MARTIN, Tenn. (AP) - Prized Louisville recruit Asia Durr was limited by a groin injury during much of her freshman year, and Friday night marked the first regular season game of her sophomore season.
The guard played only 21 minutes in the Cardinals’ season opener, but she made a strong impression with 24 points, including 7-of-13 shooting from 3-point range.
No. 5 Louisville handled host UT Martin with ease, 100-57.
“It was great. She’s feeling great. She’s playing well. Really excited for her because she is finally healthy and feeling good,” Louisville coach Jeff Walz said. “That’s what I recruited. That’s what I thought she could do. She’s a dynamic basketball player that can score and understands the game, and she’s fortunate to be playing with some great players, too, that can get her the ball.”
Those players include forward Myisha Hines-Allen, who had 12 points and 10 rebounds in only 17 minutes Friday, and guard Briahanna Jackson, who had 13 points and four assists.
The Cardinals opened with 21 consecutive points before UT Martin’s Myah Taylor hit a lay-up six minutes into the game. Taylor led the host Skyhawks with 14 points and Ashton Feldhaus had 12.
“I told the kids that the game was going to be decided in the first three possessions,” UT Martin coach Kevin McMillan said.
Louisville, the highest-ranked team to visit Martin since the 1990s, shot 56 percent overall and 47 percent (9-for-19) from 3-point range. The Cardinals passed the ball crisply, totaling 23 assists on 37 field goals.
The Cardinals, considered one of the top contenders in the Atlantic Coast Conference, subbed liberally throughout the second half and had 12 players score.
“It should be a fun year for all of us if we continue to work and continue to grow,” Walz said.
BIG PICTURE
Louisville: Following a season that ended with a disappointing second-round NCAA Tournament exit, the Cardinals opened their season about as well as possible by scoring 21 consecutive points on the way to an easy road win.
UT Martin: A young Skyhawk team that must replace several leaders from last year’s WNIT participant got valuable experience against a high-level opponent skilled at causing turnovers with its press.
STAT OF THE NIGHT
Louisville built its lead with an aggressive press, which contributed to 32 UT Martin turnovers.
POLL IMPLICATIONS
The No. 5 Cardinals gave voters no reason to change their minds with a complete performance.
HE SAID IT
“Let’s give our kids a little bit of a pass . that’s really unfair to do to an inexperienced team, to put that as your opening game. That’s not fair. But they’re going to learn a lot more from that game a lot quicker than they would if they didn’t have that game first.” - McMillan
FRESHMEN STANDOUTS
Walz was particularly pleased with Jazmine Jones, a 6-foot guard from Tallahassee, Florida who had six points, six assists and three rebounds in her college debut. Louisville freshman Kylee Shook added eight points and three rebounds.
UP NEXT
Louisville: The Cardinals return home Sunday afternoon to play another Ohio Valley Conference school, Belmont.
UT Martin: The Skyhawks open a four-game road trip with a Monday game at North Carolina A&T.
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