The Louisville Cardinals womens basketball’s season came to a close in the Elite Eight, as they lost 97-83 to the Iowa Hawkeyes on Sunday night at Climate Pledge Arena. The No. 5 seed Cardinals put up a valiant fight, trailing by only five points at halftime, but a dominant third quarter by the No. 2 seed Hawkeyes left them unable to recover.
Louisville’s Hailey Van Lith led her team with a postseason career-best of 27 points, scoring 20 or more points in each of the first four NCAA Tournament games for the second consecutive season. Van Lith ended the season with 729 points, ranking fifth in single-season program history. Olivia Cochran contributed her ninth career double-double, achieving a career-high 20 points and 14 rebounds. Cochran’s 14 rebounds also tied for fifth-most in an NCAA Tournament game for the Cardinals’ program.
The Cardinals kicked off the game with an energetic 8-0 run, with Van Lith scoring six of those points. Her third bucket – a mid-range jumper – forced the Hawkeyes to call an early timeout. Iowa then countered with a 7-0 run and soon after, another 9-0 run to seize their first lead of the game. After an intense first quarter, the Cardinals trailed 25-21.
In the second quarter, Louisville began by hitting four of
five shots, but the Hawkeyes’ three consecutive three-pointers expanded their lead to nine points. Van Lith broke Iowa’s 9-0 run with her fourth bucket of the night and followed up with a three-pointer on the next possession, reaching double figures. As the first half concluded, the Cardinals managed to cut the deficit to 48-43.
At halftime, Van Lith had already accumulated 17 points on 6-of-10 shooting, while teammates Chrislyn Carr and Robinson contributed nine and six points, respectively. Robinson led the team with five assists in the first half, while Cochran secured five rebounds.
The Cardinals started the third quarter strong, scoring four points to get within one. However, Iowa responded with an 8-point streak, prompting the Cardinals to call another timeout. Louisville experienced a dry spell from the floor, and Iowa’s lead grew to as high as 21 points in the quarter. By the end of the third quarter, the Hawkeyes held a commanding 78-59 lead.
In the final quarter, the Cardinals mounted a comeback, hitting five of seven shots and embarking on a 13-1 run to reduce the lead to 10 points. They managed to hold the Hawkeyes without a field goal for over seven minutes but could not cut into the lead any further. Ultimately, the Louisville Cardinals succumbed to the Iowa Hawkeyes with a final score of 97-83, ending their season in the Elite Eight.
Despite the loss, the Louisville Cardinals showcased their talent and determination throughout the NCAA Tournament. With a strong core of players and promising prospects, the Cardinals will undoubtedly be eager to return even stronger next season.