U of L WBB vs. Southern Indiana: Cardinals roll in home opener

Nyla Harris had just missed a shot late in the second quarter when a defensive rebound ended up still being Louisville’s ball. After the miss, Taj Roberts forced a jump ball with the possession arrow facing Louisville women’s basketball.
Such hustle plays occurred Friday night as the Cardinals played with a heightened intensity. It led to a 75-51 win over Southern Indiana in U of L’s home opener at the KFC Yum! Center. Olivia Cochran, the elder stateswoman of the team, had a Cardinals-best 15 points to go along with six rebounds.
“We’re very young, but that’s what brings our energy and what kind of fuels us every day,” said Merissah Russell, another of the team’s veterans. “O and I talk about and joke about being old, but these young girls always push us and force us to kind of bring our own energy, which we love, and we appreciate so much.”
The crowd of onlookers included former NBA big man Zach “Z-Bo” Randolph, the father of freshman forward Mackenly Randolph, and former “Basketball Wives” star Laura Govan, the mother of freshman guard Izela Arenas.
Randolph has already displayed her leadership skills by challenging the guards to make 500 shots after Monday’s loss to UCLA in Paris.
“That’s the type of energy I’m talking about when I’m talking about the young girls,” said Russell, who went 3 for 5 from 3-point range against the Screaming Eagles four days after going 0 for 3 against UCLA. “It pushes you because you don’t want to be the person that’s not making your 500 shots before the next game. That is what we need as a group, as a unit, as a guard unit, because the folks are going to hold us accountable to hit those shots because they’re battling down there.”
Louisville was down a guard with Jayda Curry recovering from a preseason hamstring injury. She’s still considered day to day and will return when her body “is going to be able to tell us when she is ready to go,” Walz said.
It was only right that the win came on the heels of a strong defensive performance given that’s been what the program has been known for under head coach Jeff Walz. The Cardinals held the Screaming Eagles to 37.5% shooting from the field (21 of 56) and celebrated the program’s 50th anniversary with Walz at the helm for the last 18. During that time, he’s led the Cardinals to two national championship appearances and four Final Four appearances. Last season, they became one of 26 women’s college basketball programs to reach 1,000 all-time wins.
“You go through, you look at all the great players that have come here before my 18 years and then during our time here, it’s been great,” Walz said Thursday. “I’ll always say, and I’ve said it, this will be the only head coaching job that I’m going to have in college. I’m not going to be a head coach for any other women’s college basketball team. I’m planning to retire here. Plain and simple.
“We’ve watched it go from 3,500 people, 2,500 people in big games at Freedom Hall, to averaging close to 8,000 a night. That’s what’s made this as special as it’s been.”
Louisville was able to celebrate history, which included a video during one of the first-quarter timeouts, and a win over the Screaming Eagles in the teams’ first meeting.
After giving up the lead late in the first quarter, the Cardinals strung together a 23-0 run between the first and second frames. Three-point shooting became a specialty with Russell and Roberts combining for nine points. 
Walz said it directly reflected a poor pregame shootaround.
“We kind of walked through things thinking that, ‘Oh, hey, we’re going to show up,’ ” he said. “We played UCLA close, top-five team in the country. That’s the attitude we had today. We had to have a spirited discussion afterward, and it showed. … Then in the second quarter, we finally played like we were asking them to: a little bit more aggressive, attacked, switched up.”
The Screaming Eagles missed their first six shots and finished the quarter with the same number of field-goal attempts and turnovers (11) and only four points. Ja’Leah Williams had two steals during the frame.
With Southern Indiana looking to score with 41 seconds left in the half, Louisville’s trap defense forced another Screaming Eagles turnover. The Cardinals converted the defensive stop into a 43-25 lead as Arenas netted a 3-pointer.
The second half was more of the same with Southern Indiana being held to 5-for-13 shooting from the field (38.5%) in the third quarter.
The lopsided game gave more of Louisville’s younger players a chance to see the floor. Cardinals post players Eseosa Imafidon and Anaya Hardy played the final five minutes, their first for the team. Imafidon, who started playing basketball five years ago, finished with two rebounds, two steals and two blocks. Hardy had two points and a rebound.
“Sosa’s one that, she’s got great size. Now it’s a matter of getting command and control of her body when she’s out there, knowing also what’s going on,” Walz said. “See, that’s the challenge I have for a lot of our kids. … I’m challenging them to really make sure when they’re in practice, you’ve got to know what’s going on, so when your number’s called, you’re prepared for that moment.”
Louisville (1-1) is set to play at UT Martin at 7 p.m. Tuesday.
Coverage during the game:
Louisville women’s basketball is in its 50th season as a program and will be celebrating the milestone during its home opener today.
The celebration includes honoring Becky Hudson. Originally hired to be the women’s athletics director at Louisville, Hudson, who died on July 2, was the first person to lead the women’s basketball program prior to the implementation of Title IX. After Title IX was introduced in 1974, Terry Hall became the program’s first full-time coach.
Over the last 50 years, Louisville has achieved countless accomplishments, many of which have come under Jeff Walz, the program’s sixth coach. Walz, in his 18th year at the program’s helm, has led the Cardinals to two national championship appearances and four Final Four appearances. Last year, the Cardinals became one of 26 women’s college basketball programs to reach 1,000 all-time wins.
“You go through, you look at all the great players that have come here before my 18 years and then during our time here, it’s been great,” Walz said. “I’ll always say, and I’ve said it, this will be the only head coaching job that I’m going to have in college. I’m not going to be a head coach for any other women’s college basketball team. I’m planning to retire here. Plain and simple.
“We’ve watched it go from 3,500 people, 2,500 people in big games at Freedom Hall to averaging close to 8,000 a night. That’s what’s made this as special as it’s been.”
No. 17 U of L will look to add another celebration in honoring the program’s trailblazers with a win over Southern Indiana in the first meeting between the programs. The Screaming Eagles return all five of their starters and opened the season with a 100-49 home win over Brescia University on Monday.
In her first two collegiate minutes, redshirt freshman forward Eseosa Imafidon has recorded two rebounds and a block for the Cardinals.
Nine players have scored for the Cardinals. Olivia Cochran leads the way with 15 points.
The Cardinals are in full control of the game and have held the Screaming Eagles to shooting 14.3% from the field (1-7).
The Cardinals held the Screaming Eagles to four points in the quarter with the visitors recording the same amount of field goal attempts as turnovers (11). Olivia Cochran and Merissah Russell each have nine points to lead the Cardinals.
Olivia Cochran made good on a 3-point play to increase the Cardinals’ lead and a 20-0 run.
The Cardinals continued their scoring and increased their run, 10-0, to create separation.
The Cardinals got off to a slow start but ended the quarter with a 5-0 run. Merissah Russell leads the team with nine points.
Former NBA star Zach Randolph was seen courtside at the Cardinals’ game to watch daughter, Mackenly Randolph.
The Cardinals opened the game on a 7-0 run but the Screaming Eagles narrowed the score with the help of two trips to the free throw line.
Former “Basketball Wives” star Laura Govan was seen at the Cardinals’ home opener. Her daughter, Izela Arenas, is a freshman on the team.
The game between Louisville and Southern Indiana will not be broadcast nationally. Qualified subscribers can stream the game on ACCNx.
Nick Curran (play-by-play) and Cortnee Walton (analyst) will have the call on the Cardinal Sports Network (WLCL 93.9-FM and WGTK 970-AM in Louisville).
You can also listen online via GoCards.com.
*ACC game
Click here to view the Screaming Eagles’ 2024-25 schedule.
Click here to view the Screaming Eagles’ 2024-25 roster.
Reach Louisville football, women’s basketball and baseball beat writer Alexis Cubit [email protected] and follow her on X at @Alexis_Cubit.