No. 9 Louisville women dominate early, beat Wake Forest 86-67 behind balanced scoring and sharp shooting

Louisville sets defensive tone early and builds a decisive cushion

LOUISVILLE — No. 9 Louisville delivered another emphatic Atlantic Coast Conference result Thursday night, defeating Wake Forest 86-67 after holding the Demon Deacons to nine points in each of the first two quarters. The Cardinals led 43-18 at halftime and pushed the margin as high as 32 points late in the fourth quarter before closing with reserves on the floor.

The win improved Louisville to 23-4 overall and 13-1 in ACC play. Wake Forest fell to 13-13 overall and 3-11 in the league.

Efficient offense, broad participation

Louisville’s offense was defined by balance and ball movement. All 12 Cardinals who played scored at least one basket, and the team finished with 25 assists on 34 made field goals. Louisville also opened the game quickly from the perimeter, making its first three 3-point attempts as part of a 12-2 start.

Laura Ziegler led Louisville with 13 points, while Tajianna Roberts added 12. Elif Istanbulluoglu scored 10 points and hit two 3-pointers. Louisville made 11 of 25 shots from beyond the arc.

Both teams ultimately finished at 52% shooting from the field and 44% from 3-point range, but the timing of that efficiency differed sharply. Louisville sustained accuracy for three quarters while Wake Forest’s scoring output was suppressed early and arrived mostly after the game’s outcome was largely decided.

Wake Forest surge comes after deficit becomes steep

Wake Forest’s Grace Oliver scored 20 points to lead all Demon Deacons. Milan Brown and Aurora Sorbye each finished with 12.

The Demon Deacons struggled to find offensive rhythm in the first half, shooting 38% before the break. Wake Forest’s second-half response was substantial: the team hit 19 of 31 shots (61%) after halftime and went 11 of 17 (65%) in the fourth quarter. Over the final 4:20, Wake Forest outscored Louisville 15-2, trimming a deficit that had already ballooned in the closing minutes.

How the game turned

• Louisville’s 21-9 first quarter created immediate separation, with Wake Forest committing seven turnovers in the period.
• After Wake Forest closed within 28-17 midway through the second quarter, Louisville ended the half on a 15-1 run to take firm control.
• Louisville maintained a lead of at least 20 points through much of the second half before the late Wake Forest rally.

Louisville’s early defensive pressure and sustained shooting efficiency created a margin that held even as Wake Forest’s offense improved after halftime.

What’s next

Wake Forest is scheduled to host Notre Dame next Thursday. Louisville is set to host Florida State on Sunday.