After a tough 78 - 72 setback against No. 11 Oklahoma, the No. 22 Louisville women's basketball team is gearing up for a crucial face - off against second - ranked UConn. The Cardinals and Huskies are set to battle it out in the second game of the Shark Beauty Women's Champions Classic, tentatively scheduled to commence at 9 p.m. tonight at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. Prior to this, Tennessee and Iowa will kick off the first game at 7 p.m.

UConn's Dominance in the Series

UConn holds a significant lead in the series against U of L, with 19 wins to Louisville's 3. Remarkably, two of Louisville's victories have come in the past five years. Last season, UConn emerged victorious with a commanding 86 - 62 score. This upcoming encounter promises to be a fierce battle as both teams look to assert their dominance.

Quarter - by - Quarter Action

In the first quarter, the Cardinals were outscored by the Huskies, 7 - 11. They managed to make only two field goals in the quarter, both coming in the final minute. As the game progressed, Louisville's struggles continued, as they went scoreless for more than four minutes in the second quarter, allowing the Huskies to extend their lead to 20. However, the Cardinals opened the second quarter with a six - point run, with five of those points coming from Merissah Russell. Despite their efforts, they missed six 3 - point attempts and shot only 24% from the field. Olivia Cochran contributed five points for the squad.

Player Performances

Merissah Russell has been a standout for the Cardinals, leading the team with eight points in the first half. She has shown great determination and skill on the court. On the other hand, UConn's players have been performing at a high level. Azzi Fudd made both free throws after Louisville coach Jeff Walz received a technical foul, putting the Huskies up, 51 - 24. The Huskies' shooting percentage in the half was a remarkable 51%, while Louisville struggled at 27%.

Television and Streaming Details

The game will be televised on Fox, allowing fans across the country to catch all the action. Qualified subscribers can also stream the Women's Champions Classic contest on the Fox Sports website. Nick Curran (play - by - play) and Cortnee Walton (analyst) will provide the call on the Cardinal Sports Network (WLCL 93.9 - FM and WGTK 970 - AM in Louisville). Additionally, fans can listen online via GoCards.com.

Upcoming Schedule

The Cardinals have a busy schedule ahead. They have faced several tough opponents already and will continue to battle it out in the ACC. Some of their upcoming games include matchups against Miami*, Wake Forest*, Pittsburgh*, Georgia Tech*, Syracuse*, Virginia Tech*, Virginia*, SMU*, Notre Dame*, California*, Stanford*, Florida State*, Duke*, North Carolina*, Clemson*, and more. Each game presents a new challenge for the team.

Player Roster

The Louisville women's basketball team is filled with talented players. Izela Arenas (freshman, guard), Imari Berry (freshman, guard), Nyla Harris (junior, forward), Mackenly Randolph (freshman, forward), Rebekah Graves (freshman, guard), Anaya Hardy (freshman, forward), Eseosa Imafidon (redshirt freshman, center), Elif Istanbulluoglu (sophomore, forward), Ja’Leah Williams (senior, guard), Merissah Russell (graduate senior, guard), Isla Juffermans (freshman, forward), Reagan Bender (freshman, guard), Tajianna Roberts (freshman, guard), Jayda Curry (senior, guard), and Olivia Cochran (graduate senior, forward) all bring their unique skills to the team.