Cards Can’t Hang on Against #10 Notre Dame, 68-65

Sunday, February 26

LOUISVILLE, KY

12 PM

University of Louisville

21-10,12-6ACC

#10/10 Notre Dame

24-4,15-3ACC

Notre Dame

Louisville

February 26, 2023 | Women's Basketball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Walz Presser Postgame Notes

Louisville will be the #4 seed heading into the ACC Tournament on Friday

By: Matt Paras

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The University of Louisville women's basketball team had another battle with the Irish but couldn't withstand a second-half surge and fell, 68-65, to #10/10 Notre Dame Sunday afternoon at the KFC Yum! Center. The Irish shot over 50 percent from the floor in the second half and the Cardinals had a few attempts to tie the game in the final minutes but were unable to get the shots to fall.

Hailey Van Lith led the way for the Cardinals with 23 points to go with seven rebounds and three assists. Van Lith has scored 17 points or more in each of her last seven games. Mykasa Robinson tied a career-high with nine rebounds to go with a team-best five assists, six points and three steals. Robinson has led the Cards with assists in each of the last eight games. Merissah Russell tied a career high with five made field goals and had 12 points on the afternoon.

Similar to their first game 10 days ago, not much separated the two teams early on as they traded baskets. At the end of the first quarter, Notre Dame held a slim 15-14 lead. As usual, Robinson was all over the court with three assists, three rebounds and two steals over the first 10 minutes of the game.

The Cardinals created some separation in the second quarter as their defense clamped down on the Irish. Notre Dame hit only four shots and the Cards held them to nine points in the quarter. Louisville ended the quarter on a 7-2 run and took a 33-24 lead into the half.

Van Lith had a team-high nine points and five rebounds at the break while Robinson had four points, four rebounds, three assists and three steals.

The Irish started hot from the floor in the third quarter as they hit six of their first eight shots. They trimmed the Louisville lead to 43-37 at the first media timeout of the quarter. The Irish got closer as the third quarter came to a close. At the end of the third, Louisville held a 46-43 lead.

Notre Dame got the deficit down to one to start the fourth but Russell followed it up with a three in the corner to put the Cards back up by four. The Irish took the lead for the first time in the second half with the free throws from Sonia Cintron with 5:30 remaining. The Irish lead got as high as six but the Cards continued to fight and got it to within three multiple times in the final few minutes. Louisville had a few shots to tie the game in the final minutes that did not fall and the Irish came away with the win.

The 2023 ACC Women's Basketball Tournament is up next for the Cardinals after the regular season concluded Sunday afternoon. The Cardinals will be the No. 4 seed down in Greensboro and their first game will be in the quarterfinals on Friday at 11 a.m. ET. Louisville will face the winner of the No. 5 seed and the winner from the 12/13 seed matchup, which will take place at 11 a.m. ET on Thursday in the second round.