In the inaugural ACC/SEC Challenge, the No. 22/19 Louisville women’s basketball team picked up a significant win over No. 19/20 Ole Miss with a final score of 64-58. This victory marked the Cardinals’ first win against a ranked opponent this season. The game took place on Wednesday night in Oxford, Mississippi.
The Cardinals were trailing at halftime but managed to take control of the game in the third quarter. With a 7-0 run, they regained the lead and never looked back. This win also ended the Rebels’ five-game winning streak.
Kiki Jefferson stood out as the leading scorer for the Cardinals for the second consecutive game, finishing with 16 points. Nina Rickards also contributed significantly with 15 points and a team-high three assists. Rickards has consistently provided two or more assists in every game this season. Sydney Taylor made her presence felt with a team-high six rebounds and eight points, including two made three-pointers.
The first quarter was a defensive battle, with both teams making it difficult for their opponents to find offensive opportunities. Neither team managed to establish a significant lead, and the score was tied at 14-14 after the first 10 minutes.
The second quarter continued to be a defensive struggle. At the media timeout, the Cardinals limited the Rebels to just two points in the first five minutes. However, they could only score four points themselves, holding a slim 18-16 lead with 4:43 left until halftime. Olivia Cochran made an impact for the Cardinals, scoring their first four points of the quarter and taking a charge on the defensive end. The Rebels responded with a 9-0 run, giving them a 30-28 lead at halftime.
Jefferson led the Cardinals with 11 points in the first half and was perfect from the free-throw line, going 5-for-5. As a team, the Cardinals shot an impressive 81.8 percent from the charity stripe in the first half.
In the early stages of the third quarter, the Cardinals regained the lead with a 7-0 run. Their defense was exceptional during this period as they did not allow the Rebels to make a field goal until there were just five minutes left in the quarter. While the Rebels struggled to find points, the Cardinals were red hot from the floor, shooting 75 percent and entering the final quarter with a 50-44 lead.
The Rebels fought back in the closing minutes, reducing the Cardinals’ lead to as low as four points. However, with less than a minute remaining and the Rebels in possession of the ball, Nyla Harris made a crucial steal. Rickards then sealed the win for the Cardinals by converting two free throws.
After the game, the Cardinals will return to campus and prepare for their upcoming three-game homestand. Their next opponent will be NC A&T, and the game will take place at the KFC Yum! Center on Sunday at 12 p.m. ET. The matchup will be streamed on the ACC Network Extra.
