The 9th-ranked Louisville Cardinals muscled out a win against the Central Michigan Chippewas in a 76 – 63 decision.
Jazmine Jones led the Cardinals with a career-high 25 points on 10 – of – 13 shooting. Dana Evans also notched a career-high 24 points. Kylee Shook followed suit earning her second consecutive double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds to go along with 5 blocks.
The first half was a battle for the Cardinals. Every time Louisville would get a lead, the Chippewas would respond. The Cardinals held a 22 – 15 advantage at the end of the first frame. Jones paced Louisville with 8 points including a triple off an assist from sophomore Mykasa Robinson, to boost the Cardinals to a 22 – 13 lead before Micaela Kelly knocked down a buzzer-beating shot to end the quarter.
Central Michigan did not back down. The Chippewas outscored the Cardinals 21 – 17 in the second frame behind Kelly’s 10 points. Louisville struggled to get a solid lead as Central Michigan’s dominance in the paint pulled the Chippewas within 3 points at the half, 39 – 36.
Louisville relied heavily on Jazmine Jones and Kylee Shook in the first half. The duo combined for 24 of the Cardinal’s 39 points. Jones led the way with 13 points and 5 rebounds, while Shook added 11 points and 6 rebounds.
Louisville’s leading scorer, Dana Evans, struggled in the first half, going 2 – of – 9 from the field and failing to record an assist. However, the junior guard lit it up in the third frame scoring 11 of Louisville’s 20 points. Evans ended the game with 24 points, eclipsing her previous record of 21.
The Cardinals took a 59 – 46 lead into the final quarter. The Chippewas fired back on a 7 – 0 run to pull within 6 points before Jones and Evans took over, leading Louisville to a 76 – 63 victory.
