By Derek DeBurger

No. 13 Louisville showed no rust whatsoever in their rout of the SMU Mustangs.

Rested, not rusted

Anaya Hardy started off the game on a tear, scoring six points, grabbing three rebound and getting one assist in the first six minutes of play, helping Louisville take a 14-8 lead.

After Hardy checked out of the game the Cards struggled to score. They already weren’t hitting from deep, then they couldn’t score in the paint.

SMU hit three straight layups to tie it up at 14 apiece.

Before the end of the period, though, Louisville found their rhythm with a shot from Reyna Scott and the first three-pointer of the game by Imari Berry.

Louisville led 19-14 at the end of the first quarter.

Almost immediately in the second, SMU hit a triple of their own to match Berry and cut the lead to two.

But Louisville staged a decisive 14-0 run to take a 16-point lead. The Cards were able to stage the run thanks to hyper-aggressive defense, at one point forcing turnovers on five consecutive possessions.

Before the half Tajianna Roberts finally got going, helping push her squad to a huge lead.

Louisville was up 46-27 at the break.

The second half was more of the same for the Cards, and a lot less hopeful for the Mustangs.

A 28-5 run kicked off the half, essentially ending the game before the third quarter was even done with.

Like many blowouts before, Reagan Bender saw the court and hit a couple of corner threes to make it worth it.

The lead would grow as high as 42 points before all was said and done.

Louisville would win 91-58.

All according to plan

The Cards did exactly what was expected of them and blew out a bad SMU team on their home court.

And you can’t ask for anything more.

In spite of a slow start shooting the ball, Louisville just lapped the Mustangs. Roberts led the team with 15 points, but she was far from the only offensive threat as four different player hit double-figures in scoring and Bender was close with nine points.

As a team Louisville smothered SMU, racking up 12 steals and 12 non-steal turnovers and four blocks.

Louisville is now 13-3 on the season with a 3-0 record in the ACC.

Photo Courtesy / Mason Seidt / Louisville Athletics