Pregame Notes:
Good evening, Card Nation. Coach Jeff Walz and your 13th-ranked Louisville women’s team take on the 8-9 Clemson Tigers. Louisville won the last meeting 81-69. They are seeking to up their winning streak to 12 against the Tigers and improve their record to 10-0 in conference play. In Louisville’s last meeting, they defeated Wake Forest 83-62. The Cards had 6 players score in double-digits, led by Olivia Cochran and Jayda Curry who each had 12 points. Louisville is the lone undefeated team in the ACC with a 4-0 conference record. Louisville leads the all-time series vs Clemson 11-3.
STARTING LINEUP:
Nina Rickards (6.5ppg, 3apg)
Sydney Taylor (9.9ppg, 2.8rpg)
Kiki Jefferson (12.2ppg, 4.1rpg)
Nyla Harris (9.5ppg, 5.4rpg)
Olivia Cochran (11.8ppg, 5.9rpg)
1ST QUARTER:
A Nyla Harris strong drive and left hand finish tied the game at 2 within the first minute. Louisville went on a 11-2 run, forcing Clemson to call a timeout with 2:45 left in the quarter. Kiki Jefferson and Sydney Taylor combined for 17 points in the quarter and outscored Clemson. Louisville doubled up the Tiger after the first quarter and took a 26-13 lead heading into the 2nd quarter.
2ND QUARTER:
The Cards struggled offensively early in the quarter. Midway through the quarter, Jayda Curry had scored all 10 points for Louisville as they opened up a 36-20 lead with just over 4 minutes remaining in the quarter. Curry scored or assisted on the first 14 points for Louisville in the quarter. Curry scored 14 of the Cards 21 second quarter points, as the Cards took a 47-32 lead heading into intermission.
HALFTIME STATS:
Field goal %: 18-29 (62.1%)
3pt field goal %: 5-12 (41.7%)
Free throw %: 6-8 (75.0%)
Rebounds: 15 (3 offensive)
Assists: 11
Steals: 2
Turnovers: 7
Leading Scorer: Jayda Curry (14)
3RD QUARTER:
The Cards defensive pressure combined with Clemson’s Dayshan Harris picking up her 4th foul really hampered the Tigers offensively. Clemson shot 4-14 from the field in the quarter as Louisville opened up a lead as big as 27 (64-37). Nyla Harris scored on an offensive rebound putback as the quarter expired. Louisville led 66-41 heading into the final quarter of intermission.
4TH QUARTER:
It was a rough start to the quarter for the Cards. A jumper by Curry tied the Cards biggest lead of the game of 27, but Clemson went on a 13-0 run to cut the lead down to 14 midway through the quarter. Louisville allowed 23 points in the quarter on better than 53% shooting. Louisville shot just 35.7% for the quarter as the lead dwindled down to as low as 13, before the Cards went on a mini-run to push the lead back out. The Cards beat Clemson 81-64.
Final Stats:
Field goal%: 31-59 (52.5%)
3pt field goal %: 8-22 (36.4%)
Free throw%: 11-17 (64.7%)
Rebounds: 38 (11 offensive)
Assists: 20
Steals: 3
Turnovers: 12
Bench Points: 30
Leading Scorer: Kiki Jefferson (19)
POSTGAME NOTES:
Louisville improves to 5-0 in ACC and 16-2 overall. Louisville had 4 players in double-figures, but was led in scoring by Jayda Curry off the bench with 19. She also added 4 assists and 3 rebounds. Kiki Jefferson added 17 points, 8 assists, and 4 rebounds. Clemson outscored the Cards 36-32 in the paint, but the Cards out rebounded the Tigers 38-29. Louisville will continue their short roadtrip as they take on the North Carolina Tar Heels Sunday at 2pm in Chapel Hill.
