Nov. 25, 2013
@LADYTOPPERHOOPS VS. LOUISVILLE
NOV. 27, 2013 | 7:00 PM CT
E.A. DIDDLE ARENA | BOWLING GREEN, KY
FOURTH RANKED LOUISVILLE COMING TO E.A. DIDDLE ARENA
- The game will be both a homecoming and reunion for both coaching staffs. Louisville head coach Jeff Walz is a former assistant coach at WKU while WKU head coach Michelle Clark-Heard spent five seasons as an assistant to Walz at Louisville before returning to the Hill. In addition, WKU assistant coach Margaret Richards was a graduate assistant to Walz at Louisville while WKU assistant coach Candyce Bingham played for Walz on the 2009 national finalist team and coached under Walz as a graduate assistant on the 2013 national finalist team. Finally, WKU assistant Greg Collins previously served as an assistant coach at Louisville. The contest also marks the meeting of two Paul Sanderford proteges in Walz and Clark-Heard. The duo served as assistant coaches together under the legendary WKU coach at Nebraska.
- The game will mark the first time a top 5 team has come into E.A. Diddle Arena since WKU defeated fourth-ranked Louisiana Tech on Jan. 25, 1998 88-86. WKU is 6-8 all-time in E.A. Diddle Arena against teams ranked in the AP top five at the time of the contest.
- WKU will face off with the team that won the Preseason Women's NIT in that same season for the fourth time in school history tonight when hosting Louisville. WKU is 1-1 in E.A. Diddle Arena all-time against teams that won the preseason WNIT earlier in the season. WKU last played against a team that won the Preseason WNIT in 2003-04 when WKU lost to Texas Tech in the tournament, 88-47 on Nov. 16, 2004 in Lubbock, Texas. Previously, WKU suffered three losses to Louisiana Tech in 2000-01 after the team won the 2000 event and WKU went 1-2 against Louisiana Tech in 1996-97, winning in E.A. Diddle Arena against the 1996 Preseason WNIT champs.
- WKU head coach Michelle Clark-Heard recorded her 50th career victory as an NCAA coach in the 74-64 win over Northern Kentucky on Nov. 23, 2013. Clark-Heard needed 94 games to reach 50 wins after taking over programs that were 9-19 (Kentucky State in 2003-04 before arrival) and 9-21 (WKU in 2011-12 before arrival).
- WKU is in the midst of a three-game tour of the Bluegrass, facing three straight games from the state of Kentucky. Games with Louisville on Nov. 27 and Morehead State on Dec. 1 remain in the series of games after WKU defeated Northern Kentucky on Nov. 23. It is the first time since 2002-03 that WKU has faced three off against opponents from the state of Kentucky in three straight games. In that stretch, WKU defeated Louisville (87-67 on Dec. 3, 2002), Kentucky (88-83 on Dec. 7, 2002) and Murray State (67-60 on Dec. 14, 2002).
- WKU made major strides on the scoreboard a year ago, going from 56.3 points per game in 2011-12 to 68.7 points per game in 2012-13. The team is looking to increase that scoring average even more in 2013-14 with a more uptempo style, thanks in large part to added depth that will allow the Lady Toppers to press and pressure even more. WKU is currently averaging 77.6 points per game and 82.0 points in wins.
-
