Updated March 21, 2026, 9:22 p.m. ET
The third-seeded Louisville women’s basketball crew’s power all season has been its depth. It turned the Cardinals’ driving force against No. 14-seed Vermont within the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Saturday.
UofL (28-7) scored 20 bench factors, half of which got here from Imari Berry, whereas the Catamounts had none within the Cards’ 72-52 victory. Yevheniia Putra and Grace Mbugua helped to offer the crew with submit depth, taking part in 10 and 6 minutes, respectively.
“I’ve been talking to them about the past week and a half — since, well, before the ACC Tournament — trying to get them all locked in practice to understand that it might be four minutes, it might be three minutes, it might be two,” head coach Jeff Walz stated. “Even the minute and a half Rebekah Graves played. Her feet have really been bothering her. And I’m not sure she really wanted to go out there. … It’s things like that when you’re trying to make sure everybody’s prepared. And when you get out there, then you’ve got to be able to do something positive. That doesn’t mean you’re scoring. That means you might make the extra pass, guard somebody, box out.”
Mackenly Randolph was a primary instance of that. In addition to her career-high 20 factors, the sophomore had 11 rebounds, three assists and no turnovers in 33 minutes performed. Louisville was additionally +24 when she was on the courtroom.
“She’s as good as there is (at) being able to use her body,” Walz stated. “You kind of call it bully ball. She likes to put her shoulder down and will create some contact and does a really nice job of it. And then she finishes. … She’s always around the ball. It’s not like she’s out-jumping everybody. But it’s her ability to know where the ball is coming off the rim and going and pursuing the basketball.”
Randolph has averaged 14.5 factors, 8.8 rebounds and three.5 assists to date throughout the postseason. She’ll look to proceed her dominance with the assistance of the Cardinals’ deep bench when the squad takes on sixth-seeded Alabama (24-10) on Monday.
The Crimson Tide fended off upset-minded and No. 13-seeded Rhode Island, 68-55, to advance to the second-round sport.
Here are three issues to find out about Alabama with a Round of 32 prediction:
Alabama guard Jessica Timmons is the second-shortest participant on the Crimson Tide’s crew at 5-foot-8. But she has no downside taking part in aggressively and attending to the basket. Coming off a medical redshirt season, Timmons leads Alabama’s scoring with 16.4 factors per sport whereas taking pictures 40.3% from 3-point vary. The redshirt senior All-SEC second-team honoree opened the NCAA Tournament with 21 factors and 6 rebounds to assist her crew advance to Monday’s assembly with Louisville.
Timmons is backed up by a deep rotation of guards that assist bolster Alabama’s backcourt. The crew begins 4 guards, together with Timmons, and entered the NCAA Tournament taking pictures 36% from lengthy distance and 43.9% total on the ground.
Ta’Mia Scott and Karly Weathers are two of the Crimson Tide’s high 5 scorers, and got here into the weekend averaging 9.6 and 9.1 factors per sport, respectively.
Alabama performed two ACC opponents throughout its nonconference schedule, recording wins over Florida State within the season opener, 91-71, and Clemson, 72-48. During the common season, the Crimson Tide acquired swept by South Carolina and fell to Tennessee however beat Kentucky. They rebounded within the SEC Tournament by beating the Volunteers.
Louisville, too, misplaced to the Wildcats and Gamecocks throughout the common season however went 3-0 towards FSU, Clemson and Tennessee.
Louisville 70, Alabama 65: The Crimson Tide’s guard play will make it a detailed sport, however the Cardinals’ inside sport would be the distinction in a detailed victory.
When: midday ET Monday, March 23
Where: KFC Yum! Center
TV: ESPN
Streaming: Fubo (free trial)
Nick Curran (play-by-play) and Cortnee Walton (analyst) could have the decision on the Cardinal Sports Network (WLCL 93.9-FM and WGTK 970-AM in Louisville).
You can even hear on-line through GoCards.com.
Reach Louisville soccer, women’s basketball and baseball beat author Alexis Cubit at acubit@gannett.com and observe her on X at @Alexis_Cubit.
