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McCoughtry powers Louisville in Big East opener

Dec 15, 2006 - 3:41 AM LOUISVILLE, Kentucky (Ticker) -- Angel McCoughtry made sure the start of conference play did not signal an end to Louisville's unblemished record.

McCoughtry scored 25 points and pulled down 18 rebounds as the No. 14 Lady Cardinals posted a 67-62 victory over Cincinnati in the Big East Conference opener for both teams.

A sophomore forward, McCoughtry followed up a career-high 28-point effort in a 70-58 win over Western Kentucky on Saturday, sinking a pair of 3-pointers and converting 9-of-10 free throws. She also blocked four shots and collected three steals.

Trailing, 42-32, at the half, Louisville (10-0, 1-0 Big East) went to the free-throw line to get back in the game, making 12-of-16 after the break. It also turned up the defense, holding Cincinnati to 20 percent (7-of-35) shooting from the field.

Katie Olson had 12 points and seven rebounds and Yuliya Tokova added 10 and eight along with five blocks for the Lady Cardinals, who held a 53-44 advantage on the boards and blocked nine shots.

Shelly Bellman scored 16 points and Treasure Humphries 13 for the Bearcats (7-2, 0-1), who shot 32 percent (23-of-71) overall in failing to score at least 65 points for the first time this season.