By Sam Draut–
The season didn’t start how coach Jeff Walz would have liked for the preseason eighth-ranked team in the country, but Louisville played to its potential on Thursday with an 85-78 victory over nineteenth-ranked Michigan State in East Lansing, Michigan.
Louisville (2-4) led for the entire game and extended their lead to 17 points in the third quarter before Michigan State narrowed the deficit to one point at the 8:49 mark in the fourth quarter before the Cardinals went on a 9-2 run to close out the game.
After missing three consecutive games, freshman Asia Durr scored 20 points on six of 11 shooting in 23 minutes of play.
Mariya Moore finished with 20 points, four rebounds and four assists. The sophomore knocked down three free throws in the final 32 seconds to ice the game.
Briahanna Jackson added 13 points, five assists, three rebounds and three steals.
Forwards Myisha Hines-Allen and Cortnee Walton provided scoring in the low-post, each scoring 12 points.
Louisville returns home to face Valparaiso on Saturday at the KFC YUM! Center.
