Box Score LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Despite a fast and furious start, the Belmont women's basketball team (0-3) was held off on the road at No. 12/10 Louisville (3-0) on Thursday night, 95-35.
Bruins jumped out to a 5-0 lead behind a jumper by senior Jordyn Luffman-Hartsfield (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) and a triple from the top of the arc by classmate Taylor Mills (Corryton, Tenn.). Even after the Cards picked up their first points of the night, Mills buried another three with the assist coming from freshman Sierra Jones (Huntsville, Ala.).
The Bruins held until the lead until an untimely foul shifted the momentum, opening the door for an 8-0 Louisville run to go up 17-10 by the 11:38 mark. The icy spell lasted almost nine minutes, expanding the Card run to 22-0 in all, before a triple from the corner by Luffman-Hartsfield broke the ice off the rim with just under seven minutes left in the half. BU continued to claw at the deficit down the stretch with baskets coming from freshman Sally McCabe (Mt. Juliet, Tenn.), and sophomore Frankie Joubran (Detroit, Mich.). However, Louisville was able to carry a 48-17 advantage in the locker room.
After the break, the ice seemed to recollect around the rim before Joubran drove for a tip in three and a half minutes into the half. The Bruins continued to battle down the stretch despite the growing deficit. Senior Katie Carroll (Lilburn, Ga.) stepped back and drilled a trey from the left side of the arc to close the gap, 64-25, with just under 11 and a half minutes left in regulation. Unfortunately, the gap became too large to close in the waning minutes. A spark in the final 90 seconds led to a three pointer by freshman Katelin Bundy (Lexington, Ky.) and a jumper by sophomore Lauren Thompson (Franklin, Tenn.) but it was not enough as the Cardinals held on for the 95-35 win.
Louisville shot 58.7 percent from the floor, 33.3 percent from three-point range and 72 percent from the free-throw line.
The Cardinals had five players in double figures led by Mariya Moore's 17 points. Sara Hammond added 13 while Myisha Hines-Allen, Shawnta' Dyer and Emmonie Henderson each contributed 12 points. Hammond and Hines-Allen each grabbed seven rebounds.
Belmont shot 26.9 percent from the hardwood and 26.9 percent from behind the three-point arc. BU did not make it to the charity stripe.
Mills led BU with nine points, followed by Luffman-Hartsfield with seven and Carroll with six points. Sophomore Frankie Joubran (Detroit, Mich.) pulled down six rebounds.
Belmont returns to action on Tuesday, November 25 on the road at Kent State. Game time is set for 10 a.m. CT in the pre-Thanksgiving tilt. The contest can be heard live on the Bruins Sports Network. Video and an in-game Twitter feed (@BelmontWBB) will also be available.
