The Duke women’s basketball team suffered a disappointing loss against Louisville on Thursday, resulting in a 61-44 setback that brought their conference record to 1-2 and ended their previous four-game winning streak.
Coach Kara Lawson acknowledged the exceptional performance of the Louisville team, which put pressure on Duke and disrupted their game. She highlighted the team’s ongoing struggle with turnovers, noting that they committed 27 turnovers in the game. This high number of turnovers significantly hinders their ability to secure victories, and she took responsibility for addressing this issue and improving the team’s overall performance.
Prior to this defeat, Duke had achieved a remarkable 63.8% field goal shooting in their game against Boston College. However, this percentage dropped significantly to 33.3% in their game against Louisville, indicating a notable decline in performance. Coach Lawson recognized their inability to handle the pressure from the Cardinals as a major shortcoming.
Despite the loss, Duke’s impressive average of 7.2 blocks per game, the highest in the ACC, and their height advantage over Louisville were notable strengths. The towering duo of Camilla Emsbo and Kennedy Brown managed to out-block Louisville seven to four.
Although the Blue Devils started strongly with a 3-point shot in the first quarter, they struggled with offensive traction and turnovers. This set the tone for the game, and their inability to score in the second quarter resulted in a significant point differential between them and Louisville by halftime.
Throughout the third quarter, Louisville maintained their lead, while Duke continued to struggle with scoring, ultimately entering the final quarter trailing by 23 points. The Blue Devils encountered similar challenges in the fourth quarter, concluding the game with a season-low total of 44 points.
Despite the loss, Coach Lawson emphasized the importance of overcoming adversity, building resilience, and maintaining a competitive spirit. She attributed the disparity between Duke and Louisville to differences in physicality and competitiveness.
Looking ahead, Duke will travel to Charlottesville, Va., to face Virginia, aiming to rebound from this defeat.