Louisville women extend streak with road win at Cal, opening best ACC start in program history

Cardinals push ACC mark to 11-0 after 71-59 victory in Berkeley

Louisville’s women’s basketball team added another milestone to its 2025-26 season Sunday, Feb. 1, defeating California 71-59 at Haas Pavilion to extend its winning streak and move to 11-0 in Atlantic Coast Conference play. The result marked the best start to a league schedule in program history.

The matchup tested Louisville in a game that was tight early and physical throughout. The Cardinals led by four at halftime, then created separation after the break and closed the final minutes with a decisive run after California narrowed the margin to single digits in the fourth quarter.

Balanced production carries Louisville through uneven shooting start

Louisville’s scoring came from multiple areas even as the team worked through a slow first half from long range. Guard Tajianna Roberts led the Cardinals with 21 points, while Elif Istanbulluoglu posted 17 points, seven rebounds and four assists. Forward Laura Ziegler added 12 points and five rebounds as Louisville leaned on a steadier offensive rhythm in the second half.

• Final score: Louisville 71, California 59 (Feb. 1, 2026)
• Louisville’s ACC record after the game: 11-0
• Program note: best conference start in Louisville women’s basketball history

West Coast trip capped by consecutive ACC road wins

Sunday’s win closed a two-game West Coast swing that began with an 84-66 victory at Stanford on Thursday, Jan. 29. In that earlier game, Louisville reached the 20-win mark for the season and continued a long-running standard for the program: 20 or more wins in 16 consecutive seasons. Ziegler recorded 22 points and 11 rebounds in the Stanford win, part of a stretch in which Louisville has increasingly relied on depth and multiple double-figure scorers.

Louisville’s late-game execution in Berkeley helped preserve control after California cut the deficit in the fourth quarter.

What comes next: top-of-the-table ACC game in Louisville

Louisville’s next contest is a high-profile ACC home game against Duke on Thursday, Feb. 5, at the KFC Yum! Center. With conference positioning tightening as February begins, the Cardinals’ unbeaten league record and continued overall winning streak set the stage for a matchup with significant implications for the ACC race and postseason seeding.