In a week where Louisville women’s basketball was in a battle for positioning in the ACC standings, the sixth-ranked Cardinals remain as one of the league’s top two teams.
After falling to No. 22 Duke on Thursday, UofL learned that it must play with an elevated level of physicality and defensive pressure to end the regular season on a high note.
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The Cardinals had moments where they faltered, but used a commanding start to beat Syracuse, 84-65, on Sunday. The Orange entered the contest third in the ACC while riding a three-game winning streak. Its defense was only allowing 68.2 points per game while holding opponents to 40.2% from the field in conference play.
Sunday’s road contest was reminiscent of Louisville’s game against the Blue Devils, except this time, it was UofL which jumped out to a 28-6 lead with the Orange going 0-for-13 from the field. The Cardinals’ post play continued to set the tone for the team with Laura Ziegler and Anaya Hardy, who was scoreless against Duke, combining for 12 points in the first 10 minutes. Ziegler led the team with 22 points on 10-for-13 shooting while battling with Syracuse freshman center Uche Izoje in the paint. Mackenly Randolph chipped in 15 points, eight rebounds and four assists.
The Cardinals pressured Syracuse into five turnovers in the first quarter, utilizing a half-court trap that allowed Taj Roberts to convert a steal into a layup for a 26-6 advantage just before the end of the frame. Louisville’s full-court press at the end of the third quarter then allowed it to go up by 11 after Skylar Jones converted Imari Berry’s steal into a quick layup for the 67-56 score.
After getting down by 20, Syracuse, much like Louisville three days prior, responded in the second quarter. It trimmed UofL’s lead from 22 points to eight by the end of the half. The Orange scored 13 points off six turnovers, many of which were tipped passes thanks to the team’s length.
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But unlike Thursday’s game, Louisville didn’t allow Syracuse to get back in the game. Instead, the Cardinals went up by as many as 22 points while holding the Orange scoreless for a nearly five-minute span during the fourth quarter.
Louisville will play the next three games at home, starting with Wake Forest at 7 p.m. Thursday.
This story will be updated.
Reach Louisville football, women’s basketball and baseball beat writer Alexis Cubit at acubit@gannett.com and follow her on X at @Alexis_Cubit.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Louisville vs Syracuse game shows UofL women’s basketball physicality
