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From the opening tip to the final buzzer, Louisville played with heart, hustle, and relentless teamwork — and Bellarmine had no answers.
The Cardinals set the tone early, clamping down on defense and holding the Knights to just six points in the first quarter and seven in the second. Bellarmine didn’t reach double figures until less than two minutes remained in the first half — and no Knight scored more than four points before intermission. It was a defensive clinic from the very start.
Offensively, Louisville shared the ball beautifully. Mackenly Randolph opened the game with four straight points, and from there, the floodgates opened. Nine different Cardinals scored in the first half, and 12 players saw game action overall. On 23 made field goals, 14 came off assists — a true sign of unselfish, team-first basketball. Despite the balanced attack, Imari Berry stood out in the opening half, pouring in 11 points on an efficient 4-for-6 shooting to become the only player in double figures at the break.
Bellarmine found a bit of rhythm at times in the second half, but Louisville never slowed its pace. The Cardinals surged to a season-high 100 points, cruising to a dominant 100–37 victory.
The night was filled with milestones. After celebrating Laura Ziegler’s 1,500th career point before the game, several Cardinals recorded personal “firsts.” Freshman Rebekah Graves reached double figures for the first time in her career, finishing with 10 points on 4-for-6 shooting, including 2-for-3 from beyond the arc. Fellow freshmen Peyton Bradley and Yevheniia Putra each notched career highs with eight points apiece. Sophomore Reagan Bender made her first career start and contributed five points, three rebounds, and three assists.
Graves wasn’t alone in double figures. Berry finished with 14 points, Reyna Scott added 13, and Tajianna Roberts chipped in 12. Anaya Hardy dominated the glass with 10 rebounds to go along with six points, two assists, and two blocks. Randolph nearly tallied a double-double, recording nine points, eight rebounds, one assist, and one steal in only 18 minutes of action.
As a team, Louisville shot an impressive 51% from the floor, 38% from three-point range, and 73% at the free-throw line. The Cardinals also delivered 26 assists on 38 made baskets, outrebounded Bellarmine 58–30, and forced 18 turnovers. Every player who entered the game scored at least one basket — the ultimate example of a total team effort.
After the game, head coach Jeff Walz took time to recognize Bellarmine Head Coach Monique Reid, who was an important part of Louisville’s history, contributing valuable minutes in two Final Four runs. Walz also highlighted former Cardinal stars and local standouts like Tia Gibbs and Antonita Slaughter, reflecting on what it has meant to see homegrown talent succeed in a Louisville uniform and how it feels to see them back in the stands.
Next up, the Cardinals return to the court at the KFC Yum! Center on Thursday night to take on South Carolina in the ACC/SEC Women’s Challenge. Tipoff is set for 7:00 PM EST on ESPN — and if this performance was any indication, fans are in for another electric night of basketball.
