The University of Louisville women’s basketball team is an exceptional team when Olivia Cochran is playing up to her potential. Some would say a different team altogether. That’s what UofL needed with a good California team coming to town. Time to get going for Louisville or get out of the way.
Cochran would have her best game of the season, maybe the best for her in the past two years, falling just short of a double-double. She would lead all scorers with 18 points while pulling down nine rebounds. In the process she would raise her point total to more than 1,500 points in five seasons. Cochran was 8-14 from the field and two for two from the free throw line.
When she plays like she did and stays out of foul trouble, UofL is a different team.
Louisville would outscore California 70-63 before 7,093 partisans at the KFC Yum! Center, improving its record to 16-7 overall and to 9-3 in the Atlantic Coast Conference. The Golden Bears are now 19-5 overall and 7-4 in conference play. The Cardinals forced 23 turnovers while allowing only 22 field goals. The visitors, a national force in 3-point shots, managed only six of 28 3-point attempts.
The play of Imari Berry was a promising sign for the Cardinals. The UofL freshman was every bit the 5-star prospect Louisville signed last year. She would connect on four of five field goal attempts, including two 3-pointers, for 14 points. She would also grab three rebounds, make one assist and have one steal. Berry was in the game for nine minutes so Coach Jeff Walz has to be more pleased with her defensive efforts of late. If she can match her defense with her offense, look out for UofL.
The Cards will finish their homestand this weekend with a matchup against Stanford on Sunday, February 9 at the KFC Yum! Center. Tipoff is set for 12:00 p.m. and the game will be broadcast on ESPN2.
