Louisville Women’s Basketball: Postgame Notes against Pitt

Louisville continued their dominance at home against unranked ACC opponents with a commanding 77-58 win over Pitt. In fact, the Cardinals have a perfect 56-0 record at home against unranked conference opponents since the 2014-15 season. Their success in ACC play is also impressive, boasting a record of 133-25, making them the only program with a winning percentage of .800 or greater in ACC play over the last 10 seasons.

Since the start of the 2017-18 season, Louisville has been on fire with 195 wins and an impressive .848 winning percentage. These numbers rank third and sixth in the NCAA during that span. The team’s defensive prowess was on full display against Pitt, as they extended their winning streak to 43 games when allowing 59 points or less. In fact, over the past nine seasons, the Cardinals have an outstanding record of 150-4 when limiting their opponents to 59 points or less.

The defensive effort was evident from the start, with Louisville limiting Pitt to just nine points in the first quarter. This is something they have achieved multiple times this season, with 14 games where they held opponents to single-digit quarters. This stellar defensive performance translated into all-round contributions from the entire team, with all 11 players getting on the scoreboard in the win over Pitt. This marks the third time this season that every player has scored, and the Cardinals are undefeated in those games.

Scoring 70 points or more has been a key indicator of success for Louisville, as they have an impressive record of 97-5 in their last 102 games when surpassing the 70-point mark. They also have a strong track record against unranked opponents, with a record of 199-10 in their last 209 games. In their win over Pitt, Louisville capitalized on turnovers, scoring 22 points off turnovers. This marked the 15th game this season where they have scored 20 or more points off turnovers. Additionally, the Cardinals showcased their defensive tenacity with 12 steals in the game, a feat they have achieved in 10 games this season.

Individually, Jayda Curry led the Cardinals in scoring with 15 points, displaying her shooting skills by going 6-for-9 from the field and 3-for-4 from behind the arc. This is the fifth time this season that Curry has led the team in scoring, and she tied her season-high with three made three-pointers. Kiki Jefferson also had a solid performance, contributing 12 points, five rebounds, three assists, and two steals. Jefferson has been a consistent scorer, reaching double figures in 14 of her last 16 games. She also recorded five or more rebounds for the eighth time this season and achieved her fifth-straight game with three or more assists.

Other notable contributions came from Olivia Cochran, Sydney Taylor, and Eylia Love, all of whom led the team with four assists each. Taylor added nine points and four rebounds, while Love made an impact with three steals, three rebounds, and three points. Cochran provided a well-rounded performance with five rebounds and four points. Merissah Russell also stood out, tallying nine points on an efficient 4-for-5 shooting, along with three rebounds and two steals.

With their dominant win over Pitt, Louisville showcases their strength on both ends of the court, continuing their strong performance in ACC play and solidifying their position as one of the top programs in the NCAA.