Cardinals Stumble Against #11 Oklahoma, 78-72

Mark BlankenbakerDecember 5, 2024

The No. 22 Louisville women’s basketball team (5-3) tried to hold on to a fourth quarter lead but ended up falling to No. 11 Oklahoma (7-1), 78-72, Wednesday night at the KFC Yum! Center as part of the SEC/ACC Challenge. The Cardinals had foul issues heading into the fourth and they ultimately came back to bite them as Oklahoma outscored the Cards 29-12 in the final quarter.

Louisville had five players score in double figures with Olivia Cochran leading the way with 17 points and a team-high nine rebounds. Merissah Russell scored a career high 14 points and hit a career-best four three-pointers. Tajianna Roberts scored in double figures for the seventh time this season with 13 points. Jayda Curry tallied 11 points, her fourth-straight game in double figures. Nyla Harris rounded out the scoring with 10 points, her second-straight game in double digits.

The first quarter was a quarter of runs as Oklahoma scored the first five points and Louisville responded with the next eight to take the lead. The Cardinals had another 8-0 run towards the end of the quarter and had a 21-14 lead after the opening 10 minutes.

In the second quarter, the Louisville lead continued to grow as they ripped off a 12-1 run. The Cards were active on defense as they forced 13 turnovers in the second quarter and had a 40-29 lead at the half. In the first half alone, Louisville forced Oklahoma into 18 turnovers and the Sooners averaged 17.5 turnovers per game heading into the contest.

The third quarter was more of the same for the Cardinals defense as they forced seven Oklahoma turnovers. Harris and Russell both scored six points each in the quarter and Louisville took a 60-49 lead into the final quarter.

Heading into the fourth, Louisville had 21 team fouls with two players at four fouls and three players at three fouls. The fouls caught up to the Cards as two players fouled out and Oklahoma shot 56.3 percent from the floor over the final 10 minutes to take the lead back and ultimately close out the game.

The Cards head back out on the road and are heading east as the Big Apple is their next non-conference stop. Another Top-15 opponent awaits the Cardinals in Brooklyn as the Cards will square off with No. 2 UConn Saturday night at the Barclays Center as part of the first ever Women’s Champions Classic. The Cards and Huskies are set to face off at 9 p.m. ET and the game will be broadcast nationally on FOX.