Kianna Smith and Liz Dixon each scored 13 points for Louisville, number 10, who beat Washington 61-53 on Saturday.

The Cardinals (3-1) led to 16 at the end of the third quarter, but had to fend off a late charge from the Huskies to win their third straight game.

Haley Van Dyke scored 15 points and took seven rebounds for Washington (2-1), and Alexis Whitfield came off the bench for 10 points.

Haley Van Lith had a pair of free throws with 2:42 left to stop the Huskies’ 11-0 run that reduced Louisville’s lead to 54-51. Emily Engstler then hit a righting jumper with 1:52 left for a 58-51 lead that Washington couldn’t clear. Van Lith finished with 11 points.

The Cardinals were trailing five early with a cold shot, missing 12 of their first 18 shots and were 0 of 3 off the 3-point line.

Louisville forced five of Washington’s 14 first-half turnovers in under three minutes. Then Smith hit the team’s top 3 with 4:10 left in the half to break a tie of 19 and start a 14-4 run.

Louisville led 52-36 with 3:10 left, but the Huskies rallied to reduce the lead to 54-51. Mykasa Robinson and Smith had three free throws to end the game.

BIG PICTURE

Louisville: Coach Jeff Walz improved to 14-4 against the Pac-12, but his team didn’t have much fun against the conference this year after starting the season with a 61-59 loss in overtime against the 11th Arizona.

Washington: Until new coach Tara Langley finds a solution to the point guard, which may not happen this season, turnovers will continue to cost Washington games. Louisville scored 17 points on turnovers.

FOLLOWING

Louisville: At Cal Poly Tuesday.

Washington: Plays VCU at the Goombay Splash tournament in the Bahamas on Thursday.