No. 7 Louisville defeated Ball State 94-73 in Muncie on Thursday to extend their perfect start to the season.
The Cardinals moved to 5-0 with the victory, becoming the highest-ranked women's team to ever play in Muncie. Imari Berry led the scoring effort for Louisville, finishing with a season-high 22 points and six rebounds, according to Spectrum News.
While the game began with a sluggish pace for the visitors, a decisive shot from Berry to close the first quarter—a three-pointer that gave Louisville a 22-15 lead—shifted the momentum permanently. The Cardinals capitalized on that spark, opening the second quarter with an 11-2 run and shooting 10 of 16 from the field during that period to establish a 44-17 halftime advantage.
The scoring was distributed effectively across the Louisville roster. Berry was highly efficient, shooting 9 of 13 from the field and 4 of 7 from beyond the arc. Tajianna Roberts contributed 18 points to the winning effort, while Zamareya Jones provided a stabilizing presence with 12 points and nine assists, notably committing zero turnovers.
Mackenly Randolph also reached a personal milestone, scoring all 11 of her points in the first half by shooting 5 of 6 from the field.
Ball State, the Mid-American Conference preseason favorite, struggled to maintain consistency despite a strong individual performance from freshman guard Lilli Barnes. Barnes scored 23 points on 7 of 10 shooting and added seven assists, helping the Cardinals keep the game competitive for a stretch in the third quarter.
| Player | Team | Points | Key Stats |
|---|---|---|---|
| Imari Berry | Louisville | 22 | 6 rebounds, 4-of-7 3PT |
| Tajianna Roberts | Louisville | 18 | — |
| Lilli Barnes | Ball State | 23 | 7 assists |
| Zamareya Jones | Louisville | 12 | 9 assists, 0 turnovers |
The win gave Louisville head coach Jeff Walz his 520th career victory. The milestone occurred at the same venue where he coached his very first game at Louisville nearly two decades ago.
Ball State attempted a comeback midway through the second half, narrowing the deficit to 48-39 with 6:49 remaining in the third quarter. However, Louisville responded with a methodical 13-4 run late in the period to push the lead to 71-52 and effectively seal the outcome.
The Cardinals’ ability to absorb Ball State’s momentum shifts highlights the gap between the top-tier national contenders and mid-major programs fighting to find their footing early in the season. For Ball State, currently 1-2, the challenge remains finding a way to close the gap against elite defensive rotations when trailing in the second half.
Louisville concludes its week with a high-stakes home game on Sunday, Nov. 15, when they host fourth-ranked UConn at the KFC Yum! Center. The matchup is scheduled for a 5:30 p.m. ET tip-off and will be broadcast nationally on ESPN.
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