Hokies Hoops Central: #8 Lady Hokies (26-4) vs. Louisville (23-10) 1 p.m. ET on ESPN

Hokies Hoops Central: #8 Lady Hokies (26-4) vs. Louisville (23-10) 1 p.m. ET on ESPN

𝗢𝗻𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗯𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗿.🕐 » 1 PM📺 » ESPN📊 » https://t.co/5g7aqFtFFv pic.twitter.com/A3yfLXxyjP— Virginia Tech Women's Basketball (@HokiesWBB) March 5, 2023

ACC Network
Jenn Hildreth (play-by-play)
Debbie Antonelli (analyst)
Angel Gray (sideline)

Other ways to tune in
Virginia Tech Sports Network from @LearfieldAudio
Radio: 100.7 FM (NRV)
Mobile: @HokieSports app
Mobile:@Varsity Network app

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐒𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐲 pic.twitter.com/G6PT1yfz0H— Virginia Tech Women's Basketball (@HokiesWBB) March 5, 2023

Championship Sunday...
The Lady Hokies beat Louisville 81-79 in their sole meeting this season. The Hokies rolled #11 Duke right out of Greensboro 58-37 while Louisville ran over a short-handed Notre Dame squad 64-38. The Hokies allowed less than 10 points in three periods and 12 points in one, allowing the Blue Devils to shoot just 26.8% shooting from the field (and 6.7% from three).

Keep in mind that Notre Dame was missing two starters that combined this season for 24 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists so about a 40-45 point impact to their regular rotation. Following a 26-point performance against Wake Forest in the quarterfinals, Hailey Van Lith provided Louisville with 15 points as one of four Cardinals to finish with 10 or more points against Notre Dame. Olivia Cochran grabbed eight boards to go along with her 12 points, while Mykasa Robinson again put together an all-around performance with 10 points, eight rebounds and five assists.

The first time Louisville and the Hokies met up — Taylor Soule was on fire down low while scoring 24 points as one of four Hokies in double figures. Georgia Amoore struggled shooting on 5-15 from the floor. Louisville was led by 29 points from Hailey Van Lith and 19 from Morgan Jones.

The game was a slugfest down low with Soule eventually fouling out and both starting Louisville forwards and a center off the bench finishing with four fouls each.

The three keys as I see them:
1) Limit Van Lith. The Hokies defense was in a mid-season slump in the last game so holding Van Lith under 20 in this game should be enough. An Lith has a tendency to get defenders off balance and knows how to draw contact. She went 7-7 in the last game at the line.
2) Stay out of early foul trouble and keep your composure. This game will have a higher amount of physical play down low than even Duke and UNC with Olivia Cochran banging up Kitley at every chance.
3) Limit turnovers – Louisville blew Notre Dame out primarily by forcing early turnovers. They forced thirteen in the first half yesterday.

One other area of concern will be fatigue, Louisville goes 5 deep on its bench while the Hokies tend to use only two or three at most.

🏀TUNE IN🏀No. 4 @LouisvilleWBB🆚​No. 3 @HokiesWBB⏰ ​1:00 p.m. ET💻 ESPN#NCAAWBB pic.twitter.com/lWQGjMJzoM— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessWBB) March 5, 2023

Louisville Backcourt
Hailey Van Lith
10 JR G 5-7
19.4 Pts, 4.8 Reb, 3.3 Ast

Chrislyn Carr
3 SR G 5-5
10.9 Pts, 2.3 Reb, 2.6 Ast

Morgan Jones
24 SR G 6-2
9.3 Pts, 4.3 Reb, 1.5 Ast

Mykasa Robinson
5 SR G 5-7
5.7 Pts, 4.9 Reb, 4.2 Ast

Merissah Russell
13 JR G 5-11
4.4 Pts, 2.4 Reb, 0.9 Ast

Norika Konno
11 SR G 5-10
2.6 Pts, 1.0 Reb, 1.2 Ast

Louisville Frontcourt
Olivia Cochran
44 JR F 6-3
8.1 Pts, 6.5 Reb, 1.2 Ast

Liz Dixon
22 SR F 6-5
5.1 Pts, 3.7 Reb, 0.5 Ast

Nyla Harris
2 FR F 6-2
4.5 Pts, 3.6 Reb, 0.3 Ast

Josie Williams
40 SR C 6-5
2.8 Pts, 1.8 Reb, 0.4 Ast