Analysis: Top players, questions, one thought after Purdue women's basketball holds off Rutgers

The Boilermakers led by 12 with 5:41 to play but needed a defensive stand on the final play to secure their third-straight victory.

Welcome to the game of basketball where unexplained events happen.

It’s a game where Purdue makes eight straight shots to start the third quarter. It's a game where the Boilermakers missed seven consecutive field goal attempts in the final five minutes, along with three free throws in the last 1:12, and nearly let a 12-point lead disappear.

It’s a game where Katie Gearlds called a timeout in the first 1:18 because she didn’t like what was happening on the defensive end. Her team was leading 4-3.

And this final weird occurrence. Rutgers had a basket taken away in the first half after officials determined a foul was called before the successful field goal when the play was reviewed at halftime. How important was that decision in a one-point game?

Purdue survived, outlasting Rutgers 77-76 to improve to 2-1 in Big Ten play and extend its Mackey Arena winning streak to 10.

Smoke Wisconsin by 39 points. Hold off a late-charging Scarlet Knights team, which had only eight players available and didn’t have their leading scorer. The extremes of the last two games were on display. Best of luck trying to figure it out.

They won’t all be like this but buckle up for a wild rollercoaster ride the next three months.

3 PLAYERS OF NOTE

Caitlyn Harper/Jeanae Terry: The combo gets a nod for the final defensive play in keeping Rutgers from flying home with an improbable victory. With 3.6 seconds left – following a Purdue turnover – the Scarlet Knights leaned on Destiny Adams to provide the game-winner. Terry was defending Adams, who took the inbounds pass about 15 feet away from the basket. Adams dribbled left with her right hand and spun to the left, but Harper came from the backside to choke off the baseline and create a double team. While there was contact, it was initiated by Adams, who missed the shot as time expired. It was the biggest stop of the game for the Boilermakers, who couldn’t make enough defensive plays down the stretch to keep Rutgers from making a late charge. Terry and Harper also contributed offensively – before Purdue hit the skids – with a combined 17 points on 7 of 13 shooting and 15 rebounds. Harper scored all nine of her points in the third quarter as the Boilermakers were blistering the nets after halftime. She benefited from a high-low game with freshman Mary Ashley Stevenson feeding Harper on the block. Terry had a typical Terry game with eight points, 10 rebounds and five assists but missed four free throws, including two down the stretch that added to the unexpected drama.

Photo: Purdue’s Jeanae Terry defends Rutgers’ Destiny Adams on the final play (Courtesy Pat Kuhnle/Purdue Exponent)

Madison Layden: She’s been steady throughout her career, but the senior has found a new level of consistency when the Boilermakers jumped back into Big Ten play. Layden is clearly one of the leaders and her teammates know how to follow. She had nine points in the first half before picking up her second foul and watched from the bench as Rutgers inched closer before the halftime buzzer. Purdue struggled to close out the half without Layden and Stevenson and the Scarlet Knights took advantage of their absence to pull within 34-31. Layden had five points in the third-quarter outburst, which saw Purdue put up 29 points but only led by eight. She made the team’s last field goal with 5:41 to play, putting the Boilermakers up 12 after completing the three-point play. She finished with 19 points, and once again hit some early 3-pointers to set the tone. As the competition increases over the next 10 days, Layden’s presence and experience become paramount.

Destiny Adams: The aforementioned transfer from North Carolina nearly pushed the Scarlet Knights into the win column by going 11-for-11 at the line and totaling 23 points, 13 rebounds and no turnovers in 40 minutes. She didn’t hit a field goal in the fourth quarter but was 8 of 8 from the line as Rutgers moved closer with each possession. She had the height advantage against Terry on the final play, but Harper’s double team knocked her out of rhythm. She scored 10 points above her average, in part because leading scorer Kaylene Smikle wasn’t available, but her performance should be good news for the Scarlet Knights, who could create issues for Big Ten teams on the offensive end for once throughout the rest of the season.

Photo: Purdue’s Caitlyn Harper vs. Rutgers (Dave Wegiel Photography)

2 QUESTIONS

• Can Purdue continue to limit its turnovers? Had 10 on Tuesday and 12 against Wisconsin, clearly the best two-game stretch of the season.

• Will the Boilermakers squeeze out at least one win during the upcoming four-game stretch against Maryland, Iowa, Penn State and Indiana?

1 FINAL THOUGHT

Purdue completed an important two-game stretch, beating a pair of lower-division teams at home to hold serve. The next stretch will be tougher, but the opportunity to grab a win or two – with a pair of games at Mackey Arena – is staring them in the face. Don’t discount the chances at Maryland, which has drifted out of the top four in the league conversation and isn’t the same powerhouse it once was. We’ll learn a little more about the Terrapins on Wednesday when they play at Minnesota. But from the Boilermakers’ standpoint, riding a three-game winning streak heading to College Park presents an opportunity to erase the painful loss at Minnesota last month and provide a huge lift going into next week. There continue to be signs of growth and contributions across the board. The combined 11 points from Rashunda Jones and Sophie Swanson helped carry the Boilermakers in the first half. Mila Reynolds’ 10 minutes were solid on Tuesday. However, we’ll see if the fourth-quarter problems that haunted Purdue earlier in the season are more than a one-game issue. The Boilermakers certainly can’t afford for this to become a trend again.

Photo: Tim Newton, the radio voice of the Boilermakers, addresses the crowd at halftime (Dave Wegiel Photography)

BONUS ITEM

The women’s basketball program honored longtime radio play-by-play star Tim Newton at halftime of Tuesday’s game after he broadcast his 1,000th game last month. T-shirts with Newton’s milestone were passed out as fans entered Mackey Arena.

Newton was presented with a plaque with a microphone by Learfield, which holds the radio rights to Purdue broadcasts. Newton’s family was on the court during the recognition.

A video tribute from former players and coaches was shown during the ceremony, acknowledging Newton’s achievement and what he’s meant to the program over three-plus decades.

Purdue announced at halftime the creation of the Tim & Susan Women's Basketball Endowment. An anonymous donor made the gift.