Two league teams were in action Tuesday night, including a conference matchup with No. 14/13 Louisville visiting Cincinnati. The Cardinals (9-2, 1-0 BIG EAST) edged the Bearcats (6-3, 0-1 BIG EAST) by the score of 64-59 and won its conference opener for the fourth consecutive season.
Shoni Schimmel scored 16 points to lead Louisville. After trailing for much of the second half, Louisville tied the score at 55 with 2:37 left in the game and went ahead on Schimmel’s 3-pointer.
With less than a minute left, Bjonee Reaves’ jumper pulled Cincinnati within one, but Cardinals forward Shawnta’ Dyer responded quickly to give Louisville a three-point lead with 39 seconds remaining.
Becky Burke, who had 14 points for the Cardinals, made four free throws in the final 30 seconds to seal the win. Louisville enjoyed another solid night from the charity stripe, making 14 of 19 attempts (.737), including seven straight with under five minutes to go to ice the game. Louisville is shooting 76.7 percent (89-for-116) from the line over the last six games and 79.2 percent (57-for-72) over the past four.
Louisville also beat Cincinnati for the third straight time and the ninth time in the last 11 meetings.
Reaves finished with 18 points for the Bearcats.
In Auburn, Ala., USF (6-5) lost to the Tigers 62-45. Jasmine Wynne led the way with 17 points, playing the full 40 minutes for the Bulls. USF was just 1-of-10 from 3-point range and shot 29.3-percent from the field.
Material from interviews, school websites, the Associated Press wire service as well as league and team sources was used in this report.
