University of Louisville
17-4,5-2
ST. JOHN'S
9-9,3-3
No. 13 Louisville women defeat St. John's 57-54
January 27, 2013 | Women's Basketball
Jan. 27, 2013
Final Stats | Quotes | Notes | Photo Gallery 
Jeff Walz Postgame
LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Antonita Slaughter scored 22 points and No. 13 Louisville (17-4, 5-2) reeled off eight unanswered points to overtake St. John's 57-54 Sunday for its third straight win. Sara Hammond finished with 14 points and eight rebounds. Shenneika Smith scored 23 as the Red Storm (9-9, 3-3) dropped their third straight.
Trailing 52-49, Slaughter made two free throws with 5:22 left. Neither team scored until Hammond's two foul shots put the Cardinals on top with 3:05 to go. Hammond hit two more free throws and Bria Smith's layup gave Louisville a five-point cushion with 1:45 remaining.
Two free throws by the Red Storm's Smith made it 57-54 with 42 seconds showing. She then blocked a Shoni Schmimmel jumper, but missed a 3-pointer with 9 seconds left.
After tie up in front of the Cardinal bench with St. John's had the alternate possession with three seconds remaining. Nadirah McKenith threw up a desperation shot at the buzzer that never hit the rim.
The Cardinals led 28-26 at the half, but the game was tightly contested from the opening tip. Neither team was able to gain a double digit lead throughout the game. Louisville finished the game shooting just 37.5 percent from the field while not hitting a 3-pointer for the first time since Jan. 11, 2009 against Rutgers.
Louisville finished that game 0-9 but still pulled out the 64-59 win. The Red Storm finished the game shooting 44.9 percent from the field and 25 percent from behind the arc.
After shooting just 50 percent from the foul line in the previous game against Marquette, the Cardinals shot 84 percent from the line today.
Louisville will be back in action on Wednesday, Jan. 30 as they travel to South Florida for a 7:00 p.m. tip.
