Louisville Women’s Hoops Rolls Past Florida State Behind Balanced Attack, Defensive Dominance
No. 9 Louisville flexed its depth and defensive muscle Sunday evening, cruising to an 88-65 win over Florida State in front of 8,106 fans at the KFC Yum!
Center. With five players scoring in double figures and a defense that set the tone early, the Cardinals extended their win streak to three and improved to 24-4 overall, 14-1 in ACC play.
This one wasn’t about lights-out shooting from the jump. Louisville actually struggled to find rhythm offensively in the first half, hitting just 37% from the field. But when the shots weren’t falling, the defense picked up the slack-and then some.
The Cardinals forced seven turnovers in the first half and turned them into 10 points, building a 34-20 lead at the break. They also racked up three steals and seven blocks in the opening 20 minutes, using their length and activity to disrupt Florida State’s flow and keep the Seminoles from ever getting comfortable.
Laura Ziegler led the charge with a do-it-all performance that epitomized Louisville’s team-first mentality. The versatile forward finished with 14 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists-stuffing the stat sheet and setting the tone on both ends. She had seven points, eight boards, and five assists before halftime, then came out of the locker room and scored the first five points of the third quarter, including her second three-pointer of the night.
That burst from Ziegler helped ignite a much sharper offensive stretch. The Cardinals shot a blistering 63% in the third quarter, pushing their lead to 22 by the end of the frame.
From there, it was cruise control. Louisville led by as many as 29 with just over four minutes to play, putting the game well out of reach.
Imari Berry, Skylar Jones, and Reyna Scott each added 11 points, while Grace Mbugua chipped in 10. It was a balanced effort that showcased Louisville’s depth and versatility-traits that have defined this team all season.
By the final buzzer, the Cardinals had shot 49.3% from the field and held Florida State to just 36.9%. The defensive effort translated directly into offense, as Louisville outscored FSU 26-5 off turnovers. They also owned the paint, posting a 22-point advantage inside.
This was the kind of performance that reinforces why Louisville is a serious contender in the ACC-and beyond. They didn’t need a perfect shooting night because their defense, depth, and unselfish play did the heavy lifting.
The Cardinals will be back on their home floor next Sunday, Feb. 22, when they host Virginia at noon. The game will be broadcast on the CW Network.