Lamar visits to open a three-game homestand.
Series Histories
Missouri State and Louisville have played once previously, a 73-64 Louisville victory in 2011 at JQH Arena. The Lady Bears led the ninth-ranked Cardinals at halftime of that game, and got 10 points from Hannah Wilkerson as the top effort from current MSU players in that game.
Missouri State is 1-1 against Eastern Kentucky, with both meetings taking place roughly a decade ago. The Colonels defeated the Lady Bears 72-65 in the 2002 WNIT at Hammons Student Center, and MSU won 91-81 in a 2004 regular-season meeting in Springfield.
Scouting Louisville
Louisville is 7-1 on the season with its lone loss coming at No. 7 Kentucky. The Cardinals were ranked third and fourth in the two major polls last week, and return five starters from last season's NCAA runner-up team.
Shoni Schimmel scores 13.4 points per game to lead a balanced attack that includes four players averaging double figures in the scoring column.
As a team, Louisville out-scores its opposition by an average of 85.4-64.6 and shoots 48.3 percent overall, 32.7 percent on 3-pointers and 64.3 percent from the foul line. The Cardinals also boast a +13.0 rebounding margin.
Scouting Eastern Kentucky
Eastern Kentucky is 3-5 on the season before a Dec. 3 game at Marshall. The Lady Colonels own victories against Miami (Ohio), Alabama A&M and Davis & Elkins College. Senior guard Marie Carpenter has averaged 22.5 points through eight games while shooting 29-for-66 from 3-point land to lead EKU offensively.
As a team, Eastern Kentucky scores 68.4 points and allows 66.0 while shooting 39.5 percent overall, 33.9 percent on 3-pointers and 72.2 percent from the charity stripe.
MSU Versus the Top 25
Missouri State has had relatively good success all-time against ranked opponents, going 19-39 versus top-25 foes and 6-13 against the Top 10. MSU last played a top-10 team in 2011, losing 73-64 to No. 9 Louisville, and defeated fifth-ranked Duke 81-71 in the 2001 NCAA Tournament for its last top-10 victory.
