Louisville Clinches the Last Spot in the Final Four

WICHITA, Kan. — Olivia Cochran sat many of the first half with foul bother. 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 evening’s sport figuring out 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 group’s defensive anchor, broke via a cussed Michigan protection for 3 layups within the last three minutes to ship the Cardinals to the Last 4, defeating Michigan, a No. 3 seed, 62-50.

Louisville knew the rematch wouldn’t be as simple because the groups’ sport in December, when the Cardinals blew out Michigan by 22 factors at dwelling. They knew Michigan would higher address the strain protection, and that they must win a dogfight.

“We are able to have a look at it for issues that went properly for us, however it’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 Area on Monday evening 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 have been led by Van Lith, who scored 22 factors, and Chelsie Corridor, who tied a season-high with 15 factors, largely coming from behind the 3-point arc.

The Louisville lead was simply two factors, 52-50, when Emily Engstler discovered a slicing Cochran with slightly below three minutes left. On its subsequent possession, 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 via the rim. Cochran scored a pleasant driving basket on the following possession, and the Louisville protection shut down Michigan the remainder of the best way.

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 method to attract nearer, often on the free throw line. Michigan shot 11 extra free throws than Louisville.

Monday evening’s matchup was between groups that, on paper not less than, had lots of similarities. Each groups attempt to trigger chaos with intense urgent. In Hillmon and Engstler, each are led by rangy, defense-first forwards who might be chosen within the first spherical of subsequent month’s W.N.B.A. draft. And each have coaches who clarify that they’re arduous on their gamers and inform them blunt truths, however who additionally appear to like their gamers.

Gamers and coaches on each groups tried to downplay the significance of that December sport, however Michigan Coach Kim Barnes Arico conceded that Louisville’s defensive depth was in all probability the very best her group had confronted all 12 months. Within the 4 months since that sport, Michigan usually practiced the best way to fight the double- and triple-teams Hillmon commanded.

“That’s change into a staple in our follow plan as a result of they actually type 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 twice. 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 Laila Phelia and Maddie Nolan took a few of the offensive load on the perimeter. It additionally helped that Cochran performed solely 20 minutes.

Louisville was the final group to punch its ticket to the Last 4, the place it’ll face South Carolina, which has misplaced simply twice this season and simply beat Creighton by 30. The opposite aspect of the bracket will see Stanford play Connecticut. The nationwide semifinals will likely be performed on Friday in Minneapolis. The ultimate is on Sunday.

Louisville’s Last 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 group had ever superior that far.