The No. 22 Louisville women’s basketball team (5-3) came up short against No. 11 Oklahoma (7-1), falling 78-72 on Wednesday night at the KFC Yum! Center as part of the SEC/ACC Challenge. Despite holding a double-digit lead heading into the fourth quarter, foul trouble and a late surge from the Sooners proved costly for the Cardinals.
Game Leaders
- Olivia Cochran led the Cardinals with 17 points and nine rebounds.
- Merissah Russell scored a career-high 14 points, hitting a career-best four three-pointers.
- Tajianna Roberts contributed 13 points, her seventh double-figure scoring game this season.
- Jayda Curry added 11 points, marking her fourth consecutive game in double digits.
- Nyla Harris rounded out the double-digit scorers with 10 points, her second-straight game in double figures.
Game Summary
First Half: Dominant Defense Fuels Louisville Lead
The Cardinals started strong, responding to Oklahoma’s opening 5-0 run with an 8-0 spurt to take the lead. Louisville closed the first quarter on another 8-0 run to claim a 21-14 advantage.
In the second quarter, Louisville’s defense turned up the pressure, forcing 13 turnovers and capitalizing on a 12-1 scoring run. The Cardinals held a commanding 40-29 lead at halftime, having forced Oklahoma into 18 first-half turnovers—well above their season average of 17.5 per game.
Third Quarter: Maintaining the Momentum
Louisville maintained its defensive intensity in the third, forcing seven more turnovers. Harris and Russell led the scoring effort with six points each in the quarter, helping the Cardinals extend their lead to 60-49 heading into the final 10 minutes.
Fourth Quarter: Oklahoma’s Comeback
Foul trouble plagued the Cardinals as the game progressed, with Louisville accumulating 21 team fouls by the start of the fourth. Two players fouled out, and Oklahoma capitalized by shooting 56.3% from the field in the final quarter. The Sooners outscored Louisville 29-12 in the fourth, erasing the Cardinals’ lead and securing the comeback victory.
Next Up
Louisville looks to regroup as they head to Brooklyn for a high-profile matchup against No. 2 UConn in the inaugural Women’s Champions Classic. The Cardinals will face the Huskies on Saturday night at 9 p.m. ET at the Barclays Center, with the game broadcast nationally on FOX.
