Bria Smith finished with a triple-double as Louisville defeated Western Kentucky 89-67 on Tuesday night at the KFC YUM! Center.
The program’s third player to complete a triple double, Smith had 22 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists.
Angel McCoughtry was the last Cardinal to finish with a triple double on December 10, 2008.
“It was a great night, she played with a lot of passion and enthusiasm,” Louisville head coach Jeff Walz said. “She played start to finish.”
Louisville (5-0) sprinted out to a 22-8 lead through the first ten minutes and went into halftime leading 44-26.
WKU went on a 14-2 run midway through the second half cut the deficit to 19 after Louisville had extended their lead to 34 points.
With the WKU run, Walz was forced to call a timeout and send the starters back in. The substitutions allowed Smith to complete her triple-double.
Eight of her assists came in the second half, her final coming with two seconds left.
“When I got back in I was trying to pass more,” Smith said. “I was happy I got it.”
Sara Hammond added her first double-double of the season with 16 points and 10 rebounds. The senior forward made her first appearance at the free throw line this season, shooting 4-of-6.
“The coaches were harping on me to get to the free throw line and that was one of my goals to get to the line tonight,” Hammond said.
Myisha Hines-Allen scored 16 points and pulled down seven rebounds while Emmonni Henderson scored 14 points on 7-of-9 shooting.
Louisville will play Lafayette on Friday night at the KFC YUM! Center.