Coach Jeff Walz and his Louisville team started off the season on a winning note. The Cards defeated the Southeast Missouri State Redhawks 74-53.
The Cards were led in scoring by Olivia Cochran’s 17 points. Cochran and fellow true freshman Hailey Van Lith were tied with 8 rebounds each for the team lead in rebounds. Dana led the team with 6 assists while chipping in 15 points.
Louisville started Dana Evans, Hailey Van Lith, Ahlana Smith, Elizabeth Balogun, and Olivia Cochran today.
Olivia Cochran got the scoring started for the Cards in the 2020-2021 season. The Cards got off to a good start in 1st quarter, but SEMO kept fighting and kept it close in the 1st quarter. Cards led the Redhawks 18-16 after one quarter.
During the second quarter, Louisville put on a full court press and began to expand their lead. The depth and talent on the Louisville bench was too much for Southeast Missouri. UofL tripled the Redhawks scoring output in the second quarter and took a 38-24 lead into halftime.
After intermission, Hailey Van Lith got the scoring started with her first career 3-ball. The Cards weren’t themselves and struggled in the first part of the third quarter. The Redhawks were able to really cut into the Louisville lead, but the Cards regained their composure and extended the lead again. Louisville took a 56-41 lead into the fourth quarter.
In the final period coach Walz continued to shuffle players in and out of the game to get some real-time game experience.
The Cards finished the game shooting 41% from the field, eventhough they struggled from beyond the arc.
Cards Quick Stats:
20-27 free throw line 74%
15 assists
10 blocks
7 steals
26-10 points in the paint
50-36 rebounding advantage
24-16 advantage on the offensive glass
Committed 16 turnovers
Forced 19 turnovers
The next game for Louisville will be Saturday in Cincinnati at 2pm.
