WICHITA, Kan. — Olivia Cochran sat many of the first half with foul hassle. She reacted incredulously when what she thought was a clear block was whistled as a foul, and he or she performed the ultimate 5 minutes of Monday night time’s recreation realizing that one miscue would foul her out for good.
However when No. 1-seeded Louisville wanted her most, when its offensive stars couldn’t get free, Cochran, the workforce’s defensive anchor, broke by way of a cussed Michigan protection for 3 layups within the ultimate three minutes to ship the Cardinals to the Ultimate 4, defeating Michigan, a No. 3 seed, 62-50.
Louisville knew the rematch wouldn’t be as straightforward because the groups’ recreation in December, when the Cardinals blew out Michigan by 22 factors at residence. They knew Michigan would higher deal with the strain protection, and that they must win a dogfight.
“We are able to have a look at it for issues that went nicely for us, but it surely’s March,” Louisville’s star guard, Hailey Van Lith, mentioned earlier than the sport.
It’s certainly March, and what unfolded at Intrust Financial institution Enviornment on Monday night time earlier than a largely pro-Louisville crowd was a dogfight, one which performed out a lot nearer this time round, but nonetheless led to a Louisville victory.
The Cardinals had been led by Van Lith, who scored 22 factors, and Chelsie Corridor, who tied a season-high with 15 factors, principally coming from behind the 3-point arc.
Michigan had the ball down simply 2 factors, 52-50, when Laila Phelia dedicated an offensive foul. “52-50, with the ball,” mentioned Kim Barnes Arico, Michigan’s coach. “I’m going to have nightmares about that for the subsequent eight months till we play once more.”
The subsequent few possessions would show decisive. Louisville’s Emily Engstler discovered a chopping Cochran with slightly below three minutes left to take a 4-point lead. Michigan thought it was about to have a 3-point play, however Naz Hillmon was known as for an offensive foul on Cochran as her layup went by way of the rim. Cochran scored a pleasant driving basket on the subsequent possession after beating the press, and the Louisville protection shut down Michigan the remainder of the way in which.
“That look was there the entire fourth quarter and we couldn’t ship it to her,” Van Lith mentioned of Cochran’s layups. “We had been speeding and letting their strain velocity us up.”
Louisville led by as many as 9 factors within the third quarter, however each time the Cardinals got here near placing the sport away, Michigan discovered a approach to attract nearer, often on the free throw line. Michigan shot 11 extra free throws than Louisville.
Monday night time’s matchup was between groups that, on paper not less than, had many similarities. Each groups attempt to trigger chaos with intense urgent. In Hillmon and Engstler, each are led by rangy, defense-first forwards who may very well be chosen within the first spherical of subsequent month’s W.N.B.A. draft. And each have coaches, in Barnes Arico and Jeff Walz, who clarify that they’re arduous on their gamers and inform them blunt truths, however who additionally appear to be cherished by their gamers.
Gamers and coaches on each groups tried to downplay the significance of that December recreation, however Barnes Arico conceded that Louisville’s defensive depth was in all probability the very best her workforce had confronted all season. Within the 4 months since that recreation, Michigan usually practiced fight the double- and triple-teams Hillmon, an All-American final season, commanded.
“That’s develop into a staple in our observe plan as a result of they actually sort of went at her and tried to take her out of the sport plan,” Barnes Arico mentioned.
Louisville’s strain as soon as once more flustered Michigan, as every Wolverines starter turned the ball over not less than 3 times. However Michigan didn’t soften down prefer it did in Louisville in December. Hillmon lived on the free throw line, scoring 10 of her 18 factors there, and Phelia and Maddie Nolan took among the offensive load on the perimeter. Michigan additionally outrebounded Louisville, although it helped that Cochran performed solely 20 minutes.
Engstler was as marketed on protection for Louisville, knocking down 16 rebounds and nabbing six steals as she led the press. “It appeared like each massive play they made, she was concerned in,” Barnes Arico mentioned. However Engstler struggled offensively, capturing 1 of 9 from the sector and 0 of 5 from 3-point vary as she principally settled for out of doors jumpers.
Louisville was the final workforce to punch its ticket to the Ultimate 4, the place it’ll face South Carolina, the No. 1 total seed, which has misplaced simply twice this season and simply beat Creighton by 30. The opposite facet of the bracket will see Stanford play Connecticut. The nationwide semifinals can be performed on Friday in Minneapolis. The ultimate is on Sunday.
Louisville’s Ultimate 4 look is its first since 2018, when it misplaced to the eventual runner-up Mississippi State. Michigan’s look within the spherical of 8 was the primary time the workforce had ever superior that far.