The Louisville Cardinals Women’s Basketball team took flight on the road, soaring past Syracuse in a hard-fought battle that ended in a 79-67 victory. The JMA Wireless Dome was the site of the clash, where the Cardinals’ fierce determination was on full display.
The first half saw the Orange take an early lead, but the Cardinals were undaunted, clawing their way back into the contest with aplomb. Nyla Harris was a force to be reckoned with, setting a career high with 18 points and swatting away three blocks. Mykasa Robinson was a standout performer, dishing out a career-high 12 assists and tying a career-high with five steals. The 12 assists were the most by a Cardinal player since 2015, making Robinson the only player in the NCAA to record 12 or more assists without a single turnover in a single game.
The Cardinals had a season-high 25 assists on 31 made baskets, with Chrislyn Carr contributing 14 points and a season-high 8 assists, while Liz Dixon chipped in with 11 points, tying a season-high with three blocks. The Cardinals had a new starting lineup, with Harris and Norika Konno earning their first career starts, and Robinson starting for the fourth time this season.
In the second quarter, the Cardinals extended their lead with a 6-0 run and forced two more turnovers. Syracuse responded with a 19-2 run, but the Cardinals bounced back with a 5-0 burst to tie the game. The first half saw nine different Cardinals score, with Harris and Carr leading the way with six points each. The Cardinals forced 14 turnovers and recorded 9 steals, with Robinson leading the charge with 5 assists and 3 steals.
The third quarter was a back-and-forth battle, with both teams unable to extend their leads. But the Cardinals ended the quarter with a 7-0 run, taking a 61-54 lead into the final quarter. The fourth quarter saw the Cardinals race out on a 14-2 run, extending their lead to 19 points with five minutes remaining. Liz Dixon made history, eclipsing the 1,000-point mark with her layup, becoming the second Cardinal this season to reach this milestone. The Cardinals closed out the win with a game-high 21-point lead.
The Cardinals will now enjoy their bye week before returning to campus for their next contest. On February 5th, they will welcome North Carolina to the KFC Yum! Center for a nationally televised Pink Game on ESPN2 at 12 p.m. ET. With the win over Syracuse, the Cardinals will look to continue their winning ways and take flight towards victory once again.
