by DURHAM, N.C. – In its first of two ESPN Big Monday matchups of the season, the No. 8 University of Louisville women’s basketball team takes on No. 17 Duke at Cameron Indoor Stadium at 7 p.m.
The contest, the Cardinals’ sixth game against a ranked opponent this year, will air on ESPN2, with Beth Mowins (play-by-play) and Stephanie White (analyst) on the call. The radio broadcast will be available on WKRD 790 AM in Louisville, with Matt Andrews (play-by-play) and Adrienne Johnson (analyst) calling the action.
Louisville, which has won its last two games and 11 of its last 12, is in a three-way tie for first in the ACC standings with a 7-1 mark in league play. Duke, also victorious in the past two games, is fourth in the league with a 6-2 record.
The Cardinals (19-2), last time out, used a second-half surge to pull away from No. 23 Syracuse and post a 78-58 win over the Orange on Thursday. It was Louisville’s third win over a ranked opponent this year and career victory No. 200 for head coach Jeff Walz.
Louisville finished with a 51.7 percent clip from the field, connecting on 65.5 percent of its shots in the second half. The Cardinals outrebounded the Orange 46-32. Freshman Myisha Hines-Allen came off the bench and logged 23 points for the second-consecutive game. Classmate Mariya Moore had 21 points, and senior Sara Hammond fell just short of a triple double with 13 points, 12 rebounds, and eight assists.
For the year, Moore (13.7) and Hines-Allen (13.0) are averaging better than 13 points per game, with Moore leading the team in assists (82). Hammond is scoring 11.0 points on average, while leading the squad with 6.4 boards per game. Defensively, Bria Smith (45) and Jude Schimmel (43) rank first and second in steals.
The Blue Devils (15-6) have won four of their last five games, recently defeating Pittsburgh 62-45 on Thursday. Duke shot 50.0 percent from the field and outrebounded Pittsburgh 44-26.
Azurá Stevens paced the Blue Devils with 14 points and 12 rebounds, and Oderah Chidom added 10 points and 10 rebounds. Elizabeth Williams had nine points and three blocks.
For the season, Williams leads Duke in scoring (14.7), rebounding (8.4), and blocked shots (57). Greenwell (13.9) is averaging nearly 14 points per game and has connected on a team-best 42 3-pointers. Greenwell also ranks first on the team in steals (38), and Ka’lia Johnson has a team-high 85 assists.
The Blue Devils are under the direction of eighth-year coach Joanne McCallie, who has a 217-48 record at Duke. They were picked to finish second in the ACC Preseason Media Poll after going 28-7 and reaching the NCAA Tournament second round last year.
GAME FACTS – Louisville at Duke
Date: Monday, Feb. 2
Time: 7:01 p.m. ET
Site: Cameron Indoor Stadium (9,314), Durham, N.C.
TV: ESPN2 will broadcast the game, with Beth Mowins (play-by-play) and Stephanie White (analyst) calling the action.
Radio: WKRD 790 AM will broadcast the game, with Matt Andrews (play-by-play) and Adrienne Johnson (analyst) calling the action.
Series History: Series is tied 1-1 (0-1 in Durham, 1-0 neutral).
Last Meeting: Duke defeated Louisville 69-53 on March 16, 1998, in Durham, N.C.
Next UofL Game: Sunday, Feb. 8 vs. Pittsburgh, KFC Yum! Center/Crum Court, Louisville, Ky., 2 p.m. ET
