Louisville WBB got 19 points and 12 rebounds from Emily Engstler and 17 points from Olivia Cochran to put away FSU last night 75-62 in front of 7755 Thursday night in the KFC YUM Center.
Louisville overcame a slow start, where they missed their next seven shots after an opening three from Engstler, but eventually took the lead 10-8 when Kasa Robinson scored a layup created off a Noles turnover. That was part of a 7-0 run, capped by a Hailey Van Lith three that helped give the Cards a 13-10 first quarter lead.
UofL saw FSU briefly regain the lead 18-17 after a O'Mariah Gordon jumper, but the Cards went to work inside and got key performances from Ahlana Smith and Liz Dixon off the bench to go on a 12-1 run and grab a 29-19 lead with 3:36 until halftime. Two Cochran free throws gave UofL their biggest first half lead at 36-23, a Morgan Jones bucket for FSU set the halftime score at 36-25.
Jones was the story for the NOLES in the first 20 minutes with 15 points and five rebounds. The Cards were led by Engstler's eight points -- Van Lith and Dixon added seven each.
FSU was unwilling to allow the Cards to continue the sizable advantage once the second half began. They used a 13-4 run to narrow the UofL lead to 40-38 with 6:12 left in the third quarter. The Cards responded over the next three minutes, though, and a hustling play and layup by Robinson after a steal helped UofL push back out to a 47-40 advantage. Robinson also had the final three points of the quarter and it was 57-48 Cards after three. Cochran, with nine points and Robinson with seven helped offset eight more Jones points for FSU. The Noles won the quarter 23-21 and Jones was up to 23 points for the night.
Engstler started the fourth quarter on fire and had the Cards first seven points. Louisville led 64-55 halfway through the final quarter,
Louisville had their largest lead of the game at 71-55 after a Kianna Smith jumper with 2:50 to play -- a Van Lith jumper sent the score to 75-60 with a minute to play and the Cards win their 17th game of the season 75-62.
Louisville won the points in the paint battle 32-20 and held a 18-4 advantage in points off turnovers. Both squads had 35 rebounds -- Louisville forced 17 Noles turnovers, the Cards blocked nine shots and committed just nine fouls in the contest -- compared to FSU's 17.
Louisville returns to action Sunday when they host Duke at 3 p.m.
-sonja--
Louisville overcame a slow start, where they missed their next seven shots after an opening three from Engstler, but eventually took the lead 10-8 when Kasa Robinson scored a layup created off a Noles turnover. That was part of a 7-0 run, capped by a Hailey Van Lith three that helped give the Cards a 13-10 first quarter lead.
UofL saw FSU briefly regain the lead 18-17 after a O'Mariah Gordon jumper, but the Cards went to work inside and got key performances from Ahlana Smith and Liz Dixon off the bench to go on a 12-1 run and grab a 29-19 lead with 3:36 until halftime. Two Cochran free throws gave UofL their biggest first half lead at 36-23, a Morgan Jones bucket for FSU set the halftime score at 36-25.
Jones was the story for the NOLES in the first 20 minutes with 15 points and five rebounds. The Cards were led by Engstler's eight points -- Van Lith and Dixon added seven each.
FSU was unwilling to allow the Cards to continue the sizable advantage once the second half began. They used a 13-4 run to narrow the UofL lead to 40-38 with 6:12 left in the third quarter. The Cards responded over the next three minutes, though, and a hustling play and layup by Robinson after a steal helped UofL push back out to a 47-40 advantage. Robinson also had the final three points of the quarter and it was 57-48 Cards after three. Cochran, with nine points and Robinson with seven helped offset eight more Jones points for FSU. The Noles won the quarter 23-21 and Jones was up to 23 points for the night.
Engstler started the fourth quarter on fire and had the Cards first seven points. Louisville led 64-55 halfway through the final quarter,
Louisville had their largest lead of the game at 71-55 after a Kianna Smith jumper with 2:50 to play -- a Van Lith jumper sent the score to 75-60 with a minute to play and the Cards win their 17th game of the season 75-62.
Louisville won the points in the paint battle 32-20 and held a 18-4 advantage in points off turnovers. Both squads had 35 rebounds -- Louisville forced 17 Noles turnovers, the Cards blocked nine shots and committed just nine fouls in the contest -- compared to FSU's 17.
Louisville returns to action Sunday when they host Duke at 3 p.m.
-sonja--
