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The Cardinals are coming off a disappointing 77-53 loss to Virginia in their first game of 2024. On the other hand, the Panthers suffered a 70-57 defeat at the hands of North Carolina, extending their winless streak to three games in ACC play.

Louisville is coming off an exciting 77-72 road victory against Miami in their ACC opener on New Year’s Eve. This win extended their perfect record in ACC openers to 10-0 since joining the league in 2014-15. It also snapped Miami’s 17-game home winning streak. Jayda Curry and Merissah Russell played pivotal roles in this victory, with Curry leading the team with a season-high 19 points and Russell scoring 11-straight points in the fourth quarter to secure the win. Kiki Jefferson also reached a milestone in the game, surpassing 2,000 career points.

Louisville had a promising start to the game, leading with 11:12 remaining in the first half. They even outscored Kentucky in the second half. However, it was the final minutes of the opening frame that made all the difference.

Louisville got off to a hot start, going on a 10-0 run after the Huskies scored the first points of the game. They forced multiple turnovers and took a 10-2 lead early on. However, Washington fought back and tied the game at 10 with an 8-0 run. Both teams closed out the first quarter with a three-pointer each, making it 13-13.

Both teams are coming off impressive victories in their most recent outings. Louisville dominated Pepperdine with an 85-63 win, putting an end to their three-game losing streak. Kentucky, on the other hand, narrowly defeated North Carolina with an 87-83 victory in a top-25 neutral-site contest.

Leading the scoring for Kentucky this season is Antonio Reeves, averaging 17.1 points per game. Rob Dillingham follows closely behind with 14.4 points per game, while fellow freshmen Reed Sheppard and D.J. Wagner contribute 12.8 points per contest. Tre Mitchell has been a solid performer with 12.7 points and a team-high 6.2 rebounds per game. Aaron Bradshaw has also been making an impact, averaging 10.7 points over the three games he has played.

However, the Huskies are not to be taken lightly. They currently lead the country in scoring defense, allowing just 45.6 points per game. Washington has held their opponents to 50 points or less in seven of their 11 games this season. On the offensive end, the Cardinals have scored over 60 points in every game this season and have reached the 70-point mark in 10 of their 12 games.

Head coach Kenny Payne expressed his pride in the team’s performance, emphasizing the importance of playing with energy and togetherness. He highlighted the significance of conquering oneself and challenging any doubts or fears that the players may have. Despite some lapses in concentration when they had big leads, Payne acknowledged that it is part of the learning process for a young team.

This will only be the second meeting between these two teams, with Pepperdine coming out on top in their first encounter back in 1950. Both teams will be eager to secure a victory in this matchup.

Fans attending the Grand Slam Social will have the opportunity to meet head coach Holly Aprile and the 2024 squad as they gear up for the upcoming season. The admission fee for the event is $30 and includes a full buffet, a special player and coach meet-and-greet, a poster, autographs, and a ticket to the women’s basketball game against Pittsburgh.