LOUISVILLE, Ind. (Interstat) — The Louisville women’s basketball team used a dominant second half to defeat Notre Dame 79-66 on Thursday night at Joyce Athletic Center. The Cardinals, who led by just four points at halftime, outscored the Fighting Irish 25-23 in the third quarter before sealing the Atlantic Coast Conference victory with a 17-10 edge in the final period. The result defied national statistical projections that heavily favored Notre Dame. With the win, Louisville improved to 17-3 overall. Notre Dame fell to 12-5. An announced crowd of 6,499 attended the game.

LOUISVILLE, Ind. (Interstat) — In a pivotal Atlantic Coast Conference clash defined by a decisive fourth-quarter surge, the Louisville women’s basketball team secured a significant road victory, defeating Notre Dame 79-66 on Thursday night at a sold-out Joyce Athletic Center. The game, played before an energetic crowd of 6,499, saw the Cardinals methodically pull away in the final period, holding the Fighting Irish to just 10 points on 4-of-16 shooting while forcing five turnovers. The defensive stand transformed a competitive contest into a comfortable win, snapping Notre Dame’s three-game home winning streak in the series. Louisville, which entered as underdogs according to advanced metrics, improved to 17-3 overall and 6-1 in the ACC. Notre Dame fell to 12-5 and 3-3 in conference play. The contest was a showcase for two of the nation’s premier guards, with Louisville’s Reyna Scott and Notre Dame’s Hannah Hidalgo trading blows for three quarters. Scott, a sophomore from New York, delivered a game-high 20 points in just 28 minutes, adding three assists and a critical fourth-quarter block. Her efficiency and timely scoring were instrumental, particularly during Louisville’s closing run. Hidalgo, the dynamic junior from Merchantville, New Jersey, countered with a tireless performance, logging 40 minutes and finishing with 24 points and eight assists. She carried the offensive load for the Fighting Irish, but Louisville’s defensive adjustments in the final frame limited her effectiveness. The most important phase of the game unfolded in the fourth quarter. Louisville entered the period with a 62-56 lead, a margin built on a 25-point third quarter. The Cardinals immediately extended it, opening with a Reyna Scott pull-up jumper. Notre Dame’s offense, however, ground to a halt. Over a critical five-minute stretch, the Irish managed only two Hannah Hidalgo free throws, missing six consecutive field goal attempts and committing three turnovers. Louisville capitalized. A Tajianna Roberts three-pointer, assisted by Imari Berry, pushed the lead to 11 with 6:35 remaining. After an Iyana Moore three briefly cut the deficit back to eight, the Cardinals delivered the knockout blow. Following a media timeout, Roberts struck again from beyond the arc, this time off a Scott assist, to make it 71-61 with 4:31 left. Notre Dame never recovered, getting no closer than nine points the rest of the way. Roberts, a sophomore from San Diego, was a consistent force throughout, finishing with 19 points, three assists and three steals. Her back-to-back three-pointers in the fourth quarter effectively sealed the outcome. Louisville also received key contributions from its frontcourt. Turkish sophomore Elif Istanbulluoglu provided 11 points off the bench, and freshman Anaya Hardy added six points in 10 minutes, including a perfect 3-for-3 from the field. For Notre Dame, Moore, a junior from Milwaukee, scored 16 points, while post player Malaya Cowles of Wilkesboro, North Carolina, added 12 points and two blocks. The Irish struggled to find a consistent secondary scorer behind Hidalgo, and their 16 turnovers led to 21 Louisville points. The game began at a frenetic pace, with Notre Dame taking an early 11-4 lead behind Cowles and Moore. Louisville responded with a 12-2 run to close the first quarter, taking a 16-17 lead it would not relinquish. The Cardinals led 37-33 at halftime, with both teams shooting evenly. The third quarter was an offensive showcase, featuring 48 combined points, but Louisville’s 25-point output gave it the cushion needed to execute its game-clinching defensive strategy in the fourth. Louisville’s victory marked its fourth straight win and continued its strong start to ACC play. The Cardinals will travel to face North Carolina State on Sunday. Notre Dame, which saw a two-game winning streak end, faces a quick turnaround with a formidable road test at Connecticut on Monday night. The game was officiated by the ACC crew of Bonita Spence, Tiara Cruse, and Mark Resch.

Preview: Louisville Cardinals at Notre Dame Fighting Irish SOUTH BEND, Ind. (Interstat) — A pivotal Atlantic Coast Conference women’s basketball clash is set for Thursday when the eighth-ranked Louisville Cardinals visit the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Purcell Pavilion. The Cardinals (16-3, 4-0 ACC) enter on a seven-game winning streak, including a dominant 86-46 victory over Pittsburgh on Sunday. Louisville has won its four conference games by an average of 24.3 points. Forward Anaya Hardy, a key contributor off the bench, is coming off a season-high 16 points and nine rebounds in just 16 minutes against the Panthers. Over her last five games, Hardy is averaging 7.4 points and 5.2 rebounds in limited minutes. Notre Dame (12-4, 3-2) looks to build momentum after a convincing 73-50 win over North Carolina. The Fighting Irish are led by dynamic guard Hannah Hidalgo, who scored 31 points with eight rebounds and six assists in that victory. Hidalgo has been on a tear, averaging 25.8 points, 6.2 assists and 5.2 rebounds over her last six contests. Her backcourt battle with Louisville’s guards will be central to the outcome. The Irish have shown a high ceiling, including a 110-38 rout of Bellarmine last month, but have struggled in tight conference road games, with overtime losses at Georgia Tech and Duke. Louisville’s depth and defensive pressure, which forces over 18 turnovers per game, will test Notre Dame’s ball security. The Cardinals have not lost since Dec. 4 against top-ranked South Carolina. Notre Dame counters with one of the nation’s most potent offenses, ranking in the top 15 in scoring. This matchup is the only scheduled meeting between the programs this regular season. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. EST at Purcell Pavilion at the Joyce Athletic Center. The game will be broadcast on the ACC Network. Louisville visits North Carolina State on Sunday. Notre Dame travels to face Connecticut next Monday.