For one week, No. 21 Louisville women’s basketball worked on taking charges and had more over the last three games than the previous five games combined, according to coach Jeff Walz.
And leading up to the Cardinals’ game against third-ranked South Carolina, the squad emphasized boxing out for rebounds. UofL had one of its best rebounding performances but couldn’t convert enough rebounds into points.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementLouisville’s ACC/SEC Challenge game against South Carolina featured nine lead changes and six ties in the first half before the Gamecocks escaped with the 79-77 victory Thursday night at the KFC Yum! Center. Despite the loss, Elif Istanbulluoglu had a career-high 15 points to go along with nine rebounds, and Taj Roberts led the Cardinals (7-3) with 20 points.
Louisville played South Carolina closely for the whole game and not only battled for rebounds but took charges and dove on the ground for loose balls. But the squad played on a different level in the third quarter, overcoming an 11-point deficit at the beginning of the frame. After South Carolina had its largest lead, 50-39, Roberts and Skylar Jones combined for 15 points over a five-minute span to narrow South Carolina’s lead, 57-56.
The Cardinals outscored the Gamecocks, 23-18, in the third quarter and used that momentum for a 5-0 run at the beginning of the fourth quarter. The Yum! Center erupted when Jones hit a 3-pointer that put Louisville up, 67-63, to match the team’s largest lead. South Carolina stormed back and took a 78-75 lead with 33 seconds left before Walz called a timeout. Imari Berry was fouled and made two free throws before South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley called a timeout 10 seconds later.
The Gamecocks ran the next 14 seconds off the clock before going 1-for-2 from the free throw line for the 79-77 lead. Louisville had one more possession but missed the final shot.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe Gamecocks were one of the tallest teams the Cardinals have faced so far this season, and Walz went with a bigger lineup to start the game. Forward Anaya Hardy got her first career start alongside fellow post players Istanbulluoglu and Laura Ziegler. The sophomore scored the team’s first points, but from there it was all Istanbulluoglu.
Louisville stays home for the next two games to play New Hampshire at noon Sunday and Ball State at 9 p.m. next Wednesday.
This story will be updated.
Reach Louisville football, women's basketball and baseball beat writer Alexis Cubit at [email protected] and follow her on X at @Alexis_Cubit.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: South Carolina defeats Louisville WBB in ACC/SEC Challenge
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