WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (AP) — Louisville freshman Mikel Brown Jr. is still getting back in rhythm after missing eight games due to lower-back injury. The 6-foot-5 freshman is considered a high-end NBA prospect for the 24th-ranked Cardinals. He's struggled with his shooting in his return from injury. That included going 2 for 10 in Saturday's win at Wake Forest. But Brown had a game-high eight assists in that one. He says his confidence is strong and he's just working to “get back into a little rhythm.” The Cardinals host N.C. State on Monday night.
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP) — Laura Ziegler scored 22 points and No. 6 Louisville raced out to a quick lead it never gave up in an 84-65 win over Syracuse on Sunday. The Cardinals (22-4, 12-1 ACC) were coming off a one-point loss to Duke that snapped the team’s 14-game winning streak. They scored the first 12 points against Syracuse, holding the Orange without a field goal in the first quarter. Louisville built the lead to 28-6 over the Orange (19-5, 9-4) as Syracuse missed all 13 of its field goal attempts in the first 10 minutes. Darius led the Orange with 22 points, who only got within five the rest of the way.
DURHAM, N.C. (AP) — Freshman center Arianna Roberson had career highs of 22 points and 16 rebounds off the bench, Toby Fournier added 26 points and No. 17 Duke routed SMU 95-36 for the Blue Devils’ 15th straight win. Duke’s 13th straight ACC victory extends the Blue Devils’ best conference start under head coach Kara Lawson. The 15 consecutive wins are also the most under Lawson, who is in her sixth season leading the Blue Devils. Delaney Thomas had 16 points and 10 rebounds, and Ashlon Jackson was Duke’s third player with a double-double in the game, scoring 11 points to go with 10 assists. Grace Hall scored nine points for SMU.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (AP) — Nyla Brooks scored 21 points, Nyla Harris added 19 and No. 25 North Carolina rolled past Wake Forest 84-56. North Carolina has won seven straight and reached 20 wins for the 34th time in program history. Wake Forest led 9-6 through the first five minutes before North Carolina hit four 3-pointers in a 16-0 run. The Tar Heels led 22-11 heading to the second quarter. Two 3s from Brooks helped push the lead to 14 points before the Tar Heels settled for a 39-29 advantage at halftime. Harris scored 11 points in the third quarter and the Tar Heels extended their lead to 65-42 entering the fourth. Carolina’s lead first reached 30 points at 78-48 on a short jumper by Blanca Thomas with about 3 1/2 minutes to go.
