The No. 18/16 Louisville women’s basketball team is gearing up for a clash with the Pitt Panthers on Sunday, January 28 at 2 p.m. ET at the KFC Yum! Center. This game will be the annual Pink Game, supporting the fight against breast cancer and honoring local survivors. Fans who have battled or are currently battling breast cancer can purchase discounted $5 tickets.
The first meeting between Louisville and Pitt this season ended in a 74-44 victory for the Cardinals. Although the final score was lopsided, the game remained competitive for much of the matchup. Louisville only held a four-point lead before hitting a buzzer-beater to close the first half with a seven-point advantage. In the third quarter, the Cardinals pulled away, eventually outscoring the Panthers 26-6 in the final quarter.
Louisville is coming off an 88-60 win over Boston College, improving their home record to 10-0 for the season. The team has shown resilience following losses, currently boasting a 88-24 record under coach Jeff Walz after a loss. Against ACC opponents, they have a 22-3 record following a loss. In their 10 years in the league, Louisville has only suffered back-to-back ACC losses three times.
Kiki Jefferson had a standout performance against Boston College, scoring a season-high 27 points while shooting 8-for-14 from the field. She also went perfect from behind the arc and the free-throw line, adding seven rebounds and four assists. Jefferson’s 27 points were the most by a Cardinal this season.
Olivia Cochran continued her consistent scoring stretch, tallying 10 points against Boston College. She has now scored 10 or more points in 12 consecutive games while shooting 50 percent or better from the field in each of those games. Additionally, freshman Elif Istanbulluoglu scored a career-high 11 points in the win.
Against Boston College, Louisville shot an impressive 57.1 percent from the field, marking the fifth time they have shot 50 percent or better against an ACC opponent this season. The 88 points scored were the most against an ACC opponent since February 6, 2022.
The Pitt Panthers come into the matchup with a 7-13 overall record and a 1-6 record in ACC play. They secured their first ACC win with a 56-52 victory over Virginia. Liatu King has been a key contributor for the Panthers, ranking second in the conference for rebounds per game and fifth in scoring. In the first meeting between Louisville and Pitt, the Cardinals held King to six points and eight rebounds.
Louisville holds a commanding 26-2 lead in the all-time series against Pitt, winning the last 22 matchups. Since joining the ACC in 2014-15, the Cardinals are unbeaten against the Panthers in conference play, boasting an 18-0 record. In games played in Louisville, the Cardinals have a perfect 12-0 record against Pitt.
Fans can catch the game on ACC Network Extra or listen on 93.9-FM The Ville.
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