Cards Win Wire-to-Wire Over NC A&T, 80-40

Sunday, December 3

LOUISVILLE, KY

12 PM

University of Louisville

8-1,0-0ACC

NC A&T

3-4,0-0CAA

N.C. A&T

Louisville

December 03, 2023 | Women's Basketball

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Eylia Love recorded a double-double and five Cardinals scored in double figures

By: Matt Paras

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The No. 22/19 Louisville women's basketball team (8-1) continued its strong play to start the season with an 80-40 win over NC A&T (3-4) Sunday afternoon at the KFC Yum! Center. It is the Cardinals fourth-straight win and their second four-game winning streak of the season so far. The Cardinals are a perfect 4-0 at the Yum! Center this season with three of their next four games coming at home.

The Cardinals had a balanced attack against the Aggies with five players in double figures and seven players had six points or more. Louisville had 10 players score in the win, the fourth game this season they have had 10 or more players score. The Cards are 4-0 in those games this season. Louisville as a team forced NC A&T into a season-high 31 turnovers.

Jayda Curry impacted the game in multiple categories as she led the team with 12 points, five assists and a career-high six steals to go with five rebounds. She is the first Louisville player to have six steals in a game since Emily Engstler in the 2022 Elite Eight against Michigan. Eylia Love recorded her first double-double with the Cardinals and second of her career with 10 points and a team-high 10 rebounds. Kiki Jefferson (11), Merissah Russell (11) and Olivia Cochran (10) were the other Cardinals in double figures.

Louisville started the game red hot going 6-for-6 from the floor and hit three three-pointers to run out to a 17-9 lead at the first media timeout. The Cards continued to play well in the opening quarter with an 8-0 run that caused NC A&T to call a timeout. The Cards finished the quarter with nine assists on 12 made baskets and forced eight turnovers from NC A&T and held a 29-13 lead.

The Cardinals went on another run in the second quarter, a 9-0 spurt, and outscored the Aggies 11-4 to begin the quarter. Following a layup from Love, the Aggies burned another timeout with 6:47 left in the second quarter. The Cardinals went on another long scoring run to close out the quarter. Louisville went on a 16-4 run over the final 6:47 of the frame and took a 54-21 lead into the half. The Cardinals limited NC A&T to just eight points in the second quarter.

All 11 Cardinals saw the court in the first half and 10 of them scored over the first 20 minutes of play. Louisville was moving the ball well and had 16 assists on 22 made shots in the first half. Cochran had a team-best 10 points at the half.

The Cardinals were in control in the second half as the Aggies were not able to get the game close. A number of Cardinals players saw the court in the second half as Louisville closed out its eighth win of the season and are 4-0 in home games this year.

The Cards will stay at home as they prepare for the annual Battle for the Bluegrass next weekend. Louisville will welcome Kentucky to the KFC Yum! Center on Sunday, December 10. The Cardinals and Wildcats will square off at 2 p.m. ET and the game will be broadcast nationally on the ACC Network.