No. 16/17 Louisville Takes Care of Business Against Eastern Kentucky, 76-51

Wednesday, December 17

LOUISVILLE, KY

6 PM

University of Louisville

11-3,2-0ACC

Eastern Kentucky

7-4,0-0ASUN

Eastern Ky.

Louisville

No. 16/17 Louisville Takes Care of Business Against Eastern Kentucky, 76-51

December 17, 2025 | Women's Basketball

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It is the seventh time this season the Cards have held an opponent under 60 points

By: Sara Miller

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The No. 16/17-ranked University of Louisville women's basketball team (11-3, 2-0 ACC) rallied back from a first quarter deficit to defeat in-state rival Eastern Kentucky (7-4) by a score of 76-51 Wednesday night at the KFC Yum! Center. After trailing by five in the first quarter, the Cardinals outscored the Colonels 62-32 over the final three quarters to improve to 8-2 at home this season.

Louisville's victory was a balanced effort as all 12 players that came in the game scored against the Colonels. Tajianna Roberts was the leading scorer with 12 points, followed closely behind Laura Ziegler who was one point shy with 11 points. Coming off the bench, Yevheniia Putra tallied her career high in points with 10 on an impressive 5-of-6 shooting.

Freshman Grace Mbugua made her collegiate debut in the second quarter of the game and led the team in rebounds with 10 while also tallying three points and a block. Imari Berry led the team with a career-high seven assists and four steals to go with a season-best eight rebounds.

The Cards struck first with a shot from behind the arc by Ziegler, but EKU went on an early scoring run to take a 19-14 advantage into the first break. Ziegler and Elif Istanbulluoglu were the only two UofL starters to score in the opening period for a total of eight points with the remaining six coming off the bench.

Louisville's bench carried its momentum into the next period, scoring nine of the team's 16 second quarter points. The Cards held a narrow advantage over the Colonels after the second period, outscoring them 16-8 to take a 30-27 lead into the locker room. Mbugua entered the game for the first time this year in the second quarter, tallying four rebounds and a blocked shot while also forcing a turnover in just three minutes of action.

Out of the break, UofL got off to a hot start with a 15-2 run to secure its first double-digit lead of the game. Roberts was the Cards' point leader for the second quarter in a row with seven points in seven minutes while also adding a rebound and an assist to her stat sheet. Louisville's defense held EKU to four field goals in the period for a total of 10 points, giving the Cards a 54-37 lead heading into the final 10 minutes of play.

The final period was highlighted by eight different scorers for Louisville, six of which were off the bench. Putra led the way with six points, shooting a perfect 3-for-3 from the field in the quarter. Berry packed her stat line with eight rebounds, seven assists and six points. Reyna Scott, Peyton Bradley and Reagan Bender rounded out the scoring with three points each.

Louisville will hit the road to face No. 17/18 Tennessee in the SharkBeauty Women's Champions Classic on Dec. 20 in Brooklyn, New York. Tipoff is scheduled for 11 a.m. ET and will be broadcast on FOX.