No. 17 Louisville Bested by No. 5/6 UCLA, 66-59

Monday, November 4

Paris, France

2:30 PM

University of Louisville

#5/#6 UCLA

Tajianna Roberts shooting the ball during the game against UCLA at the Adidas Arena in Paris, France on November 4.

Photo by: Mallory Peak | Louisville Athletics

November 04, 2024 | Women's Basketball

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Freshman Tajianna Roberts scored a game-high 21 points

By: Matt Paras

PARIS, France — The No. 17 Louisville women's basketball team battled one of the top teams in the country but ultimately dropped the season opener to No. 5/6 UCLA, 66-59, Monday night at Adidas Arena in Paris, France. It was a back-and-forth affair over the first three quarters but UCLA pulled ahead for good in the fourth quarter and did not look back.

In her first collegiate game, freshman Tajianna Roberts lit up the scoreboard in the City of Lights. She scored a game-high 21 points and hit four three-pointers and did not commit a single turnover. She is the first Louisville freshman to score 20-plus points in her debut since the 2020 season.

Also making a big impression in her Louisville debut was transfer Ja'Leah Williams. Playing in her 100th collegiate game after coming to the Cards from Miami, she had a career and game-high nine assists to go with 11 points, seven rebounds and four steals. The nine assists were the most by a Louisville player in a game since Mykasa Robinson had 10 against Wake Forest on March 3, 2023.

The Cards got off to a fast start as they scored the first six points of the contest, including a three-pointer from Olivia Cochran for the first made basket of the season. The Cards followed it up with eight of the last 10 points of the quarter to take a five point lead after the opening 10 minutes.

UCLA went on a run to take the lead in the early part of the second quarter but Roberts began to heat up. She scored eight-straight points, including two three-pointers, to give the Cardinals the lead against and forced the Bruins to call timeout. Izela Arenas added a three in the quarter but the Bruins beat the buzzer with a three-pointer and they took a four-point lead into the half.

The third quarter was the quarter of runs as Louisville scored nine of the first 11 points to take the lead back. UCLA jumped back in front after they ripped off a 9-0 run and held their biggest lead of the game at the point. Louisville responded with a 6-0 run of their own and took the lead back with a few minutes left in the quarter. The Bruins finished with the last five points and held a four-point lead with 10 minutes.

UCLA extended the lead to double digits in the fourth but the Cardinals did not give in. They cut the lead down to six but that was the closest they would get before UCLA put the game away.

The Cardinals will head back stateside and get ready for their home opener later this week. Louisville opens the home season on Friday, November 8, when they host Southern Indiana at the KFC Yum! Center. The Cardinals and Screaming Eagles will square off at 7 p.m. ET and the game will be streamed on the ACC Network Extra.