No. 22/21 Cardinals Grind Out 65-54 Win Over Clemson

Sunday, November 16

Clemson, SC

3 PM

University of Louisville

3-1,1-0ACC

Clemson

3-2,0-1ACC

Louisville

Clemson

November 16, 2025 | Women's Basketball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Walz Postgame Presser

Louisville improves to 11-1 in ACC openers under head coach Jeff Walz

By: Matt Paras

CLEMSON, S.C. — The No. 22/21 Louisville women's basketball team (3-1, 1-0 ACC) used its defense to carry it to a 65-54 win over Clemson (3-2, 0-1 ACC) Sunday afternoon at Littlejohn Coliseum. Louisville held Clemson scoreless for over nine minutes in the first half and closed out the game at the free throw line to win the ACC opener.

The Cardinals had three players in double figures led by Laura Ziegler. Ziegler had a team-high 17 points and 10 rebounds for her second double-double of the season and 43rd of her career. Tajianna Roberts had 12 points and a team-best four assists. Reyna Scott scored 10 points off the bench on 4-for-6 shooting with five rebounds. As a team, Louisville shot 14-for-15 (93.3%) from the free throw line.

Clemson started the quarter shooting well from the floor to take an early lead but the Louisville defense clamped down over the second half of the quarter. Louisville held Clemson scoreless for the final 5:41 of the first quarter and finished on a 7-0 run. The Cards took a 15-11 lead into the second quarter.

The defense stretch continued into the second quarter as the Cardinals ripped off the first seven points of the frame. Roberts hit a cutting Anaya Hardy to the basket for the lay-up that forced the Clemson timeout. Louisville scored the first 11 points of the quarter before Clemson got their first basket at the 6:03 mark of the second. The Cardinals scoreless defensive stretch lasted a total of 9:38 of game time between the first and second quarter.

Louisville took a 30-20 lead into the half and was led by eight points by Roberts and seven each by Ziegler and Mackenly Randolph. Ziegler had a team-best six rebounds and Roberts had a team-high three assists.

Clemson got as close as five twice in the third quarter but Louisville was able to extend the lead back to double-digits. Imari Berry converted a layup and got fouled before a media timeout to help extend the Louisville lead. Berry finished the quarter a perfect 4-for-4 from the floor and had nine points. Louisville took a 47-36 lead into the final quarter.

Clemson made a push in the fourth quarter but the Cardinals got key shots from Roberts and Scott to get some breathing room. Then, Louisville closed out the game from the free throw line as they were 6-for-6 in the fourth quarter and 11-for-11 from the line in the second half.

The Cardinals will return to campus for a stretch of home games coming up. Six of the next seven games will be at the KFC Yum! Center and all seven games will be played in Louisville. Up first is Morehead State on Wednesday, November 19. The Cardinals and Eagles will square off at 8 p.m. ET and it will be aired on the ACC Network.