The Louisville women’s basketball team rewrote the record books on Monday night, opening their season with a blistering 119-47 victory over Bellarmine.
Tajianna Roberts led the charge with 15 points, while Imari Berry chipped in 14 as No. 7 Louisville posted the highest single-game point total in program history. Coach Jeff Walz emptied his bench early and often, cycling 11 players onto the floor as the Cardinals sprinted out to a commanding 23-0 lead before the first quarter had even reached its midpoint.
Quarterly and Halftime Marks Shattered
The offensive onslaught did not let up after the opening tip. Louisville closed out the first ten minutes ahead 44-9, establishing a new school record for points scored in a single quarter. That performance eclipsed the previous standard of 40 points, which the Cardinals put up against DePaul in the third quarter of a 116-75 win back in 2020.
By halftime, the scoreboard read 72-21. That staggering first-half total broke the program’s previous record for points in a half, besting the 63 points Louisville scored during a 111-33 rout of Bellarmine on November 16, 2023.
Newcomers Shine in the Season Opener
Depth proved to be Louisville’s most potent weapon on Monday. Berry and Roberts, both of whom earned All-Atlantic Coast Conference preseason honors last month, anchored an attack that saw seven different players reach double figures.
HALFTIME: Louisville leads Bellarmine 72–21. Imari Berry leads the Cards with 13 points, and Louisville’s 10 three-pointers are a program record for one half. 🔴⚫ pic.twitter.com/Mk3IXUVexg
Amiya Joyner, a fifth-year transfer from LSU, made an immediate impact in her Louisville debut by scoring 14 points on a perfect 5-for-5 shooting night. Carys Baker, who earned second-team All-ACC selection honors last season while playing for Virginia Tech, added 13 points. Freshman Ariyana Cradle and sophomore Grace Mbugua each contributed 10 points to the historic tally.
Zam Jones orchestrated the offense efficiently, setting a career high with six steals while matching a career high with nine assists to go along with 11 points.
Bellarmine Struggles Against Defensive Pressure
On the other side of the court, the Knights faced a relentless defensive buzzsaw. Coached by Monique Reed, Bellarmine shot just 30.2% from the field, converting 16 of their 53 field goal attempts. The Cardinals’ defensive intensity forced 13 of the Knights’ 35 turnovers in the opening quarter alone. Hana Abdel Aal and Leigha Acoff led the scoring for Bellarmine with nine points apiece.
The Cardinals have little time to dwell on their record-setting performance. Louisville returns to the floor on Wednesday, Nov. 4, hosting Stetson at 8 p.m. ET in a matchup broadcast live on the ACC Network.
