By Sam Draut–

It’s a new year, and it’s a new season for the Louisville women’s basketball team.

Coach Jeff Walz and his young roster struggled in the early portion of the non-conference schedule, dropping to 1-4 through their first five games, but Louisville turned the page on 2015 and opened its ACC portion of its schedule with a 79-69 win over fifteenth-ranked Florida State.

“It is a great way to start the league, it is a great way to start the year,” Walz said. “I was very pleased by our kids effort.”

Mariya Moore played all 40 minutes and led the Cardinals (9-5) to its sixth consecutive victory. The sophomore had 20 points, eight assists and five rebounds.

“We wanted to start off the ACC right,” Moore said.

Moore is averaging 15.3 points and 9.7 assists over her past three games.

After the game, Walz said the win against Florida State and the victory over nineteenth-ranked Michigan State in December is the best he has seen his team play.

“We competed and we played hard,” Walz said.

Beyond Moore, the Cardinals got strong performances from a pair of veterans.

Sophomore Arica Carter scored seven of her 11 points in the first quarter and made a clutch floater in the lane to halt a 6-0 Florida State run in the fourth quarter.

Against UT-Martin, Cortnee Walton was a rebound away from her first career double-double while against Florida State, the redshirt-junior was a point away from a double-double. Walton finished with nine points and 11 rebounds in 36 minutes of play.

In front of a crowd of 9,126 at the KFC YUM! Center, Myisha Hines-Allen provided some energy in the third quarter, scoring two baskets and drawing an offensive foul. The sophomore forward scored 13 points and pulled down four rebounds.

After Louisville led by nine at halftime, Briahanna Jackson scored 11 of her 15 points in the third quarter. The junior added six rebounds and four assists.

More than likely the best win of the season to this point, Walz was proud of his team’s effort, especially after the frustrating start to the season.

“We haven’t played up to our expectations,” Walz said. “It is a process with these young kids.”