Louisville women's basketball dominates rivalry with Kentucky in recent years
Since the women's basketball programs at Kentucky and Louisville first faced off during the 1975-76 season, the Wildcats have held the upper hand. They swept both meetings that first season and won six of the first eight.
Entering this year, UK leads the all-time series 34-22.
But the Cardinals have dominated recently, winning the last five editions of the in-state rivalry.
The teams meet again at 1 p.m., Sunday at Rupp Arena in a nationally televised contest on ESPN.
UK is 7-1 on the season, with its lone loss coming in the Bahamas at the hands of still-undefeated Virginia Tech. After beginning this season No. 7 in the Associated Press poll, U of L has tumbled out of the rankings amid a 6-4 start. But the Cardinals come in with some momentum, routing winless SIU Edwardsville 105-32 at the KFC Yum! Center on Tuesday.
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Here's a look at the past five games between the two most prominent schools in the Bluegrass State. (The teams didn't meet during the 2020-21 season because of scheduling issues caused by the coronavirus pandemic.)
No. 5 Louisville 64, No. 14 Kentucky 58
Dec. 12, 2021 at KFC Yum! Center
In a matchup of top-15 squads, it was a defensive struggle, as both made less than 41% of their field goal attempts. In the third quarter, the Wildcats connected on just one shot. Louisville made Kentucky All-American Rhyne Howard a non-factor; she went 3-for-13 for nine points, one of only three games last season in which she failed to reach double figures.
Dre'una Edwards and Treasure Hunt scored 14 apiece to lead Kentucky.
Chelsie Hall scored a game-high 15 to pace Louisville.
Stellar start:Former Kentucky star Rhyne Howard crowned 2022 WNBA Rookie of the Year
No. 7 Louisville 67, No. 11 Kentucky 66
Dec. 15, 2019 at Rupp Arena
This one came down to the wire, as Howard's 3-pointer at the buzzer clanged off the rim to allow the Cardinals to escape with a one-point road victory.
Louisville's Kylee Shook's name was on the marquee at the end, as her triple with less than two minutes to play gave the visitors a 67-64 advantage. She finished with 11 points, 13 rebounds and five blocks.
The Wildcats came up just short despite another sparkling performance from Howard, who poured in 26 points.
What made it all the more difficult to stomach for UK: it held a 10-point lead (55-45) in the third quarter before Louisville went on a 13-0 run. The Wildcats didn't score for the final 3:14 of the third period.
It didn't help that the Cardinals held a decisive edge on the boards, outrebounding the hosts 38-17.
Read more on this memorable matchup:Louisville women's basketball defeats Kentucky 67-66 in Rupp Arena thriller
No. 5 Louisville 80, No. 19 Kentucky 75
Dec. 9, 2018 at KFC Yum! Center
Then just a freshman, Howard played a starring role in the rivalry, scoring 25 points, pulling down 10 rebounds and dishing out six assists in just the 10th game of her college career.
But she wasn't even the leading scorer on this day. That went to Louisville's Asia Durr, who exploded for 32 points and made key free throws down the stretch to thwart a potential Kentucky comeback.
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At one point, it appeared it would be an easy win for the Cardinals, who led by 18 in the third quarter — and held a 67-52 advantage entering the fourth. But Kentucky cut the deficit to four points twice within the final 30 seconds before U of L finally sealed the victory.
The Wildcats struggled in transition, as they didn't score a single fast-break point; the Cardinals, by comparison, had 12.
Afterward, much of the talk centered around a technical foul called on Louisville guard Jazmine Jones in the third quarter.
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No. 3 Louisville 87, Kentucky 63
Dec. 17, 2017, at Memorial Coliseum
There was no drama in this one: Louisville never trailed in a 24-point romp.
The Cardinals led by as many as 28 in the final period, and the Wildcats never drew closer than 21.
Durr scored 32 points on 12-of-22 shooting, which included six 3-pointers.
Five players posted double-digit point totals for U of L, with two — forward Sam Fuehring (10 points, 10 rebounds) and reserve guard Dana Evans (11 points, 10 assists) — recording double-doubles.
Perhaps the lone positive for the Wildcats: They only were outscored by two, 40-38, in the second half.
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No. 7 Louisville 69, No. 17 Kentucky 67, OT
Dec. 4, 2016, at KFC Yum! Center
Forty minutes weren't enough to decide this one. In the overtime period, the Cardinals outscored the Wildcats 13-11 to top their in-state rival for the first time since 2010.
Louisville forward Myisha Hines-Allen scored a game-high 26 points before fouling out in the overtime period.
The loss wasted an epic outing from UK senior guard Makayla Epps, who stuffed the stat sheet to the tune of 22 points, 16 rebounds and six assists — while playing all 45 minutes. (The only part Epps might want to forget is the seven turnovers she committed.)
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BONUS: The last Kentucky win - a 72-54 victory
Dec. 10, 2015, in Lexington
By the time Sunday's game tips off, it will have been more than seven years since UK last defeated U of L.
In that contest, Epps set the tone, going 10 of 11 from the field for 24 points in a game the Wildcats led for the duration.
More from the game:UK cruises to 18-point win over U of L
Briahanna Jackson scored a team-high 18 points for the Cardinals, with Hines-Allen next in line with 16.
The loss dropped Louisville to 3-5 on the season.
Reach Kentucky men’s basketball and football reporter Ryan Black at rblack@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter at @RyanABlack.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Women's basketball: Louisville holds upper hand over Kentucky recently
