LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The Bellarmine University women’s basketball team will take on its second consecutive ranked opponent when the Knights visit crosstown foe and No. 19 Louisville at 7 p.m. (ET) Thursday in the KFC Yum! Center.
Bellarmine (0-2) is coming off a matchup at now-No. 3 UCLA. The Knights have played the Cardinals (2-0) every season since joining the Division-I ranks in 2020-21. This is the third showdown in the KFC Yum! Center after the teams squared off in Freedom Hall last season, a venue that was formerly home to Louisville but is now the Knights’ domain.
Fresh off an appearance in the Elite Eight, Louisville opened the season with a 77-59 win at Cincinnati and followed with an 81-74 home victory over DePaul. The Blue Demons never got closer than seven over the final eight minutes, as the Cardinals led by 13 as the clock ticked under four minutes.
Louisville has had balanced scoring over its first two games, with five Cardinals averaging 9.0 points or more and eight at 6.0 or more. Olivia Cochran, who is pacing U of L at 14.0 points and 7.5 rebounds per game, was named to the Wooden Award Preseason Top 50 Watch List along with being recognized as Preseason All-ACC and to the Katrina McClain Watch List honoring the top power forwards in D1.
Transfers Kiki Jefferson, from James Madison, and Jayda Curry, from Cal Berkeley, were selected to the ACC’s Newcomer Watch List. Jefferson, the Sun Belt Player of the Year last season, is also on the watch list for the Cheryl Miller Award honoring the nation’s top D1 small forwards. Two seasons ago, Curry was the Pac-12 Freshman of the Year.
Bellarmine had an encouraging showing offensively at UCLA. The Knights scored 14 points or more in three of the four quarters, including 24 in the second period, and canned 12 3-pointers. Senior guard Claire Knies buried a career-high six triples in scoring a career-best 23 points.
Senior forward Cam Browning notched 13 points against the Bruins, and junior guard Hope Sivori nearly posted a double-double with 10 points and eight assists. Junior guard Hayley Harrison racked up a career-high 23 points in the season opener at San Jose State.
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