University of Louisville
WESTERN KENTUCKY
Cardinals Defeat Western Kentucky 78-68
December 12, 2004 | Women's Basketball
Dec. 12, 2004
Louisville, Ky. - The University of Louisville women's basketball team defeated Western Kentucky 78-68 Sunday afternoon in Freedom Hall. Sophomore Missy Taylor led four Cardinals in double figures with 20 points while Jessica Huggins scored a career-high 19 points.
The Cardinals started the game with four quick points from 6-2 sophomore Jazz Covington. The defensive pressure kicked in as Louisville forced eight turnovers with eight steals and four blocks in the first half. Leading this intensive defensive performance for the Cards was 5-8 senior Angel Bradley.
Louisville outscored Western Kentucky in the paint 14-10, as the strong inside presence of Taylor and Covington was felt under the basket.
The Cards stayed close to Western Kentucky throughout the first half with Huggins and Taylor scoring eight points respectively. Louisville shot 40 percent from the field in the first half while holding the Lady Toppers to 33.3 percent. Western Kentucky was in control from three-point range, shooting 50 percent to the Cards 25 percent at the half.
Crystal Kelly, a 6'3 freshman from Louisville, Ky., led Western Kentucky with 13 points and eight rebounds as the Lady Toppers led Louisville 32-31 at the end of the first half of play.
Taylor started things off for Louisville right out of the locker room. Taylor hit a three-point basket on the Cards first possession of the second half.
The momentum of the game changed at the 13:41 mark of the second half as the Western Kentucky's bench was charged with a technical foul. The Cards went on an 11-2 run to regain the lead 49-40. The Cards extended their lead to 69-58 with a huge three-point basket by Joleen Phillips with 4:07 remaining in the contest.
Western Kentucky guard Leslie Logsdon attempted to put a charge back into her team as she buried two deep three-point baskets with less then 1:30 left on the clock. However, it proved to be not enough as Huggins hit her free throws down the stretch. Louisville never looked back as they continued their defensive prowess.
The Cardinals completed the game shooting 44.7 percent from the field while holding Western Kentucky to 35.9 percent. The Lady Toppers shot 45.5 percent from the three-point arc, while Louisville shot just 31.3 percent. Louisville racked up a season high eight blocks as the Cardinals defeated Western Kentucky in a very physical game in Freedom Hall.
Louisville improves to 5-3 on the year and will be back on the hardwood Thursday night as they face the Alabama State Lady Hornets in Freedom Hall at 7:00 p.m.
