University of Louisville
MURRAY STATE
Cardinals Crush Murray State 97-45
December 19, 2004 | Women's Basketball
Dec. 19, 2004
Louisville, Ky. - Sophomore forward Missy Taylor tied her career-high with 23 points and pulled down a career-high 14 rebounds as the University of Louisville women's basketball team played one of its best games of the season to date, completely manhandling the Murray State Racers 97-45 Sunday afternoon in Freedom Hall.
Sophomore Jazz Covington opened the game by scoring the Cardinals first two baskets, en route to a 15-2 opening run, while Murray State (3-5) opened the game with three missed shots and two turnovers in their first five possessions. The Racers attempted to get back into it by forcing Louisville (7-3) into some quick shots, and some easy misses but would get as close as eight, at 20-12.
From that point, however, the Racers would go almost 10 minutes without a point. Their next basket would come with less than one minute remaining in the half. In the midst of that Racer drought, Louisville outscored Murray State 23-0, while using smothering defense to force them into some poor field goal shooting. The Racers would shoot just 20 percent for the half.
The Cardinals held Murray State to just 14 first half points, the lowest output in a half against the Cardinals all season. Louisville led 46-14 at halftime behind 51.4 percent shooting from the field.
Murray State tried to fight back at the start of the second half, coming out with renewed intensity. The Racers hit six shots in the first nine minutes of the second period, after hitting just five field goals in the entire first half.
But it would make no difference as the Cardinals would extend their lead to 40 (66-26) at the 12:06 mark, on the strength of tremendous team play.
Murray State, despite being led by Louisville native Katie Willinger's 14 points and seven rebounds would get no closer than 38 points. They were held to a season low 45 points in a dominating performance by the Cardinals.
Louisville also enjoyed a huge advantage in the paint, outscoring Murray State 58-10. The Cardinals shot a season best 58.6 percernt from the field, and also grabbed 52 total rebounds, another season best.
This was the fifth consecutive win for the Cardinals, who will not play again in Freedom Hall until January 21st. The Cardinals will hit the road for five straight games, and will travel to Cincinnati to play Xavier on Wednesday Dec. 22 at 7:00 p.m.
