Louisville Cardinals Edged Out by Alabama Crimson Tide at Leonard E. Merrell Center
In a closely contested matchup at the Leonard E. Merrell Center, the Louisville Cardinals faced off against the Alabama Crimson Tide in a non-conference game that saw both teams fight for dominance on the court. The Cardinals, ranked 20th, ended with a record of 73-78 against the unranked Crimson Tide.
The Louisville Cardinals started strong with an initial quarter score of 18 points but fell behind as the game progressed, despite their best efforts. The team's performance was marked by aggressive play inside the paint where they scored 42 points and capitalized on second-chance opportunities to add another 23 points to their tally. Their tenacity was evident as they grabbed an impressive total of 37 rebounds, with a notable offensive rebound count of 21.
Offensively, Louisville showed determination but struggled from beyond the arc, converting only three out of fourteen three-point attempts which amounted to a mere twenty-one percent success rate from long range. However, they were more effective with two-point field goals making twenty-four out of fifty-two attempts resulting in a forty-six percent shooting rate from closer range.
Defensively, The Cardinals managed to force turnovers and scored ten points off them while also making seven steals throughout the contest. Despite these efforts and maintaining possession through eighteen player turnovers without any team turnovers recorded for them or against them due to technical fouls or ejections; it wasn't enough to secure victory.
On free throws, Louisville made sixteen out of twenty-four attempts which translated into sixty-seven percent accuracy from the line – an area that could have potentially swung momentum in their favor had those numbers been higher.
The Alabama Crimson Tide presented formidable opposition; their scoring efficiency was higher across all categories including field goal percentage at forty-eight percent and free throw percentage at seventy-one percent. They also excelled in three-point shooting landing nine out of twenty-four attempts giving them thirty-eight percent success from downtown which contributed significantly to their win over The Cardinals.
Alabama's defense blocked two shots and managed six steals while committing one less personal foul than Louisville's twenty-six fouls during gameplay. They also edged past The Cardinals in fast break points scoring thirteen compared to eleven by Louisville showing quick transition play that paid dividends on offense.
As fans look ahead after this intense battle on neutral ground between these two teams; attention turns towards future matchups for The Louisville Cardinals who will next face Liberty Lady Flames away at Leonard E. Merrell Center scheduled for November 25th at noon local time (5 PM Eastern). This upcoming game can be watched live on ESPN+, providing fans another opportunity to support their team as they continue through this season’s challenges.