Cardinals Defeat Blue Devils, 61-44

The No. 17/16 Louisville women’s basketball team celebrated a historic milestone tonight, securing a 61-44 victory over Duke to earn their 1,000th win in program history. This achievement makes Louisville the 27th program in the nation and the fourth program in the ACC to reach this impressive feat.

The Cardinals showed dominance on both ends of the court in the first half, holding Duke to a season-low four points in the second quarter alone. Louisville went on a 16-0 run that lasted 9 minutes and 18 seconds, giving them a comfortable 35-19 lead at halftime.

Duke attempted a comeback in the second half, but the Cardinals quickly shut down any hopes with an immediate 8-3 run. Louisville’s defense continued to shine, extending their winning streak to 41 games when allowing 59 points or less. They also maintained their perfect record at home against unranked ACC opponents, now sitting at 53-0 since joining the league in 2014-15. The Blue Devils were held to their lowest-scoring game of the season, managing only 44 points.

Kiki Jefferson led the charge for the Cardinals, scoring 15 points and contributing four rebounds and two steals. The graduate student has now reached double figures in scoring 10 times this season and has recorded multiple steals in seven games.

Olivia Cochran continued her impressive run, reaching double figures in scoring for the seventh consecutive game. She finished the night with 13 points, six rebounds, and three steals. This marked the fifth time this season that Cochran has recorded three steals in a game.

Adding to the Cardinals’ offensive firepower, Merissah Russell chipped in with 10 points and two steals. Russell has now achieved double-digit scoring in back-to-back games, while also showcasing her defensive skills with multiple steals.

Louisville showcased their defensive prowess once again, forcing 27 turnovers against the Blue Devils. This brings their total to 11 games this season with 20 or more turnovers forced. Duke’s 27 turnovers were the most they have had in a game since January 9, 2020, when they had 28 against Virginia.

After this milestone victory, the Cardinals will have some time off before their next game. They have a conference bye game this upcoming Sunday, but will be back in action on Thursday, January 11, as they travel to face the Pitt Panthers. The game will be televised nationally on the ACC Network at 6 p.m. ET.