University of Louisville
8-5
UT MARTIN
7-6
Women’s Basketball Overpowers UT Martin for Fifth-Straight Victory
December 28, 2015 | Women's Basketball
Six Cardinals scored in double figures in the victory.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Myisha Hines-Allen paced four starters in double figures with 13 points, and Louisville used a collective effort on Monday evening to earn an 88-66 victory over UT Martin.
The Cardinals (8-5) surged to their fifth-consecutive victory behind an overpowering 13-0 run in the third quarter. Louisville, which had nine players score in the victory, eventually grew its lead to 19 before the end of the period at 63-44, connecting on 8-of-15 field goal attempts.
Mariya Moore nearly recorded her second-consecutive double-double, producing 11 points and nine assists to go with five rebounds. The sophomore is coming off a performance against College of Charleston in which she had 15 points and a career-high 12 assists.
Redshirt junior Cortnee Walton fell just one rebound shy of her first career double-double, totaling 12 points and nine rebounds.
Shy Copney led UT Martin (7-6) with 15 points off the bench on 7-of-9 shooting.
The Cardinals, who held a double-digit lead throughout the first period, saw the momentum swing in the opposite direction through much of the second quarter and even into the opening minutes of the third.
Louisville's advantage quickly dwindled to one point at 41-40 after UT Martin made three-consecutive field goals out of the halftime break. The Cardinals pushed the lead to six after Moore completed a three-point play and a layup by Briahanna Jackson. Katie Schubert brought the Skyhawks within four on a layup, but it was UT Martin's final basket for nearly four minutes.
Moore sparked a 13-0 run over 3:22, beginning with a 3-pointer from the corner. Asia Durr then hit first 3 of the half, and Taja Cole added three-consecutive baskets – a 3-pointer, jumper, and layup, respectively.
Eight Cardinals recorded points in the final period that saw the two teams combine for 45 points.
Louisville opened the game on an 11-0 run and scored on nine of its first 12 field goal attempts, capping the first period with a 20-12 advantage. Hines-Allen led the charge, scoring nine of the Cardinals' first 10 points.
Jackson and Durr each finished with 12 points, and Taja Cole matched a season best with 11 points.
The Cardinals' defense, despite allowing the Skyhawks to finish the game 54 percent from the field, pressured UT Martin into 24 turnovers, the eighth time an opponent has lost the ball more than 20 times. The Skyhawks' primary source of offense also suffered. Entering the game with the third-most 3-pointers in the country, averaging more than 10 per game, were held to just six for the contest.
The Cardinals return to action on Friday, when the begin ACC play against Florida State. Tip for the league opener at the KFC Yum! Center is set for 4 p.m. on ESPNU.
