Louisville Women’s Basketball Postgame Notes: NC A&T Match

In a dominant display of basketball, the #22/19 Louisville Cardinals cruised to an 80-40 victory over NC A&T. The Cardinals extended their winning streak to 38 games when allowing 59 points or fewer. This remarkable streak spans over nine seasons, with Louisville boasting a 145-4 record in such games. Head coach Jeff Walz continues to find success in the month of December, as the Cardinals improve their all-time record to 94-15 during this time. In the past six seasons alone, they have achieved an impressive 34-2 record in December, winning their seventh consecutive December game.

The Cardinals have been a force to be reckoned with when facing nonconference opponents under Coach Walz. They hold a remarkable 182-34 (.843) record against nonconference foes in regular season play, and have won 84 out of their last 95 non-conference games. Since the start of the 2017-18 season, Louisville has amassed 185 wins, ranking fourth in the NCAA, and boasts a winning percentage of .849, ranking fifth during that span.

Louisville’s defensive prowess was once again on full display against NC A&T, as they forced 31 turnovers. This marks the seventh straight game in which they have forced 20 or more turnovers. The Cardinals have notched their highest turnover count in a game since their 35 forced turnovers against Syracuse in 2022.

Offensively, the Cardinals showcased their depth with 10 players contributing to the scoreline. They have achieved this feat four times this season, maintaining a perfect 4-0 record in such games. Additionally, five Louisville players reached double figures in scoring, marking the second time this season that five or more players hit double digits.

The Cardinals demonstrated their defensive strength by limiting NC A&T to single-digit quarters in the second and third quarters. This achievement marks the eighth time this season that Louisville has held opponents to single-digit quarters. Last season, their opponents recorded only 22 single-digit quarters throughout the entire campaign. The Cardinals have now accomplished multiple single-digit quarters in three games this year.

Contributing to their comprehensive victory, Louisville’s bench was instrumental, accounting for 44 points. This marks the third game this season where they have scored 30 or more bench points, and the second game with 40 or more bench points. Additionally, the Cardinals tallied 16 steals against NC A&T, coming just shy of their season-high of 17 steals against Bellarmine.

In standout individual performances, Eylia Love notched her first double-double with the Cardinals, scoring 10 points and grabbing a team-high 10 rebounds. Love becomes the fifth player this season to earn a double-double for Louisville. Jayda Curry shone with six steals, a career-high for her, along with team highs in points (12) and assists (5), complemented by five rebounds. Kiki Jefferson extended her streak of double-digit scoring games to four, finishing with 11 points on perfect shooting—3-for-3 from the field, 1-for-1 from beyond the arc, and 4-for-4 from the free-throw line. Sydney Taylor showcased her well-rounded game with four assists, five rebounds, and six points. Merissah Russell tied a season high with 11 points and equaled her career-best with three made three-pointers, adding three rebounds, three assists, a block, and a steal.

With their dominant performance, the Louisville Cardinals continue to assert their position as a formidable force on both ends of the court. Their consistent success and depth make them a formidable opponent for any team.