Noles rally to deal Cardinals 1st loss

LOUISVILLE, KY. — A.J. Alix made a go-ahead 3-pointer with 1:04 remaining and Nicole Ekhomu added a free throw with 7.8 seconds left, helping No. 12 Florida State hand No. 2 Louisville its first loss of the season, 50-49 Sunday.

The Seminoles (18-2, 6-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) trailed 22-9 after the first quarter before rallying, taking their first lead at 37-36 in the third quarter. They won despite shooting just 28 per- cent overall.

Arica Carter’s 3-pointer put Louisville (20-1, 6-1) ahead with 1:54 to go. Alix answered from long range, then Ekhomu made the sec- ond of two from the line.

Louisville missed one shot and committed two turnovers in the final 30 seconds before Myisha Hines-Allen hit a layup as time ran out.

Hines-Allen finished with 13. The Cardinals made just 7 of 30 shots after halftime.

Shakayla Thomas had 14 points and 11 rebounds while Imani Wright scored 10 points for Florida State. The Seminoles have won four in a row and eight of nine.

Big picture: The Seminoles couldn’t have started worse, missing 14 of their first 17 shots and 22 of 32 in the first half. And yet they trailed just 32-26 at the break and got within 32-29 early in the third quarter as shots began falling. They created chances through an effective zone that slowed the Car- dinals and made Asia Durr work harder for shots. Alix then made the big shot.

Poll implications: The Cardinals could drop a few spots but remain in the Top Five with their first loss. FSU could break into the Top 10 after its signature win.