Junior guard Lexy Kresl (1) jumps for a layup past Iowa’s Claire Till (3) during a women’s NCAA basketball game, Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2013, at the Coors Events Center in Boulder, Colo. On Saturday, the Buffs lost to Louisville. (Kai Casey/CU Independent)

After a hard-fought battle against the No. 7 University of Louisville Cardinals on Saturday, the No. 11 University of Colorado women’s basketball team picked up its first loss of the season, 69-62. The Buffaloes’ record now stands at 9-1.

Junior guard Lexy Kresl led the Buffs with 17 points and eight rebounds, followed by sophomore forward Arielle Roberson and junior forward Jen Reese with 14 points each.

Reese came off the bench to pick up a double-double during the game, grabbing 14 rebounds to complement her 14 points.

The Buffs struggled offensively against the Cardinals, only shooting 21 for 57 from the field (36.8 percent), three for 12 from the three-point range (25.0 percent) and 17 for 30 from the free throw line (56.7 percent).

The team’s defense kept the game close. Despite their shooting woes, the Buffs managed to hold the Cardinals to 22 for 65 from the field (33.8 percent), one for 10 from the three-point range (10.0 percent) and 24 for 40 from the foul line (60.0 percent).

Louisville guard Shoni Schimmel was a major thorn in Colorado’s side, scoring a game-high 30 points and seven rebounds.

For the first time this season, the Buffs were out-rebounded, 52 to 47.

Throughout the first half, the score was tied six times as the Buffs kept the competition tight with the Cardinals. When the score reached 24 all with five minutes left in the first half, the Buffs started to gain control. They held a slight edge for the next two minutes until Schimmel tied up the score again, 29-29.

Going into the half, the Cardinals led the Buffs 33-29.

The Buffs fought back when the second half started, outscoring the Cardinals seven to three to get back in the competition, and tied it up at 36. They tied the game once more at 37 before the Cardinals regained control.

After that, the Buffs never caught back up to the Cardinals. They went down by as much as seven points before finally falling 69-62.

The Buffs return to Boulder at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 29 to take on Southern Utah University.

Contact CU Independent staff writer Alissa Noe at Alissa.noe@colorado.edu.