Louisville Survives Boston College Upset Bid in ACC Tournament Opener

The Cardinals trailed by three with under 90 seconds to go before scoring the final six points of the game.

GREENSBORO, N.C. (AP) — Nyla Harris had 14 points and nine rebounds, Olivia Cochran made key steals down the stretch and No. 24 Louisville beat Boston College 58-55 on Thursday.

Louisville (24-8), a No. 5 seed, advances to the Friday quarterfinals against 14th-ranked Notre Dame. The teams split the regular-season series, most recently a 74-58 victory for Notre Dame on March 3 to clinch the fourth seed for a double bye.

Louisville’s pressure defense forced Boston College into six turnovers in the final two minutes. The Eagles didn’t score after T’yana Todd sank a 3-pointer from the corner with 3:41 left for a 55-52 lead.

Sydney Taylor intercepted a cross-court pass and found Harris under the basket to get within 55-54 with 1:18 left. Cochran made a steal at the other end and Nina Rickards raced the other way for a layup that was short, but Harris grabbed the offensive rebound and put it back for a 56-55 lead.

Cochran missed two free throws with 6.5 seconds left. Boston College got it to midcourt before Louisville intentionally fouled with one to give. The Eagles’ heave at the buzzer did not come close at the buzzer.

Cochran finished with nine points, going just 5 of 10 at the free-throw line, for Louisville.

Teya Sidberry scored 22 points, reaching 20-plus for the second straight game, for No. 13 seed Boston College (14-19). Todd and Dontavia Waggoner each added 12 points.

Waggoner made two free throws with 1:07 left in the third quarter to cap an 11-0 run and give Boston College its first lead, 44-42, since it was 16-15. Louisville went without a point for over five minutes, combined with seven turnovers in the third quarter.

(Photo of Nyla Harris, Jeff Walz: Kareem Elgazzar - The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK)

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