Cardinals Face Off with No. 22/20 Wolfpack in Jimmy V Women’s Classic

Sunday, December 15

LOUISVILLE, KY

1 PM

University of Louisville

#22/#20 NC State

Elif Istanbulluoglu attacks the basket during the game against Grambling State.

Photo by: Caleb Jones |University of Louisville Athletics

Cardinals Face Off with No. 22/20 Wolfpack in Jimmy V Women’s Classic

December 14, 2024 | Women's Basketball

This is the first time two women’s teams will take part in the event

By: Matt Paras

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The Louisville women's basketball team (6-4) is set to conclude its two-game homestand on Sunday as it opens conference play against No. 22/20 NC State (7-3). The Cardinals and Wolfpack's ACC Opener is also part of the Jimmy V Women's Classic in conjunction with V Week at ESPN. This is the first time two women's teams are set to face off as part of the Jimmy V Classic. Louisville and NC State will square off at 1 p.m. ET and it will be aired nationally on ABC.

As the Cardinals begin ACC play against the Wolfpack, they have been the most successful and consistent team in the league since they joined in 2014-15. The Cardinals have amassed 138 ACC wins and a .821 winning percentage in conference play. Both marks lead the league over the past 10 years and they are the only team with a winning percentage over .800 during that time frame. Louisville is also the only team in the league to win 10 or more conference games in each of the last 10 seasons. The Cardinals have won 12 or more ACC games in each of the last 10 seasons.

Louisville is no stranger to ranked opponents this season as NC State will be the fifth ranked opponent the Cardinals have faced in their first 11 games. The Cardinals have squared off with the current No. 1 and No. 2 teams in the country in UCLA and UConn. They are the only team in the country to face UConn and UCLA so far this season. The Cardinals have also faced No. 10 Oklahoma and No. 16 Kentucky during non-conference play.

In their most recent win over Grambling State, the Cardinals were led by their two post players in Olivia Cochran and Nyla Harris. Cochran led the team with a season-best 18 points and 11 rebounds while Harris contributed 14 points and 10 rebounds in the win. It is the first time the Cardinals have had two players with double-doubles in the same game since Harris and Cochran achieved the feat against Florida State on Feb. 29, 2024.

PROMOTIONS

ACC 10th Anniversary - Celebrate 10 years of being in the ACC by stopping at the photo booth behind Section 101 featuring the commemorative ACC 10th Anniversary logo!
Jimmy V Classic - Join the V Foundation in the fight against cancer. If you are able, please support cancer research by visiting v.org/donate. 100% of what you give goes to cancer research.
Giveaway - Grab pom poms at the marketing table on the main concourse by Section 101 to cheer on the Cards!
Concessions Special - Visit the Section 102 KFC for a $12 Meal Deal that includes 3-piece chicken tender meal with a 16 oz. fountain soda or bottled water.
The team will be available for post game autographs. Only team provided print materials will be signed.

Date: Sunday, December 15
Time: 1 p.m. ET
Site: Louisville, Ky. | KFC Yum! Center (22,090)
TV: ABC (Beth Mowins, play-by-play; Debbie Antonelli, analyst)
Radio: 93.9-FM The Ville (Nick Curran, play-by-play; Cortnee Walton, analyst)
Series History: Series is tied 8-8 (2-3 home, 3-3 away, 3-2 neutral)
Series History w/Walz: Louisville leads 8-6 (2-3 home, 3-2 away, 3-1 neutral)
Last Meeting: L, 67-77 (Feb. 5, 2024 at Raleigh, N.C.)

ABOUT THE WOLFPACK
NC State comes into Sunday's ACC opener with a 7-3 record and are ranked 20th in the USA Today Poll and 22nd in the Associated Press poll. All three of NC State's losses so far this season have come against teams that are ranked in the Top-25, including losses to then ranked #1 South Carolina (57-71) and #7 LSU (L, 65-82) in the Pink Flamingo Championship Game. Their current three-game winning streak began with a 68-61 win over #18 Ole Miss in the SEC/ACC Challenge. The Wolfpack are very disciplined this season as they lead the nation in fouls per game with just 11.4 per game over the first 10 games this season. They also do not turn the ball over much as they rank 26th nationally with 13.0 turnovers per game. On the other end of the spectrum, Louisville leads the ACC with 20.7 turnovers forced per game this season.

Series History - This will be the 17th meeting between the two schools and many of their previous matchups have been close games. The all-time series is tied at 8-8. Of the 16 previous matchups, 12 of them have been decided by 10 points or less. Since Jeff Walz took over the helm at Louisville, the Cardinals are 8-6 against the Wolfpack.

Last Meeting (Feb. 5, 2024) - The No. 15/12 Louisville women's basketball team (19-4, 8-2 ACC) put on a furious second half rally but it was not enough as they ultimately fell to the No. 3/5 NC State Wolfpack (20-2, 8-2 ACC), 77-67, Monday night at Reynolds Coliseum. The Cardinals trailed by as many as 21 points in the first half and trimmed it down to six points multiple times in the fourth quarter but could not get any closer. Olivia Cochran reached double figures for the Cardinals in the first half and finished the game with a team-high 17 points and 12 rebounds for her third double-double of the season. Kiki Jefferson tallied 16 points and had six rebounds. Jayda Curry joined the duo in double figures with 12 points.

FOLLOW LOUISVILLE WOMEN'S BASKETBALL ON SOCIAL MEDIA

For the latest on Louisville women's basketball, visit GoCards.com, or follow the team's Instagram account at @LouisvilleWBB, X account at @LouisvilleWBB or on Facebook at facebook.com/louisvillewbb.