Coral Springs, Florida The No. 19 Louisville women’s basketball team (12-2, 1-0) defeated RV/23 Miami 77-72 on Sunday afternoon at the Watsco Center to close out the calendar year on a positive note. The Hurricanes (10-2, 0-1) lost their 17-game home winning run, and the Cardinals advanced to 10-0 all-time in ACC openers. In the victory, five players from Louisville scored in double digits, making it four games this season that five or more players have scored in double figures. Jayda Curry scored a season-high 19 points on 7 of 12 shots and went 2 for 2 from three, marking her greatest performance in a Cardinals outfit.
Merissah Russell went 3-for-3 from the field and beyond the arc to score a season-high 12 points. The Cardinals sealed the victory in the fourth quarter, when she scored 11 of her 12 points. Nyla Harris tied a career high with 12 rebounds and scored 13 points to record her second double-double of the year. Kiki Jefferson went 4-for-4 from the field and scored 12 points on 4-of-8 shooting.
With a jumper in the opening quarter, Jefferson reached 2,000 points in her career, marking a significant accomplishment. With a three-pointer in the third quarter, Curry passed the 1,000-point threshold, marking another career milestone in the victory.
The Cardinals, who were playing their first game in eleven days, got off to a poor start in the quarter. Following the first media break, the Cardinals started to settle into a groove, making four straight field goals to tie the score at twelve. Despite making seven of its final ten shots in the quarter, Louisville fell behind 23–20 after the opening ten minutes of play. The second quarter saw Miami score the first four points, but the Cardinals answered with an 8-0 run to grab a one-point lead. The remaining three quarters were back and forth. With seconds remaining, Curry drove in for a layup to level the score at 37-37 at the half.
In the first half, eight different Cardinals scored, led by Harris’ nine points, Curry’s eight, and Cochran’s seven. In the first half, the Cardinals shot 53.6 percent (15-28) from the field, with Harris leading the team in rebounds as well. In the third quarter, Curry assumed leadership for the Cardinals. With three early in the quarter, she passed 1,000 points for her career. With 11 points off 4 of 6 shots in the quarter, Curry gave the Cardinals a 58-57 lead heading into the last round. Russell delivered in a crucial fourth quarter, scoring 11 points in a row to give the Cardinals a permanent lead.
The Cards went on a 7-0 run to reclaim the lead in the fourth quarter, as she made all three of her three-point attempts. Miami came within two points, but the Cardinals won the game at the line.
Later this week, the Cardinals will make their way back to campus for their ACC home opener. On Thursday, January 4, Louisville will host the Duke Blue Devils at the KFC Yum! Center. The ACC Network will provide a nationwide broadcast of the game between the Cardinals and Blue Devils, which is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. ET.
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