In a dominant display of basketball, the University of Louisville women’s basketball team secured a resounding 111-33 victory over Bellarmine, maintaining their perfect 3-0 record for the season. Head coach Jeff Walz witnessed his team’s largest margin of victory, an astounding 78-point win, leaving no doubt about the Cardinals’ prowess on the court.
Sydney Taylor shined for Louisville, delivering an impressive 15-point performance. The team showed impressive depth, with eight players scoring in double figures for the first time in program history. Taylor showcased her shooting skills, going 5-of-8 from the field and sinking 2-of-4 from beyond the arc. Her contributions extended beyond scoring, as she also recorded four assists and two steals.
Nyla Harris closely followed Taylor in scoring, notching 14 points. Harris displayed flawless accuracy, shooting a perfect 5-of-5 from the field and a flawless 4-of-4 from the free-throw line. Additionally, she made her presence felt on the court with three rebounds and a steal.
Alexia Mobley achieved a career-high 12 points, displaying precision from both the field and the free-throw line. The sophomore gave a strong performance, pulling down four rebounds and contributing two steals.
Freshman Elif Istanbulluoglu made an impressive mark in this game, recording her first career double-double with 10 points and a team-high 12 rebounds. Her standout performance marked the first double-double by a freshman since Olivia Cochran’s performance in the NCAA Tournament in 2021 when she tallied 13 points and 15 rebounds.
Louisville showcased its defensive prowess by forcing 18 turnovers in just the first half. By halftime, the Cardinals had established a commanding 48-9 lead, allowing Bellarmine a mere nine points. This marks the third fewest points allowed by the Cardinals in a first half, displaying their defensive strength. Remarkably, this is the second consecutive year that Louisville has held Bellarmine to single-digit points in the first half, last season allowing a program record-low of eight points.
Throughout the game, Louisville displayed their dominance through several double-digit scoring runs. Their victory over the Knights signifies their 35th consecutive win when holding opponents to 59 points or less, dating back to the 2020-21 season.
The Cardinals will look to continue their winning streak as they wrap up their three-game homestand against Bucknell on Sunday, November 19. Tip-off is set for 4 p.m. ET, and fans can catch the action on the ACC Network.
