The No. 19/15 Louisville women’s basketball team (2-0) will continue their three-game homestand at the KFC Yum! Center as they prepare to take on crosstown rival Bellarmine (0-2) this Thursday night. The game is set for 7 p.m. ET and will be streamed on the ACC Network Extra.
Louisville started their home schedule with a victory over DePaul this past Sunday, winning 81-74. This win improved the Cardinals’ home opener record to 12-2 at the KFC Yum! Center and 15-2 in coach Walz’s tenure.
After falling behind in the first quarter, the Cardinals rallied with an 18-5 run to tie the game at the end of the quarter. They continued their strong performance in the second quarter, limiting DePaul to just nine points and taking the lead heading into halftime.
Olivia Cochran had an outstanding game against DePaul, scoring a career-high 21 points. She also led the team with three assists and three steals. Cochran’s performance earned her a spot on the Wooden Award Preseason Top 50 Watch List. So far this season, Cochran leads the team in points, rebounds, assists, and steals per game.
Bellarmine enters this matchup with an 0-2 record, coming off losses to San Jose State and UCLA. They will be playing their third consecutive road game as they face the Cardinals. The Knights had a challenging 2022-23 season, finishing with a 9-22 record. However, they have the reigning ASUN Freshman of the Year, Gracie Merkle, who led the nation in field goal percentage last season.
This will be the 16th meeting between Louisville and Bellarmine. The Cardinals have dominated the series, holding a 13-2 advantage. They have a strong home record against the Knights, winning 10 of the 11 matchups played in Louisville. Last season, the two teams faced off at Freedom Hall, with Louisville coming out on top with a 73-43 victory.
For the latest updates on Louisville women’s basketball, fans can visit GoCards.com or follow the team’s social media accounts on Instagram (@LouisvilleWBB), Twitter (@LouisvilleWBB), and Facebook (facebook.com/louisvillewbb).
