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The Louisville Cardinals (9-1) will attempt to extend a nine-game winning streak when they visit the UConn Huskies (6-2) today at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville. The game will tip at 3:30 PM ET. The game will be televised nationally on ESPN. UConn is 17-2 all-time vs. Louisville. The teams last faced off in the 2018-19 season. The teams played twice, with Louisville picking up the regular-season win and the Huskies winning in the NCAA Elite Eight. Louisville is coming off an 82-38 win over Eastern Kentucky Thursday. Kianna Smith led the Cardinals with 22 points in the game. This season, Smith leads Louisville with 12.3 points.
UConn beat UCLA, 71-61, in the Never Forget Tribute Classic last Saturday in Newark, N.J. For the first time this season, all five UConn starters scored in double-digit points. Dorka Juhász had a double-double with 16 points and 16 rebounds vs. the Bruins. Evina Westbrook had 17 points, seven rebounds and seven assists. UConn is 30-0 all-time at Mohegan Sun Arena.
UConn has put up 70.2 points per game this season while Louisville allows 46.7 per contest. The Huskies are 5-0 when they score over 47 points. In the 2021-22 campaign, the Huskies average 17.6 assists and 15 turnovers per game. When UConn has an assist-to-turnover ratio better than its season mark of 1.17, the Huskies are 5-0. Louisville's 70.3 points per game this season out-paces the 60.6 points per contest UConn gives up. The Cardinals are 9-0 when they put up over 61 points. The Cardinals are shooting 72.1 percent from the charity stripe as a team, good for fifth in the ACC. Hailey Van Lith is leading Louisville with 2.1 made free throws a game (shooting 81 percent from the line).
Louisville's top scorer, Kianna Smith, averages 12.3 points per game. Emily Engstler paces the Cardinals with 9.1 rebounds per game and adds 10.0 points, while Mykasa Robinson leads the team with 2.3 assists per game while averaging 4.2 points. Smith's 2.2 made three-pointers per contest makes her Louisville's most prolific three-point shooter. She hits 48 percent of her shots from beyond the arc. After a break for the holidays, the Huskies return to the XL Center in Hartford to host Marquette on Dec. 29.
Here’s the particulars on today's game:
Site: Mohegan Sun Arena Uncasville Connecticut - Capacity 9323
Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
Series: UConn leads, 17-2
Last meeting: No. 2 UConn 80, No. 5 Louisville 73, March 31, 2019, in Albany, N.Y. (2019 Elite Eight)
TV: ESPN (Eric Frede, Rebecca Lobo, Andraya Carter)
Radio: UConn IMG Sports Network on 97.9 ESPN (Bob Joyce, Debbie Fiske) Pregame show begins 30 minutes before the tip.
Louisville Roster - Head coach Jeff Walz (15th year)
Louisville Game notes
Louisville team stats
Louisville’s offense: The Cards average 70.3 points on 45.9% shooting. They don’t shoot a ton of 3s, but when they do, they’re hitting 35.4% with Smith making 47.8%. Their three double-figure scorers are Smith (12.3 points per game), Van Lith (10.8) and Engstler (10.0).
Louisville’s defense: Th 46.7 points allowed per game ranks third in the nation per Her Hoops Stats, and they’re allowing opponents to shoot just 32.9% (24.4% from the arc). Their rebounding is also strong, as they come away with 58.1% of misses, including 77.5% on the defensive end. Their pressure defense creates 10.3 steals per game and forces 20.8 turnovers on average, off which they score 22 points (per ESPN). Engstler is a crucial cog, as she averages 9.1 rebounds, 2.6 steals and 1.8 blocks per game, all team-highs.
“They have a lot of depth, they have a lot of guards, so they’re taking advantage of that,” Auriemma said. “They’re causing a lot of turnovers and they’re making the game chaotic, and you’ve got to be able to handle the chaos. I’m sure there’ll be times when we do and I’m sure there’ll be times when we don’t.” UConn's game plan - Approach Louisville’s pressure with patience, execute on offense and take care of the ball, crash the glass.
UConn Roster - Head coach Geno Auriemma (37th year)
UConn game notes
UConn team stats
UConn sophomore Paige Bueckers will miss eight weeks after suffering a tibial plateau fracture in a non-contact injury vs. Notre Dame Sunday. Freshman Azzi Fudd (right foot) and sophomore Nika Mühl (right foot) and junior Aubrey Griffin (ankle sprain/back) are also out with injuries. The Huskies are ranked No. 7 in the latest AP Poll. UConn has been ranked in the AP Poll for 532 consecutive weeks, including 305 straight weeks in the top 10. This is the 24th season UConn started the year in the top five of the AP Poll. UConn’s No. 7 ranking is the team’s lowest since being ranked seventh on Jan. 22, 2007.
Massey Sez - UConn 64 Louisville 61
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UConn beat UCLA, 71-61, in the Never Forget Tribute Classic last Saturday in Newark, N.J. For the first time this season, all five UConn starters scored in double-digit points. Dorka Juhász had a double-double with 16 points and 16 rebounds vs. the Bruins. Evina Westbrook had 17 points, seven rebounds and seven assists. UConn is 30-0 all-time at Mohegan Sun Arena.
UConn has put up 70.2 points per game this season while Louisville allows 46.7 per contest. The Huskies are 5-0 when they score over 47 points. In the 2021-22 campaign, the Huskies average 17.6 assists and 15 turnovers per game. When UConn has an assist-to-turnover ratio better than its season mark of 1.17, the Huskies are 5-0. Louisville's 70.3 points per game this season out-paces the 60.6 points per contest UConn gives up. The Cardinals are 9-0 when they put up over 61 points. The Cardinals are shooting 72.1 percent from the charity stripe as a team, good for fifth in the ACC. Hailey Van Lith is leading Louisville with 2.1 made free throws a game (shooting 81 percent from the line).
Louisville's top scorer, Kianna Smith, averages 12.3 points per game. Emily Engstler paces the Cardinals with 9.1 rebounds per game and adds 10.0 points, while Mykasa Robinson leads the team with 2.3 assists per game while averaging 4.2 points. Smith's 2.2 made three-pointers per contest makes her Louisville's most prolific three-point shooter. She hits 48 percent of her shots from beyond the arc. After a break for the holidays, the Huskies return to the XL Center in Hartford to host Marquette on Dec. 29.
Here’s the particulars on today's game:
Site: Mohegan Sun Arena Uncasville Connecticut - Capacity 9323
Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
Series: UConn leads, 17-2
Last meeting: No. 2 UConn 80, No. 5 Louisville 73, March 31, 2019, in Albany, N.Y. (2019 Elite Eight)
TV: ESPN (Eric Frede, Rebecca Lobo, Andraya Carter)
Radio: UConn IMG Sports Network on 97.9 ESPN (Bob Joyce, Debbie Fiske) Pregame show begins 30 minutes before the tip.
Louisville probable starters, sixth man
Kianna Smith, G, 6-0, R-Sr.; Hailey Van Lith, G, 5-7, So.; Emily Engstler, F, 6-1, Sr.; Chelsie Hall, G, 5-7, Gr.; Olivia Cochran, F, 6-3, So.; Liz Dixon, F, 6-5, Sr.Louisville Roster - Head coach Jeff Walz (15th year)
Louisville Game notes
Louisville team stats
Louisville’s offense: The Cards average 70.3 points on 45.9% shooting. They don’t shoot a ton of 3s, but when they do, they’re hitting 35.4% with Smith making 47.8%. Their three double-figure scorers are Smith (12.3 points per game), Van Lith (10.8) and Engstler (10.0).
Louisville’s defense: Th 46.7 points allowed per game ranks third in the nation per Her Hoops Stats, and they’re allowing opponents to shoot just 32.9% (24.4% from the arc). Their rebounding is also strong, as they come away with 58.1% of misses, including 77.5% on the defensive end. Their pressure defense creates 10.3 steals per game and forces 20.8 turnovers on average, off which they score 22 points (per ESPN). Engstler is a crucial cog, as she averages 9.1 rebounds, 2.6 steals and 1.8 blocks per game, all team-highs.
“They have a lot of depth, they have a lot of guards, so they’re taking advantage of that,” Auriemma said. “They’re causing a lot of turnovers and they’re making the game chaotic, and you’ve got to be able to handle the chaos. I’m sure there’ll be times when we do and I’m sure there’ll be times when we don’t.” UConn's game plan - Approach Louisville’s pressure with patience, execute on offense and take care of the ball, crash the glass.
UConn probable starters, sixth man
Christyn Williams, G, 5-11, Sr.; Olivia Nelson-Ododa, F, 6-5, Sr.; Evina Westbrook, G, 6-0, R-Sr.; Dorka Juhász, F, 6-5, Gr.; Caroline Ducharme, G, 6-2, Fr.; Aaliyah Edwards, F, 6-3, So.UConn Roster - Head coach Geno Auriemma (37th year)
UConn game notes
UConn team stats
UConn sophomore Paige Bueckers will miss eight weeks after suffering a tibial plateau fracture in a non-contact injury vs. Notre Dame Sunday. Freshman Azzi Fudd (right foot) and sophomore Nika Mühl (right foot) and junior Aubrey Griffin (ankle sprain/back) are also out with injuries. The Huskies are ranked No. 7 in the latest AP Poll. UConn has been ranked in the AP Poll for 532 consecutive weeks, including 305 straight weeks in the top 10. This is the 24th season UConn started the year in the top five of the AP Poll. UConn’s No. 7 ranking is the team’s lowest since being ranked seventh on Jan. 22, 2007.
Massey Sez - UConn 64 Louisville 61
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