Kiki Jefferson, Louisville Race Past Boston College to Stay Undefeated at Home
Press Release from the University of Louisville:
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The No. 18/16 Louisville women's basketball team (17-3, 6-1 ACC) went back to their winning ways with an 88-60 triumph over Boston College (11-10, 3-5 ACC) inside the KFC Yum! Center Thursday night. Kiki Jefferson couldn't be stopped, pouring in a season-high 27 points on 8-for-14 from the field and 9-for-11 from the free throw line while adding seven rebounds, four assists, and a steal. Jefferson's 27 points are the most by a Cardinal this season.
Elif Istanbulluoglu recorded a career-high 11 points and four rebounds on 5-for-8 shooting, and Olivia Cochran rounded out the double-digit scorers with 10 points, seven rebounds, an assist, and a block. Both Nina Rickards and Nyla Harris did a little bit of everything, with the former tallying six points, four rebounds, four assists, and a steal and the latter totaling seven points, six rebounds, an assist, and three steals.
The Cards got off to a fast start, building a 10-4 lead just two minutes into the game, and Cochran's six-point first quarter helped Louisville take an 18-13 lead into the second period.
It was a back-and-forth second frame as both teams settled in on the offensive end. The Eagles came within one several times in the period, but the Cards refused to let Boston College take the lead and managed to stretch their lead to 39-31 at halftime, as Rickards and Jefferson both tallied five points in the quarter.
Louisville broke the game open in the third period, as the Cardinals scored the first six points of the frame and never looked back. Jefferson had another strong quarter, scoring 11 total points as Louisville won the period 22-13 and led 61-44 going into the final frame.
The Cards wouldn't take their foot off the gas, leading by as much as 30 points in the fourth quarter. Jefferson continued her torrid scoring with seven in the period, and Istanbulluoglu was right behind her with six of her own. Louisville made its final six field goals on their way to closing out a strong conference win over the Eagles, 88-60.
The Cardinals are in the midst of a three-game home stand and it will continue on Sunday with a matinee matchup. The Cardinals will host Pitt on Sunday, January 28 from the KFC Yum! Center and it will be the second matchup between the two teams this season. The Cardinals defeated the Panthers in Pittsburgh, 77-44, on Jan. 11. The Cards and Panthers will square off at 2 p.m. ET and it will be streamed on the ACC Network Extra.
(Photo of Kiki Jefferson: Scott Utterback - Courier Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK)
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