No. 19 Cardinals defeat Miami 77-72

Louisville Cardinals women’s basketball team celebrated the end of the year with a thrilling victory over the Miami Hurricanes on Sunday. The No. 19 ranked Cardinals kept their perfect record intact in ACC openers, now standing at 10-0, and also put an end to the Hurricanes’ impressive 17-game home winning streak.

The Cardinals had an impressive offensive performance, with five players scoring in double figures. Jayda Curry had a standout game, delivering a season-high 19 points and showcasing her accuracy by shooting 7-for-12 from the field, including a perfect 2-for-2 from behind the arc. Merissah Russell also had a noteworthy game, scoring a season-high 12 points on 3-for-3 shooting.

Nyla Harris had a double-double performance with 13 points and a career-high tying 12 rebounds. Kiki Jefferson contributed 12 points, hitting a milestone in the process by surpassing 2,000 career points with a jumper in the first quarter. Curry also reached a career milestone, surpassing the 1,000 career point mark with a three-pointer in the third quarter.

The Cardinals had a sluggish start to the game, as they were playing their first game in 11 days. However, they found their rhythm after the media timeout in the first quarter and managed to tie the score at 12 with four consecutive made shots. Although Louisville shot an impressive 53.6 percent from the field in the first half, they still trailed the Hurricanes 23-20 after the first 10 minutes of play.

The second quarter was a back-and-forth affair, with both teams taking turns in the lead. Curry’s last-second lay-up tied the game at 37-37 heading into halftime. The Cardinals showcased their depth and versatility in the first half, with eight different players contributing points.

Curry took charge in the third quarter, hitting the milestone of 1,000 career points with a three-pointer early on. She scored 11 points in the quarter, leading the Cardinals to a narrow 58-57 lead going into the final quarter.

In a tight fourth quarter, Russell emerged as the hero, scoring 11 consecutive points to help the Cardinals secure the victory. She hit all three of her three-point attempts in the quarter as the Cardinals embarked on a crucial 7-0 run. Although Miami made a late push and closed the gap to two points, the Cardinals held their nerve and sealed the win at the free-throw line.

The Cardinals will now prepare for their ACC home opener against the Duke Blue Devils at the KFC Yum! Center on Thursday, January 4. The game, which is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET, will be broadcast nationally on the ACC Network.