No. 3 Cardinals Fall to No. 2 Michigan, 71-52

Saturday, March 28

Fort Worth, Texas (Dickies Arena)

12:30 PM

University of Louisville

29-8,15-3ACC

No. 2 Michigan

28-6,15-3Big Ten

Louisville

Michigan

March 28, 2026 | Women's Basketball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

Louisville finished with 29 wins, tied for fifth-most in program history

By: Matt Paras

FORT WORTH, Texas — The No. 3 seed Louisville women's basketball team (29-8) season came to an end in the Sweet 16 with a 71-52 loss to No. 2 seed Michigan (27-7) Saturday afternoon at Dickies Arena. The Cardinals finished the season with a 29-8 overall record, tied for the fifth-most wins in a season in program history and the most wins in a single season since 2021-22.

Elif Istanbulluoglu finished with a team-high 18 points on 8-for-12 shooting. She had seven rebounds and scored 18 points in back-to-back NCAA Tournament games. Playing in the last games of their collegiate careers, Reyna Scott had nine points and four assists while Laura Ziegler had five points, eight rebounds and four assists.

Defense was key to open the game as both teams combined for just one field goal over the opening four minutes. Istanbulluoglu scored the first five points for the Cards and Louisville held the Wolverines without a point as we hit the media timeout in the quarter. The Cardinals did not allow Michigan to make a field goal until the 3:46 mark in the quarter. Imari Berry and Istanbulluoglu both had five points in the open 10 minutes and the Cards held a 15-9 lead after one.

The Cardinals started hot from the floor in the second quarter. Louisville hit five of their first six shots as the lead got above double digits for the first time in the game. Michigan responded with a 16-0 run to take the lead back. Heading into the half, Michigan held a 32-27 lead after they shot 9-for-14 in the second quarter.

Istanbulluoglu had a game-high 11 points at the break on 5-for-7 shooting from the field. Louisville held a 20-15 edge on the boards and Anaya Hardy had a team-high six over the first 20 minutes.

The Cardinals opened the second half with a 7-0 run that was capped by a steal and score from Tajianna Roberts to put the Cards back in front. Another big run from Michigan followed as the Wolverines ripped off 18-straight points and they gained a double-digit lead for the first time this afternoon. The Cardinals were held scoreless for a four-minute-plus stretch and trailed 57-40 at the end of the third.

Louisville was unable to get any closer than 16 in the fourth quarter as the season came to a close.