Louisville basketball defeats Virginia, pushing winning streak to 11 games

The Louisville women's basketball team remains one of the hottest teams in the country. 

With a 71-56 win over Virginia, the Cardinals have improved to 19-1, 8-0 in the conference and pushed their winning streak to 11 games. But the win, the 350th of head coach Jeff Walz' career, wasn't as simple as it seemed. 

Walz said he's not sure if anybody would've expected Louisville to be the third-ranked team in the country right now. 

"We had three players that graduated that were drafted, so I'm impressed with what we've been able to do here in terms of recruiting and making sure you've got someone who is ready to step up," Walz said. "What Dana has done this year and Jaz and Kylee, it's neat. They went from really good role players, more than role players, but they weren't the go-to. Now all of a sudden they are the go-to and they've embraced." 

Louisville led 25-13 heading into the second quarter and went on a 16-2 run to take a 39-22 lead over the Cavaliers into halftime. The Cards 50% from the field and added adefensive pressure, trapping Virginia's ball handlers across the half-court line and sometimes defending past the 3-point line. 

"I thought we did a nice job on sideline situations where we were able to press and throw traps off of them," Walz said. 

On the offensive end, Louisville was getting every shot it wanted. Dana Evans, who finished with 21 points, eclipsing the 20-point mark for the fourth straight game, had 15 at halftime. Kylee Shook, the program's all-time leading shot blocker, had 10 points and six blocks, while Bionca Dunham had eight points in the game.

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"When everybody is on the same page and knocking down shots, I think we can be really good," Evans said. "We just have to learn how to put four quarters together." 

In the beginning of the year Louisville struggled in the beginning of games, now that's transferred to the second half. 

The reason is simply focus, to Walz. 

"We scored the first few points of the second quarter and I was like, 'OK we are going to put this thing away,'" Walz said. "But that's been our M.O. this entire season. We get it up to 20 and just can't finish it off." 

His team looked focused coming out of the break, taking a 21-point lead two minutes into the third quarter. But then it got sloppy with the ball. 

Louisville committed seven turnovers in the entire first half, but had five in the third quarter, which turned into six points off of turnovers. They also had defensive breakdowns that didn't happen in the first half, allowing Virginia to shoot 37% from the field and giving it nine free throw attempts. 

"We are at the point where every time we have a mental breakdown, we get scored on," Walz said. "It's impressive. Every single time we have a breakdown it leads to a bucket. I'm like, 'Guys, we have to stick to the scouting report.' ... Just following the scouting report and if it doesn't work we will switch it." 

With one minute left in the third quarter, Virginia cut Louisville's lead to 10 points, but the Cardinals responded. U of L pushed the lead back to 15, but one turnover later the lead was back to 12 entering the fourth quarter. 

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In the final quarter, though, Jazmine Jones came alive. Jones battled foul trouble in the first half and was held scoreless in six minutes, bu scored six of her 13 points in the fourth quarter. The Cardinals were boosted by Elizabeth Balogun, as well, who finished with seven points and a team-high 12 rebounds. 

Louisville shot 43% in the fourth quarter to put Virginia away. 

There were flashes of how good the Cardinals can be Thursday, but also shown were glimpses of where they need to grow, as well. 

"We have talked to our kids about it, when you get it to 21 you have to be dialed in even more on the defensive end," Walz said. "We aren't going to hold anybody scoreless and I understand that. But we have to make them take the shots we want them to take." 

Cameron Teague Robinson CTeagueRob@gannett.com; Twitter: @cj_teague; Support strong local journalism by subscribing today: courier-journal.com/subscribe.