Louisville and UConn Meet in Top-20 Matchup

The No. 18/17 Louisville women’s basketball team (10-1) will be hitting the road once again for a highly anticipated matchup against the No. 17/18 UConn Huskies (6-3) in Hartford, Connecticut. This game marks the start of a four-game home-and-home series that will span over the next few years. The showdown is scheduled to take place at the XL Center on Saturday, December 16 at 12 p.m. ET and will be broadcast nationally on FOX.

Louisville comes into the game with an impressive six-game winning streak, following their 74-48 victory over Morehead State on Wednesday. The Cardinals have been dominant at home this season, boasting a 6-0 record in front of their home crowd. Their latest win saw Olivia Cochran shine, as she contributed 16 points and secured her second double-double of the season with 11 rebounds.

This will be the Cardinals’ second matchup against a ranked opponent this season, with both games taking place on the road. Their previous victory against No. 19/20 Ole Miss on November 29 showcased their ability to perform away from home. Louisville is currently 2-0 in road games this season. Last season, they posted an impressive 10-5 record on the road, tying for the most in the ACC.

Head coach Jeff Walz’s impressive track record in December is worth noting. In his 17 seasons with Louisville, the team has amassed an impressive 96-15 record during the month. Over the past six seasons, Louisville has only suffered two losses in December. The Cardinals are currently on a nine-game winning streak in December, dating back to last season.

On the UConn side, they enter this matchup with a 6-3 overall record. They recently secured a 76-64 victory over North Carolina at the Basketball Hall of Fame Women’s Showcase in Uncasville, Conn. UConn has proved to be a strong shooting team this season, ranking 21st nationally with a .479 field goal percentage. Additionally, they boast a .358 three-point field goal percentage, which places them 42nd nationally.

Looking at the series history between the two teams, Louisville trails UConn with a 3-18 record. However, the Cardinals have had success in recent matchups, winning two of the last three games against the Huskies. Despite this, Louisville has struggled in games played at UConn, currently holding a 0-6 record. Their most recent victory against the Huskies came on Dec. 19, 2021, at Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Conn.

It will be interesting to see how both teams perform in this highly anticipated rematch. The previous meeting between Louisville and UConn saw the Cardinals come out on top with a 69-64 victory. Louisville’s Kianna Smith led the charge with 16 points, while Ahlana Smith added 11 points to secure the win.

Make sure to follow Louisville women’s basketball on their social media platforms to stay updated on the latest news and developments leading up to the game.