The Wildcats (8-0) put pressure on Louisville early, holding the Cardinals with just one field goal over a 10-minute stretch in the first half. During that span, Kentucky used a 15-3 run to take a 25-10 lead. Only once for the rest of the game did the Cardinals (7-2) get within single digits.

Kentucky created space with its 3-point shooting. The Wildcats, who were shooting 28.4 percent from behind the arc before Sunday, finished 10 of 19.

The 3s came at crucial times, too. Louisville's Becky Burke hit a 3-pointer to close the gap to 50-37 with 14:40 left, but UK's Kastine Evans answered with a deep ball of her own. That proved to be the closest the Cardinals would get in the second half.

Louisville's Shoni Schimmel finished with 17 points and five assists.

Kentucky coach Matthew Mitchell said his goal was to use his team's depth as an advantage, and he did early: Five players scored during that stretch, and Mitchell used 10 players during that run to keep up the full-court intensity without tiring his players.

Kentucky outrebounded Louisville 35-24 and the Wildcats had a 24-10 advantage in second-chance points.

When the Cardinals got within 56-42 with 11:01 left, Kentucky's Amber Smith and Evans hit consecutive 3s to fend off Louisville's final push.