LOUISVILLE, Ky. — With each missed fourth-quarter free throw, No. 5 Louisville drew closer to discovering the hard way how much every point mattered against No. 19 Kentucky.

All of which made the Cardinals appreciate the few they made to escape the archrival Wildcats.

Asia Durr scored 32 points and made the first of several critical free throws down the stretch that helped Louisville hold off Kentucky 80-75 on Sunday. The victory earned Bluegrass bragging rights for the third year in a row for the Cardinals, but only after they nearly let it slip away at the foul line.

The Cardinals (10-0) appeared to have the game in control with an 18-point lead midway through the third quarter and a 67-52 lead entering the fourth. But Kentucky rallied to within four twice in the final 30 seconds as Louisville missed the front end of several opportunities in the final minutes that would have sealed the game.

Durr’s second foul shot with 25 seconds left gave Louisville a 78-73 cushion and Sam Fuehring made one of two from the line 11 seconds later to make it 79-73. Maci Morris’ jumper brought Kentucky (9-1) within four before Arica Carter finally sealed it, making the second of two free throws with five seconds left.

“I don’t know what was up at the free throw line,” Fuehring said about Louisville’s 5-of-12 shooting from the line. “Everybody (was) just missing their first shot and feeling like because we saw our teammates miss their first shot, it was so much pressure for us to make it because other teammates would make their first shot.

“It wasn’t nerve wracking, just mental with us.”

Louisville coach Jeff Walz added, “I’ve seen better. You’ve got to step up and make 2 of 2. I’m not even sure what it was the last three minutes, I’m waiting to go back and look. It was bad.”

Especially since Louisville looked so good for the first 35 minutes thanks to Durr.

The senior did much of her damage with 19 first-half points and finished a point off her season high.