University of Louisville
Kentucky
Women's Basketball Wins Battle of the Bluegrass
December 20, 2007 | Women's Basketball
Dec. 20, 2007
Lexington, Ky. - The Louisville women's basketball team defeated Kentucky 80-65 Thursday evening in Rupp Arena. Despite leaving the game early in the second half, Angel McCoughtry led all scorers with 23 points and 10 rebounds. Candyce Bingham also recorded a double-double with 16 points and 12 rebounds. Patrika Barlow and Brandie Radde finished with 10 and 13 points respectively. Amani Franklin led Kentucky with 18 points.
Kentucky scored the first basket of the game and it was the only time the Wildcats would lead. Louisville scored on the next two possessions but Franklin cut the lead to two with a 3-pointer. That sparked a 7-0 Louisville run to go up 14-5 at the 15:17 mark. Both teams traded baskets until the Cardinals went on a 10-0 run for a 17 point lead with just under 10 minutes remaining.
A jumper by Lydia Watkins at the 9:22 mark stopped the offensive drought by the Cats. But the Cardinals went on another 5-0 run to take their largest lead at 33-13 with 6:43 left in the half. The Cardinals finished the half with a 47-24 lead.
Both teams traded baskets to start the second half. With 16:19 remaining in the game, McCoughtry bumped heads with Kentucky's Victoria Dunlap and had to leave the game with a cut to the face. Kentucky took advantage of McCoughtry's absence with a 10-0 run to cut the lead to 51-41 with just over 12 minutes remaining.
Bingham broke a six minute Cardinal drought on a putback. UK scored on the next two possessions to cut the lead to nine at the 10:29 mark. Radde knocked down a timely 3-pointer to push the lead back to 12. The Cats scored on the next two possessions again to get within eight (56-48) with just over nine minutes remaining.
McCoughtry returned to the game at the 8:30 mark with 11 stitches. Louisville then went on a 12-3 run after her return, pushing the lead to 70-52 with just over five minutes remaining. Kentucky cut it to 12 at the 2:15 mark but it was not enough for the win.
Louisville finished the game shooting 42.4 percent from the field while the Wildcats shot 33.8 percent. The Cardinals shot an impressive 46.7 percent from behind the arc, while holding Kentucky to 25 percent. Louisville won the battle on the boards with a 51-37 advantage.
The Cardinals will travel to Coppin State on Saturday, Dec. 22 for their final game before the Christmas break. Tipoff is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.
