GREENVILLE, S.C. (Interstat) — In a defensive struggle defined by missed opportunities at the free-throw line, the Louisville women’s basketball team grinded out a 65-54 victory over Clemson in an Atlantic Coast Conference matchup on Sunday at Bi-Lo Center.

The game was a tale of efficiency, or lack thereof, as both teams struggled to find an offensive rhythm. Louisville ultimately secured the win by capitalizing on Clemson’s mistakes and executing at the charity stripe.

Clemson’s inability to convert free throws proved catastrophic. The Lady Tigers shot a dismal 4 for 14 from the line, leaving a significant number of points unclaimed in a game decided by an 11-point margin. In stark contrast, Louisville was nearly perfect, making 14 of its 15 free-throw attempts.

The contest was tightly contested through the first half. Clemson established an early lead, with Rusne Augustinaite and Demeara Hinds connecting on early baskets. Louisville responded with a balanced attack, finding answers from Tajianna Roberts and Mackenly Randolph from beyond the arc to keep pace. The first half featured seven lead changes and five ties, with neither team able to build a substantial advantage, and Louisville took a narrow lead into the break.

The second half saw Louisville slowly but steadily impose its will. The Cardinals’ defense intensified, forcing 17 Clemson turnovers which they converted into 23 points. While Clemson matched Louisville with 32 points in the paint, the Cardinals’ ability to generate offense from Clemson’s errors provided the crucial separation.

Louisville was led by a dominant performance from Laura Ziegler. The 6-foot-2 forward from Herley, Denmark, recorded a double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds while also playing stout interior defense over her 35 minutes on the court.

She was complemented by backcourt contributors Tajianna Roberts, who finished with 12 points and four assists, and Reyna Scott, who added 10 points and five rebounds off the bench. Imari Berry provided a key spark with nine points, five rebounds, and two assists.

For Clemson, Rusne Augustinaite from Siauliai, Lithuania, shouldered the scoring load with 17 points. Mia Moore of Alpharetta, Georgia, filled the stat sheet with 11 points, eight rebounds, and five assists, while Raven Thompson from Atlanta added 12 points. Hadley Periman was a force defensively, pulling down eight rebounds and registering two blocks.

Despite shooting a slightly higher percentage from the field than Louisville, Clemson’s offensive flow was repeatedly disrupted by turnovers and their crippling performance at the free-throw line. Louisville’s offensive rating of 94.0, while not spectacular, was significantly better than Clemson’s mark of 81.0, illustrating a more effective, if not always pretty, offensive outing.

With the win, Louisville improves its record to 3-1 overall. The Cardinals will look to build on this momentum when they host Morehead State on Wednesday.

Clemson falls to 3-2 with the loss. The Lady Tigers will seek to correct their offensive woes when they travel to face Furman next Sunday.