In the days leading up to the first women’s basketball game of the Peraton Armed Forces Classic, toughness became the focal point. Both No. 19 Louisville and top-ranked UConn, the defending NCAA champion, took in the experience and learned about the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.
After getting off to a slow start, the Cardinals showed resilience and attempted a comeback late in the fourth quarter. Their 25-point deficit at the beginning of the frame shrunk to 10 points with two minutes to go. But they couldn’t pull it off and fell to UConn, 79-66, on Tuesday night.
Advertisement
“First game, obviously it’s not like we could have played anyone tougher,” Louisville coach Jeff Walz said. “I thought we did a good job scheduling to make sure we start off seeing where we are. I thought we competed.”
Louisville debuted four new starters, but none of them had an answer for UConn’s tandem of KK Arnold and Sarah Strong. The two Huskies combined equally for 26 points at the half. Taj Roberts, U of L’s lone returning starter, was nullified offensively and only had one point through three quarters. She finished with six points and two assists but will come back with a vengeance Sunday, according to Walz.
“I just know she’s about to really put a ballgame together where she feels confident and is knocking down shots because she got some good shots tonight,” Walz said. “I was glad to see the one (3-pointer) in the corner go in. It was a really nice movement of the basketball, and she stepped up and made it.”
Saint Joseph’s transfer Laura Ziegler highlighted the team by making her Cardinals debut with a double-double (16 points, 18 rebounds).
Advertisement
Louisville’s Imari Berry entered the starting lineup in the season opener and looked better than a year ago, totaling 13 points in the game. Like the rest of the team, the sophomore was shell-shocked at first but settled into her game more as it progressed. Berry was quicker on the court and had a co-team-leading six points after the first two quarters. But those points were few and far between as the Cardinals missed their first eight field goals.
Oklahoma transfer Reyna Scott scored U of L’s first field goal off the bench for a 14-4 deficit at the 5:17 mark of the first quarter. The team’s shooting struggles continued as it found itself facing a 44-23 deficit at halftime after making 9 of 34 field goals (26.5%).
Despite Mackenly Randolph scoring the first points of the second half, Louisville went more than five minutes without scoring in the third quarter.
The Cardinals couldn’t counter a poor shooting night with defense and allowed UConn to a few open 3-point shots early in the game. The Huskies built a 14-1 lead to start the game and shot 45% from the field by the time it was over.
Advertisement
The Cardinals matched the Huskies’ scoring with 17 points apiece in the third quarter, and Ziegler showed her range with back-to-back 3-point shots in the first two minutes of the fourth quarter. She finished 4 of 8 from 3-point range.
“She’s a veteran; she’s experienced,” Walz said of Ziegler. “She had two assists. She’s able to get the ball to others. And (she’s) a confident person, a positive person. That’s what you have to have.”
Louisville forward Laura Ziegler dribbles up the court during the first half against UConn on Nov. 4 at the United States Naval Academy’s Alumni Hall.
But the first-half deficit was too great to overcome as the squad opened the season with a loss.
Louisville was scheduled to travel back Wednesday and, following the game, its flight was not expected to be affected by Tuesday evening’s plane crash at the airport.
Advertisement
“I just found out about the plane crash. Our prayers go out to everyone that was involved with that,” Walz said. “It’s just obviously very sad.”
U of L (0-1) faces Northern Kentucky, Walz’s alma mater, at 2 p.m. Sunday in the home opener.
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: Top-ranked UConn women’s basketball handles Louisville in season debut
