Cards Comeback vs. Boston College To Advance to ACC Quarterfinals

Mark BlankenbakerMarch 7, 2024

The No. 5 seed Louisville basketball team (24-8) came from behind to defeat No. 13 Boston College (14-19), 58-55, Thursday afternoon in the second round of the ACC Tournament. The Cardinals faced a three-point deficit with under two minutes remaining, but the Cards ended the game on a 6-0 to clinch the win. With the win, Louisville advanced to the ACC Quarterfinals for the 10th-straight season.

Nyla Harris led the team with 14 points on 6-for-12 shooting and tied the team lead with nine rebounds. Kiki Jefferson had nine points and tied Harris with a team-best nine rebounds. Sydney Taylor also had nine points and had a team-best four assists, which tied a season high. Olivia Cochran also tallied nine points, brought in seven rebounds and tied a season high with a team-best three steals.

It was a physical first quarter as the teams were meeting for the third time this season and had familiarity with each other. Boston College hit the offensive boards and tallied five second-chance points in the opening quarter. Louisville found rhythm from behind the arc, knocking down four of their seven shots from three. The Cardinals held a 20-18 edge at the end of the first quarter.

The Cardinals shooting cooled a bit in the second quarter but they were able to own the advantage on the glass. Louisville outrebounded Boston College 21-16 in the first half and took a 33-29 lead into halftime.

It was a balanced scoring attack in the first half as seven different players scored for the Cards. Jefferson led the team with eight first half points and six rebounds.

The Cardinals looked to extend their lead in the third quarter and were aided by a shot-clock-beating three. With the clock winding down, Jayda Curry put a desperation three up and it banked off the backboard and in to extend the Louisville lead to its largest of the game at nine points. The Eagles responded with a run of their own and they regained the lead towards the end of the quarter. Heading into the final quarter, Boston College held a 44-42 advantage.

Louisville opened the fourth quarter scoring nine of the first 11 points to take the lead back. The lead was taken back by the Eagles and the Cardinals faced a three-point deficit with under two minutes remaining. Taylor forced a steal and got it to Harris for a lay-up to pull the Cardinals within one. It was Harris again with a lay-up after an offensive rebound to give the Cardinals the lead. On the ensuing possession, Cochran forced a steal and got the ball back for the Cards. Taylor knocked down both free throws and the Cardinals clamped down defensively to close out the win. Louisville held Boston College scoreless for the final 3:41 of the game.

The Cardinals will be back in action early again on Friday for their quarterfinal matchup. Up next for the Cardinals will be the No. 4 seed Notre Dame Fighting Irish on Friday morning. This will be the second time the Cardinals and Irish will face off in less than a week and the third time they are meeting this season. Louisville and Notre Dame will square off at 11 a.m. ET from Greensboro Coliseum and it will be aired nationally on the ACC Network.