No. 24/23 Cardinals Battle Past Colorado, 79-71

Saturday, November 30

Boulder, CO

3 PM

University of Louisville

5-2,0-0ACC

Colorado

6-2,0-0Big 12

Louisville

Colorado

November 30, 2024 | Women's Basketball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Walz Postgame Radio Interview

16-0 run in the fourth quarter propelled the Cards to the win

By: Matt Paras

BOULDER, Colo. — The No. 24/23 Louisville women's basketball team (5-2) had a hard fought 79-71 win over Colorado (6-2) at the CU Events Center Saturday afternoon. The Cardinals faced a one-point deficit early in the fourth quarter but ripped off a 16-0 run to take control of the game. With the win, the Cardinals won their third-straight game as they head back to Louisville.

The Cards had four players in double figures and were led in scoring by Jayda Curry and Nyla Harris, who had 14 points each. Curry has scored in double figures in each of her three games this season after missing the first four due to injury. Harris was 5-for-7 from the floor, had a team-best four rebounds and added three steals.

Tajianna Roberts scored 13 points on 5-for-10 shooting and added a season-best four steals. She has scored in double figures in six of the seven games this season. Izela Arenas was the fourth Cardinal in double figures as she scored a season-best 11 points and added three rebounds, two assists and two steals in the win.

The Cards struggled from the field in the first quarter and trailed 16-10 after the opening 10 minutes of play.

Louisville turned things around in the second quarter and were aided by a 10-0 run to take the lead. Arenas hit a three in the corner to tie the game and on the ensuing possession, Merissah Russell forced a steal and hit a layup to put the Cardinals in front. The Cards outscored the Buffs 25-17 in the second quarter and had a 35-33 lead heading into the half. In the second quarter, Louisville was 10-for-20 from the field.

It was a back and forth third quarter as the team's exchanged the lead multiple times. Louisville shot well in the third quarter as they were 6-for-10 from the field and 9-for-12 from the free throw line and had a one-point lead heading into the fourth.

In the fourth quarter, Colorado took the lead back but it did not last long. Roberts scored five-straight points after a three-pointer and a layup to give the Cardinals the lead and forced the Buffaloes to call timeout. Coming off the timeout, Curry forced a steal and converted the layup to continue the Cardinals run. A 16-0 Louisville run gave the Cardinals a 13-point lead, their largest of the game, before Colorado scored to end the run. The Buffaloes tried to battle back but the Cardinals held strong and closed out their fifth win of the season.

Louisville returns to campus and has a stretch of home games coming up. The Cardinals will have three of their next four games at the KFC Yum! Center and that begins this Wednesday for the SEC/ACC Challenge. Louisville is set to host No. 8 Oklahoma on Wednesday Dec. 4 at 5 p.m. ET and the game will be broadcast nationally on ESPN2.