Shoni Schimmel scores 25, No. 5 Louisville holds off South Florida 62-54 for 9th straight win

Louisville forward Sara Hammond (00) goes over South Florida guard Shalethia Stringfield (23) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game on Sunday, Jan. 12, 2014, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) (The Associated Press)

South Florida guard Trimaine McCullough (5) runs into Louisville guard Monny Niamke (2) while driving upcourt during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game on Sunday, Jan. 12, 2014, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) (The Associated Press)

Shoni Schimmel scored 25 points, five of them in the final seven minutes to help fifth-ranked Louisville hold off South Florida 62-54 on Sunday.

Schimmel's three-point play finished an 11-1 run the Cardinals (16-1, 4-0 American Athletic Conference) used to take control for good after USF (8-8, 3-2) trimmed what had been a 17-point second-half deficit to 49-47. Sara Hammond began the spurt with a 3-point play and finished with 14.

Courtney Williams led USF with 19 points, but only had four in the second half. Alisia Jenkins had 12 points and led a 17-2 run that got the Bulls back into the game.

Louisville overcame cold shooting for the second straight game, building its big lead after settling for a 33-27 halftime lead while shooting 33 percent from the field and committing 10 turnovers before intermission.