Louisville Crushes Stetson 87-35
A 52-point margin of victory caps a defensive masterclass for the Cardinals.
By Lauren Foster ·
Louisville women's basketball closed out a 52-point margin of victory against Stetson on Wednesday, Nov. 4, at the KFC YUM! Center. The 87-35 final score marks the Cardinals' second straight win, keeping their season record at 2-0.
The defensive pressure defined the first half. Louisville blocked shots, intercepted passes, and forced turnovers throughout the opening minutes. Tajianna Roberts provided the initial spark, scoring the first points of the night nearly three minutes after tipoff. She extended the lead with free throws after Stetson committed a shooting foul around the six-minute mark. Sophie Locatelli finally gave Stetson its first points halfway through the quarter, but Roberts immediately answered with two more free throws.
Grace Mbugua hit the first three-pointer of the game for Louisville. Zamareya Jones and Deniya Prawl also added to the score, helping the Cardinals enter halftime with a 40-20 lead. The defense prevented Stetson from building momentum during the break. Imari Berry and Jones continued to extend the gap with outside shots, while the Cardinals converted open looks into easy buckets.
The third quarter began slowly with missed attempts and fouls from both sides. Jones capitalized on a Stetson turnover around the seven-minute mark to start a nine-point run in under a minute. The Hatters called a timeout, but Louisville emerged with a 24-point scoring run. Stetson scored a few baskets late in the period, yet the Cardinals maintained a 68-26 lead heading into the final quarter.
Jorah Eppley hit a three-pointer for Stetson less than a minute into the fourth quarter. Ariyana Cradle responded quickly, continuing her strong performance. She later connected with Rebekah Graves for Graves' first points of the night. Stetson added a few more baskets, but the gap remained wide as the final horn sounded.
Starters Mackenly Randolph and Elif Istanbulluoglu missed the game, yet the squad found its offensive rhythm. Louisville will travel for its first road game of the season on Sunday, Nov. 8, to face the Southern Indiana Screaming Eagles at Liberty Arena.
