Dominant Cardinals Defeat NC A&T in 80-40 Victory

Louisville, KY – In a dominant performance, the No. 22/19 ranked Louisville women’s basketball team (8-1) cruised to an impressive 80-40 victory over NC A&T (3-4) at the KFC Yum! Center on Sunday afternoon. The Cardinals showcased their strong play, extending their winning streak to four games and maintaining a perfect 4-0 record at home this season.

Louisville displayed a balanced attack against the Aggies, as five players scored in double figures and seven players contributed with six points or more. This depth of scoring is a key factor for the Cardinals, as they had 10 players contribute on the scoreboard. The team’s ability to involve multiple players in the scoring allows for a well-rounded offense.

Jayda Curry, an instrumental player for Louisville, made an impact in various aspects of the game. She led the team with 12 points, five assists, and a career-high six steals, in addition to grabbing five rebounds. Curry’s stellar performance made her the first Louisville player since Emily Engstler in the 2022 Elite Eight to record six steals in a game. Eylia Love also had a standout game, achieving her first double-double with the Cardinals, tallying 10 points and a team-high 10 rebounds. Kiki Jefferson, Merissah Russell, and Olivia Cochran also contributed with double-digit points.

The Cardinals set the tone early, hitting all six of their field goal attempts and sinking three three-pointers to establish a 17-9 lead at the first media timeout. They continued their dominant play in the first quarter, embarking on an 8-0 run, forcing NC A&T to call a timeout. By the end of the quarter, Louisville held an impressive 29-13 lead, accumulating nine assists on 12 made buckets, while forcing eight turnovers from their opponents.

In the second quarter, the Cardinals maintained their momentum, going on a 9-0 run and outscoring the Aggies 11-4. Love’s layup prompted NC A&T to call another timeout with 6:47 left in the quarter. Louisville closed the half on a high note, going on a 16-4 run to secure a commanding 54-21 lead. The stifling defense of the Cardinals limited NC A&T to only eight points in the second quarter.

All 11 Cardinals players saw action in the first half, and 10 of them contributed points. Louisville’s ball movement was exceptional, evident by their 16 assists on 22 made shots. Cochran led the team with 10 points at halftime.

In the second half, the Cardinals remained in control, preventing NC A&T from closing the gap. Louisville utilized their bench and coasted to their eighth win of the season, maintaining their unbeaten home record.

Next up for Louisville is the highly anticipated Battle for the Bluegrass, where they will face off against in-state rivals, Kentucky. The game is set to take place at the KFC Yum! Center on Sunday, December 10, at 2 p.m. ET. Fans can catch the action nationally on the ACC Network.