Louisville girls's basketball holds off Syracuse at KFC Yum! Heart for seventh straight win – Courier Journal

The four-guard rotation that Louisville women’s basketball used in opposition to No. 13 Georgia Tech on Sunday wasn’t going to chop it 4 days later in opposition to Syracuse. 
Solely one of many Orange’s beginning 5 gamers is below 6-feet. The Cardinals’ struggles in opposition to Syracuse’s top manifested in nook traps, 10 turnovers and 5 blocked photographs within the first half. 
So, Louisville stayed away. Past the arc, Jayda Curry had the new hand and made three straight 3-pointers through the third quarter, which opened up the Cardinals’ offense. And when Curry cooled off, Nyla Harris stepped up as one of many taller gamers on the crew. The 6-foot-2 ahead completed with a double-double effort of 10 factors and 11 rebounds. 
U of L overcame a taller, feisty Syracuse squad’s comeback bid to document the 72-62 win on Thursday. 
A seven-game profitable streak afforded Louisville its sixth ACC victory and a cushty second-place spot within the league standings. Previous to the victory, the Cardinals moved up within the newest ESPN bracketology from a 10-seed to an 8-seed and can possible proceed rising if they’ll keep victorious through the upcoming three-game street journey. That begins with Virginia Tech at 4 p.m. Sunday. 
Curry’s success taking pictures exterior was a reminder of Louisville’s potential as a 3-point taking pictures crew. It’s an space the Cardinals have surprisingly lacked in as of late. After taking pictures 59.3% from exterior in opposition to Morehead State on Nov. 21, U of L has solely shot greater than 40% from 3-point vary twice — 44.4% in opposition to Memphis and 47.4% in opposition to Wake Forest. 
U of L coach Jeff Walz famous that his squad makes the photographs in follow, but it surely has solely proven up in video games in spurts. Curry’s spurt was restricted to the third quarter as Syracuse narrowed Louisville’s result in 65-60 with lower than three minutes left within the recreation. 
Regardless of a seven-minute area objective drought through the fourth quarter, Louisville iced the sport on the free throw line, making three journeys within the closing two minutes. 
In-game protection:
Nyla Harris will not let the freshmen on the Louisville women’s basketball crew outwork her.
Even via the aches and again pains, in the event that they’re within the fitness center, she is just too.
“I stroll within the morning, come to the fitness center, and I am making an attempt to get some ice, and I see Taj (Roberts) and Mac (Randolph) and Imari (Berry) and all of them getting photographs up,” Harris mentioned. “And “I am like, dang. It will be dangerous if I noticed them, after which simply go house. So, they simply push us to be an all-around nice crew.”
Getting extra photographs up has made Harris the most effective shooters within the ACC throughout convention play. She’s taking pictures 66.7% from the sphere throughout league video games, which ties with North Carolina’s Maria Gakdeng for finest within the ACC. Harris did not miss any of her 5 photographs and notched 11 factors throughout Louisville’s 69-60 win over Georgia Tech on Sunday. In the course of the Cardinals’ six-game profitable streak, the Orlando, Florida, native has been even higher, averaging 11.2 factors per recreation on 76.9% taking pictures.
She’s labored to enhance her midrange shot and has had success utilizing her measurement within the paint. Louisville coach Jeff Walz believes the catalyst for her scoring success is an elevated stage of confidence.
“She’s put the time within the fitness center. And the extra time you set within the fitness center, the extra assured you get in your ability, the higher you carry out,” he mentioned of Harris, who’s averaging 9.8 factors and 5.2 rebounds on the yr. “Nyla actually put a whole lot of work on this offseason, this summer season. You may simply see when she shoots it, she believes it is moving into every time due to the work she put on this summer season and fall.”
Harris’ work has paid off and may proceed to assist her throughout a key upcoming stretch. The Cardinals are on the street for 3 of their subsequent 4 video games earlier than internet hosting third-ranked Notre Dame on Feb. 2. Previous to the three-game street journey, U of L will play Syracuse at house immediately at 7 p.m.
Harris carried out effectively in opposition to the Orange, who at the moment are with out star guard Dyaisha Honest, final yr. She scored a season-high 22 factors at Syracuse — in a controversial 73-72 loss — then notched 18 factors in opposition to the Orange in an 81-69 victory.
This yr, Louisville can use a possible victory to remain among the many high groups within the league. The squad is presently second within the ACC standings behind the Fighting Irish, who’re unbeaten in convention play by way of a nine-game profitable streak.
Keep tuned right here for updates all through Louisville’s ACC matchup in opposition to Syracuse.
The Cardinals have now gained seven straight video games with a three-game street journey forward.
Olivia Cochran and Ja’Leah Williams mixed to go 4-for-4 on the free throw line to maintain Louisville forward.
The Orange are on a 7-2 run however solely taking pictures 30% within the quarter.
The Cardinals have held the Orange to at least one made area objective within the first three minutes of the quarter.
The Orange scored eight factors within the closing two minutes to erase the Cardinals’ double-digit lead.
The Cardinals have their largest lead of the night time because of a 13-3 run. 5 Cardinals contributed to the scoring affair.
Jayda Curry opened the half with three 3-pointers to assist restore the Cardinals’ double-digit lead. She’s obtained 12 factors within the recreation to this point.
The Playing cards’ taking pictures was spotty, going from 55.6% within the first quarter to 26.3% within the second. Taj Roberts leads U of L with 9 factors.
The Orange have its first lead of the night time.
The Orange have outscored the Cardinals, 6-2, within the quarter to attract inside one possession. U of L hasn’t scored in virtually 4 minutes.
Merissah Russell disrupted the Orange’s 5-0 run with a buzzer-beating layup for her first factors of the sport.
The Cardinals used a 9-2 run to construct a 10-point lead over the Orange to begin the sport. Nyla Harris has scored six factors for U of L.
The sport won’t be broadcast nationally however certified subscribers can stream the sport on ACCNx.
Nick Curran (play-by-play) and Cortnee Walton (analyst) can have the decision on the Cardinal Sports activities Community (WLCL 93.9-FM and WGTK 970-AM in Louisville).
It’s also possible to pay attention on-line by way of GoCards.com.
*ACC recreation
Click here to view the Orange’s 2024-25 schedule.
Click here to view the Orange’s 2024-25 roster.
Attain Louisville soccer, girls’s basketball and baseball beat author Alexis Cubit atacubit@gannett.com and comply with her on X at @Alexis_Cubit.

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