Pregame Notes:
Good evening Card Nation. Louisville is coming off an unscheduled Covid pause and are taking on the Syracuse Orange. Louisville was supposed to play Miami, but that game has been rescheduled for the February 1st. Louisville’s Emily Engstler will be facing off against her hometown and former school in the first of two scheduled meetings. The Orange are coming in with 8-7 record (1-4) in conference. Louisville leads the all-time series (15-7) and is 9-1 as the home team.
Starting Lineup:
Chelsie Hall (6.5ppg, 2.2apg, 3.4pg)
Hailey Van Lith (11.1ppg, 3.3rpg)
Emily Engstler (10.6rpg, 8.4ppg )
Kianna Smith (11.2ppg, 3.6rpg)
Olivia Cochran (7.2ppg, 5.4rpg)
1st Quarter:
Hailey Van Lith got the scoring started with a layup in transition off a great assist by Engstler. Louisville looked a little rusty and out of sync to start the quarter, as they struggled to make shots in the paint. Syracuse didn’t look like a team with an 8-7 record at all in the first quarter, as they were able to keep the game competitive. Louisville led 23-18 after the first quarter.
2nd Quarter:
Verhulst got the first bucket for the Cards in the quarter. Louisville struggled to get and stay in a consistent rhythm early in the quarter and Syracuse was able to cut the lead to one (27-26). Louisville answered with a 5-0 run and led 31-26 with 4:40 left in the quarter. Louisville led 40-35 heading into intermission.
Halftime Stats At A Glance:
FG%: 18-36 (50.0%)
3PT%: 2-8 (25.0%)
FT%: 2-2 (100.0%)
Assists: 11
Turnovers: 6
Total Rebounds: 19-15
Leading Scorer: Hailey Van Lith (13)
3rd Quarter:
Kianna Smith started the quarter off with a 3-ball to extend the Cards lead to 43-35. Both teams made runs in the quarter and Louisville failed to keep any momentum. Syracuse took a brief 55-56 late in the quarter. Emily Engstler scored the last four points of the quarter to give the Cards a 59-56 lead heading into the final quarter.
4th Quarter:
Louisville struggled to make baskets in the paint and Syracuse was able to tie the game at 62. A Kianna Smith 3-ball broke the tie and a HVL 3-ball (on the Cards next possession) give the Cards a 68-64 lead. Hailey Van Lith scored 7 of her 20 points in the fourth quarter, as Louisville pulled away late and won 84-71.
Final Stats:
FG% 34-66 (51.5%)
3PT% 7-17 (41.2%)
FT% 9-10 (90.0%)
Assists: 22
Blocks: 3
Steals: 11
Turnovers: 10
Total Rebounds: 31-31
Offensive Rebounds: 11-8
Bench Points: 14
Post Game Notes and Leaders:
Louisville improves to 14-1 on the season and remains undefeated in ACC play at 4-0. The Covid pause looked to be an issue for Louisville all game. Give credit to a game Syracuse squad. They didn’t go away easily. Louisville struggled to find a rhythm and missed countless shots in the paint all game. Louisville was led in scoring by Hailey Van Lith and Kianna Smith with 20 points each. Engstler led the team in rebounds with 8 to go along with 15 points, Olivia Cochran added 7 rebounds as well.
Next Opponent:
Louisville heads on the road to play the Boston College Eagles Sunday, January 16th at noon.
