Katy, Texas – In an intense battle on Friday afternoon at the Merrell Center, the No. 20/15 Louisville women’s basketball team suffered their first loss of the season, falling 78-73 to Alabama in the opening game of the Betty Chancellor Classic. The game saw 12 ties and nine lead changes, before the Crimson Tide finished strong with a 9-4 run to secure the victory.
Nyla Harris led the Cardinals with 18 points, matching her career high, and also contributed eight rebounds and two steals. Nina Rickards recorded her first double-double with the Cardinals, tallying 10 points and a team-high 10 rebounds. Sydney Taylor added 17 points, her fourth consecutive game in double figures, along with four rebounds and two steals.
The game started off as a defensive battle, with both teams struggling to protect the ball and committing early turnovers. However, Alabama found their rhythm from beyond the arc, knocking down four three-pointers in the first quarter. Despite forcing the Crimson Tide into eight turnovers, the Cardinals trailed 23-18 after the first 10 minutes.
Alabama continued their hot shooting from three-point range in the second quarter, connecting on two more shots. The Crimson Tide shot an impressive 51.7 percent from the field in the first half. Turnovers remained an issue for both teams, with a combined 25 turnovers in the first half alone. Despite trailing by as much as eight, the Cardinals managed to cut the deficit to 38-33 going into halftime.
Harris led the Cardinals with eight points in the first half, while Taylor, Jayda Curry, and Olivia Cochran each scored five points. Cochran also contributed five rebounds and two steals, while Taylor added two steals of her own.
In the third quarter, Taylor began to take control, hitting her first three-pointer just one minute into the quarter. She went on to score 12 points in the quarter, including three more three-pointers, to bring the Cardinals within three points. Alabama held a slim 58-55 lead heading into the final 10 minutes of regulation.
The Cardinals fought back in the fourth quarter, reclaiming the lead with consecutive layups from Harris and Jefferson. Alabama called a timeout just 54 seconds into the quarter, with the Cardinals up 59-58. The lead swapped hands multiple times in the final quarter, setting up a thrilling finish. With 1:26 remaining, Alabama held a four-point advantage, but the Cardinals responded with a 4-0 run, including layups from Rickards and Harris to tie the game at 69 with 47.2 seconds left.
However, Alabama knocked down a crucial three-pointer on their next possession to regain the lead, and they held on to secure the victory with a 9-4 run to close out the game.
The Cardinals will have a chance to bounce back in the Betty Chancellor Classic on Saturday, as they face off against the Liberty Flames in their second game of the tournament. Tipoff is scheduled for 12 p.m. ET at the Merrell Center and the game will be streamed on ESPN+.
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