LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Louisville women’s basketball team had its best offensive showing yet this season Thursday night – and was even more impressive on defense.
Dana Evans scored 18 points as the No. 8 Cardinals overwhelmed the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, 86-37, to remain undefeated through four games.
They held the Mocs to just 24.6% shooting, forced 18 turnovers, outrebounded their guests 59-28 and committed only 11 fouls. That defensive showing allowed Louisville, which shot 34.9% in the first half, to go on a 15-2 run during a six-minute stretch in the second quarter and hold a 35-11 lead in the final minute of the half.
UTC coach Katie Burrows said her players dribbled too much, allowing the Cardinals to contain them with pressure.
“Bottom line is that we didn’t do the things that we said we needed to do in order to compete,” Burrows said. “That’s the frustrating thing for me.”
Eboni Williams paced the Mocs (1-6) with a season-high 18 points.
Louisville warmed up from the field after halftime, shooting 58.8%. Evans was 8-for-12, and the junior point guard was particularly effective playing off the ball, scoring eight straight points from that position in the third quarter.
“That’s what she’s doing really well right now,” Louisville coach Jeff Walz said.
Kylee Shook had her third consecutive double-double, going for 12 points and 11 rebounds, and freshman Norika Konno added a career-high 11 points. Elizabeth Balogun, who prepped at Chattanooga’s Hamilton Heights Christian Academy, added 11 rebounds to go with nine points.
The Mocs entered Thursday averaging just 52.3 points per game, which ranked 323rd in Division I, and faced a squad that had allowed opponents to shoot just 31.3%. The Cardinals’ quickness and pressure defense caused three scoring droughts of 3:51 or longer in the first half, which allowed Louisville to overcome its own offensive difficulties and still put the game away before halftime.
UTC hosts Austin Peay on Sunday.