SYRACUSE, N.Y. (Interstat) — A dominant opening quarter set the tone, and a resilient response after a second-quarter surge secured the result as the Louisville women’s basketball team handled Syracuse 84-65 in an Atlantic Coast Conference contest Sunday at the Carrier Dome.

The Cardinals, improving to 22-4 overall, opened the game on a 22-0 run and led 28-6 after the first quarter, effectively burying the Orange early before a crowd of 3,617. Syracuse, which fell to 19-5, mounted a fierce 30-point second quarter to claw back within single digits, but Louisville steadied itself after halftime to pull away for a decisive 19-point victory.

Louisville’s early explosion was fueled by suffocating defense and efficient offense. The Cardinals forced seven Syracuse turnovers in the first quarter while holding the Orange to 2-of-13 shooting from the field. At the other end, Louisville connected on 11 of its 17 first-quarter attempts. Reserve forward Anaya Hardy was instrumental in the opening burst, scoring six quick points off the bench, while Laura Ziegler and Elif Istanbulluoglu combined for 10 points in the period.

The game’s most critical juncture arrived in the second quarter, as Syracuse guard Dominique Darius caught fire. The Jacksonville, Florida, native scored 16 of her team-high 22 points in the period, spearheading a 30-point frame for the Orange that cut a 22-point deficit to just 44-36 at halftime. Syracuse shot 50% in the quarter and capitalized on eight Louisville turnovers to fuel the comeback bid.

Faced with the revived challenge, Louisville reasserted control after the break. The Cardinals opened the third quarter with a 7-1 spurt to rebuild a double-digit lead they would not relinquish. While Syracuse’s Darius and Izoje Uche continued to score, Louisville answered every push with a key basket, often from Ziegler or guard Imari Berry, to maintain a comfortable margin. The Cardinals outscored Syracuse 23-20 in the third to lead 67-56 entering the final period and then limited the Orange to just nine points on 3-of-15 shooting in the fourth quarter to seal the win.

Ziegler, a 6-foot-2 forward from Herlev, Denmark, led all scorers with 22 points, adding three rebounds, three assists and two blocks in 31 minutes. Her performance followed a 22-point outing in a win at Stanford last week. For Louisville, Mackenly Randolph of Los Angeles contributed 15 points and eight rebounds, while Clarksville, Tennessee, native Imari Berry also scored 15 points and dished out five assists. Tajianna Roberts of San Diego chipped in 12 points, five rebounds and five assists.

For Syracuse, Darius’s 22 points came with two rebounds and two assists. Uche, from Delta State, Nigeria, posted a strong all-around line of 13 points, eight rebounds, two assists and four blocks. Sophie Burrows of Lower Plenty, Australia, added 11 points.

Statistically, Louisville’s efficiency proved decisive. The Cardinals shot 54.1% from the field (33 of 61) and held Syracuse to 38.6% shooting (22 of 57). While Syracuse won the turnover battle 18-15 and had more steals (15-12) and assists (15-12), Louisville’s significant advantage in field goal percentage and its 11-of-14 performance from the free-throw line outweighed those metrics. The Cardinals also posted an offensive rating of 112.5 points per 100 possessions, far surpassing Syracuse’s 90.3.

Louisville entered the game as a 9.5-point favorite according to sportsbooks, and the combined score of 149 points fell well under the posted over/under of 139.5. Interstat’s ELO system had given the Cardinals a 74.5% probability to win.

The victory gives Louisville momentum heading into a Thursday home game against Wake Forest. Syracuse, which saw a four-game winning streak snapped, looks to rebound on the road at Pittsburgh on Thursday.