The University of Louisville women’s basketball team secured a convincing 77-44 victory over Bucknell on Sunday afternoon at the KFC Yum! Center. Sydney Taylor stole the show with a career-high 17 points, along with two rebounds and two steals, as she reached the impressive milestone of 1,000 career points. Olivia Cochran and Nyla Harris also contributed strongly, recording double digits in scoring with 11 and 10 points respectively. Cochran also added eight rebounds and three steals, while Harris grabbed six rebounds, a block, and a steal. Hennie van Schaik had a notable performance as well, achieving her career-high of seven points, all of which were scored in the final quarter.
The first quarter kicked off with intense competition, as Cochran’s efforts propelled the Cardinals to a 22-18 lead heading into the second frame. In the second quarter, Louisville pulled away with a 7-0 run, making their advantage 31-18. Eylia Love’s six points and two rebounds played a crucial role in maintaining the lead, allowing the Cardinals to head into halftime with a comfortable 37-24 lead.
Following the halftime break, Louisville continued their strong performance in the third quarter. A 12-2 run early on put the Cardinals in complete control at 49-26. Taylor was on fire in the quarter, contributing 12 of her 17 points on 5 for 8 shooting from the floor. With a 57-31 lead heading into the final quarter, Louisville managed to hold off Bucknell, outscoring them 20-13 and ultimately closing out the game with a commanding 77-44 victory.
Looking ahead, the Cardinals will go on the road for the Van Chancellor Classic in Katy, Texas. The tournament, which starts on Friday, November 24, will see Louisville face off against Alabama, Liberty, and Gonzaga.
