The 18th-ranked Cardinals are taking their six-game winning streak on the road Saturday, facing a stiff test against perennial power and 17th-ranked UConn. The noon tipoff at the XL Center renews a rivalry that has delivered fireworks over the years.
Louisville coach Jeff Walz has owned the month of December, going an astounding 96-15 during his 17 seasons at the helm. The Cards haven’t lost in December since 2021, rattling off nine straight wins behind a tenacious defense and a balanced attack.
That recipe was on full display in Wednesday’s 26-point thrashing of Morehead State, Louisville’s second ranked win this season. Double-double machine Olivia Cochran continues to anchor the post, while the backcourt trio of Chrislyn Carr, Morgan Jones and Hailey Van Lith supply quickness, athleticism, and timely scoring.
The Huskies provide a step up in competition, though injuries have left them uncharacteristically vulnerable in the early going. Louisville has already passed one vaunted road test, knocking off then-No. 19 Ole Miss back on November 29th.
If Coach Walz’s group can play to its identity, another resume-building victory may well be in the cards. Tune into Fox Saturday at noon to see if the Cards can extend their December domination.
ABOUT THE HUSKIES
UConn enters Saturday’s afternoon matchup with a 6-3 overall record and are coming off a 76-64 win over North Carolina at the Basketball Hall of Fame Women’s Showcase in Uncasville, Conn. The Tar Heels were the second ACC team UConn has faced so far in non-conference play after falling to NC State in Raleigh, 92-81, on Nov. 12. UConn is one of the better shooting teams in the country this season as they rank 21st nationally with a .479 field goal percentage. The Huskies also do well behind the arc as they have a .358 three-point field goal percentage, a mark that is 42nd nationally.
Series History – This will be the 22nd meeting all-time between the Huskies and the Cardinals as the two teams were conference foes in the BIG EAST and the American. Louisville trails the all-time series 3-18 but the Cardinals have won two of the last three games against UConn. The Cardinals are 0-6 in games played at UConn but won the previous matchup on Dec. 19, 2021 that was held at Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Conn. This will be the first time the Cardinals will face the Huskies at the XL Center in Hartford since January 15, 2011.
Last Meeting (Dec. 19, 2021) – Jeff Walz’s Louisville teams had never beaten UConn in Connecticut. That’s one streak he won’t have to talk about again. The No. 4 Cardinals outlasted No. 6 UConn 69-64 in the Women’s Hall of Fame Showcase at the Mohegan Sun on Sunday. Kianna Smith scored 16 points for the Cardinals (10-1), who trailed for much of the game, but outscored the Huskies 27-19 over the final 10 minutes. Ahlana Smith added 11 points for the Cardinals.