LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The Stetson women's basketball team opened its five-game road stretch Wednesday night with a challenging matchup against No. 7 Louisville, falling 87-35 at the KFC Yum! Center in the first-ever meeting between the two programs.
The Hatters (1-1) showed stretches of defensive resilience against the nationally ranked Cardinals (2-0), but Louisville's pressure and ability to capitalize on turnovers proved difficult to overcome. Stetson was held to 23.6 percent shooting from the floor, while the Cardinals converted 30 Hatter turnovers into 40 points.
Cici Driessen led Stetson with a career-high 10 points off the bench, converting all six of her free-throw attempts, while Desireck Nieves and Jorah Eppley added six points apiece.
Louisville opened the contest with eight unanswered points before Sophie Locatelli put the Hatters on the board with a fastbreak layup midway through the first quarter. Stetson began finding opportunities offensively as Driessen and Zoie Lofton followed with baskets in the paint, bringing the Hatters within four at 10-6 with just over four minutes remaining.
The Cardinals responded with a 3-pointer from Grace Mbugua and added to their advantage at the free-throw line, but Stetson continued to create opportunities defensively. The Hatters forced four Louisville turnovers over the final 1:35 of the period, although they were unable to capitalize on those extra possessions as the Cardinals carried a 17-8 lead into the second quarter.
Stetson found an early offensive spark in the second when Eppley connected from beyond the arc off an assist from Addison Godby, cutting the deficit to 20-11. Nieves followed with a pair of baskets to keep the Hatters within reach, but Louisville began to build separation through its defensive pressure and ability to turn turnovers into scoring opportunities.
The Cardinals generated 15 points off turnovers during the quarter, extending their advantage to 31-15 midway through the period. Stetson continued to battle, with Locatelli and Driessen contributing at the free-throw line before Favour Anyaele finished inside off an assist from Locatelli. Louisville, however, maintained its advantage down the stretch, closing the half with a 3-pointer from Tajianna Roberts to take a 40-20 lead into the locker room.
The Hatters returned from halftime looking to establish a rhythm offensively, with Candela Garcia-Escribano connecting on a jumper after Louisville opened the third quarter with consecutive baskets. The Cardinals responded with a decisive scoring run, using their defensive pressure and transition opportunities to extend the margin.
Louisville scored 24 unanswered points during the stretch, but Stetson continued working to create opportunities on the offensive end. Nieves eventually broke the scoring drought with a jumper, while Garcia-Escribano added another basket in the closing minute. Despite those late contributions, the Cardinals entered the final quarter holding a 68-26 advantage.
Eppley provided an early highlight for the Hatters in the fourth, knocking down her second 3-pointer of the evening off an assist from Locatelli. Louisville answered with another scoring run, using its presence on the offensive glass and perimeter shooting to extend the lead to 80-29.
Driessen continued to make the most of her minutes off the bench, converting a pair of free throws following a steal before Godby added a putback basket. The sophomore guard later finished a transition layup to reach double figures for the first time in her collegiate career, completing a career-high 10-point performance.
The Cardinals added a late 3-pointer from Rebekah Graves and held the Hatters scoreless over the final minutes to secure the 87-35 victory.
Hatters Top Performers
Sierra Driessen
- Career-high 10 points
- 6-for-6 from the free-throw line
- 2 steals
Desireck Nieves
- 6 points
- Team-high 7 rebounds
- 2 offensive rebounds
Jorah Eppley
- 6 points
- 2 made 3-pointers
Candela Garcia-Escribano
- 4 points
- 6 rebounds
- 1 steal
Game Notes
- Wednesday marked the first-ever meeting between Stetson and Louisville in women's basketball program history.
- The Hatters moved to 1-1 on the season following their first road contest of the 2026-27 campaign.
- Stetson faced its first nationally ranked opponent of the season in No. 7 Louisville.
- Sierra Driessen established a new career high with 10 points, surpassing her previous best of five.
- Driessen was a perfect 6-for-6 from the free-throw line and led the Hatters in scoring for the first time in her collegiate career.
- Jorah Eppley accounted for both of Stetson's made 3-pointers.
- Desireck Nieves led Stetson with seven rebounds, including two on the offensive glass.
- The Hatters were held to 23.6 percent shooting from the floor, while Louisville finished at 47.0 percent.
- Louisville held a 51-32 advantage on the glass and outscored Stetson 40-9 in points off turnovers.
- Wednesday's contest marked the first of five consecutive road games for the Hatters.
Up Next
The Hatters will continue their five-game road stretch on Sunday, Nov. 8, when they travel to Coral Gables, Florida, to face Miami. Tipoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. at the Watsco Center.
About Stetson Athletics
At Stetson University, student-athletes don't just compete—they thrive. Located in historic DeLand, Florida, between Orlando and Daytona Beach, Stetson offers the perfect blend of competitive athletics, academic excellence, and an unbeatable Central Florida lifestyle. As the oldest private university in the region, Stetson supports approximately 500 student-athletes across 19 NCAA Division I sports. Nicknamed the "Hatters" after the institution's namesake John B. Stetson, a hat manufacturer who originated the modern-day cowboy hat, most Stetson athletic teams compete in the Atlantic Sun Conference, where they proudly hold the longest active membership since 1985. With top-tier facilities, personalized support, and a welcoming campus community, Stetson is where students can grow, compete, and succeed. Learn more at GoHatters.com or follow social media accounts @StetsonHatters.
