Jayda Curry

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Before his University of Louisville women’s basketball team left for the GLOBL Jam, Cards coach Jeff Walz said that he liked his rebuilt squad.

On Wednesday in Toronto, the Cardinals delivered their first 40-minute package of evidence of what Walz liked about the team, which is integrating six transfers.

Getting 22 points from Sydney Taylor (UMass), 10 points and seven rebounds from Kiki Jefferson (James Madison) and seven assists from Jayda Curry (California), the Cardinals stormed to a 21-point lead at halftime and routed Puerto Rico, 78-55.

"I was extremely pleased," Walz said. "I mean, obviously, it's July 12. It's not like I'm sitting here looking at this as if it's January 12. But I've seen a lot of growth at the defensive end over this past week. And then today, I thought we did some really nice things." 

Kiki Jefferson

Forward Kiki Jefferson had 10 points and 7 rebounds as Louisville defeated Puerto Rico at the GLOBL Jam in Toronto Wednesday. Photo courtesy: GLOBL Jam.

Taylor, a 5-foot-9 guard, showed that the 104 three-point field goals she made last season were no fluke. Taylor was 6 of 10 from distance for the Cards and also made both of her free throws, plus a two-point field goal for 22 points.

"She is just smooth with every shot that she puts up," Walz said. "When it comes off her hand, it looks like it's going in."

Walz started a lineup that featured three transfers as well as a pair of returnees. Forward Nyla Harris scored 12 points, making 5 of 7 two-point attempts. Center Olivia Cochran contributed 10 points and seven rebounds.

"We were very fortunate to get a group that complements each other," Walz said. "I think you saw that today."

Louisville distributed the ball well, racking up 27 assists on 30 made field goals. Nine of the 10 Cardinals who played scored at least one basket. They also forced 27 turnovers, scoring 29 points off of them.

"I've got to find someone who's willing to do what Mykasa (Robinson) did," Walz said. "Are you willing to get out there and guard, come up with second-chance possessions, do those small things and not worry about if you score 4, 6, 8 points? But you can have a huge impact on the game.

"So, everybody's not going to be able to score 20 (points) every single night. But, I think we have several that have the ability to do that. And that is going to make us harder to guard."

The Cards will continue play in Toronto Thursday with a game against Team Canada at 5:30 p.m.

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