No. 16 Indiana holds off Purdue women's basketball: 3 takeaways
IU's veterans take over in the fourth quarter to post a 74-68 victory at Mackey Arena and extend its wining streak over the Boilermakers to 10 straight.
Three takeaways from Sunday’s loss at Mackey Arena
SCORING DROUGHTS
The Boilermakers started fast, scoring 29 points in the first quarter, but hit a lull during the next 15 minutes, allowing the Hoosiers to build a seven-point lead. Purdue could’ve called it a day but responded in a way we haven’t seen this season. The Boilermakers battled through the adversity and kept coming back, something to build on the rest of the season. In the end, though, too many scoring droughts against the Hoosiers, who were draining 3-pointers all day. Purdue's losing streak now sits at four.
“We had a really hot start, and I think the big thing for us is maintaining that throughout the whole game,” center Caitlyn Harper said. “It’s a tough spot for us just trying to be consistent, and I know the turnovers we’ve been working on, and I know we take accountability for that.”
Purdue had 13 turnovers after committing 19 in its previous two games against Penn State and Maryland.
Purdue’s Caitlyn Harper goes against Indiana’s Mackenzie Holmes (Dave Wegiel Photography)
JONES SHINES
When Purdue needed someone to step up, Rashunda Jones entered the picture. The freshman, who scored 23 points in Thursday’s loss at Penn State, raised her level of play throughout Sunday’s game but stepped up late in the third quarter. Jones isn’t shy about attacking the basket and did so earlier in the game when she challenged IU center Mackenzie Holmes. She did it again late in the third quarter, bringing Purdue within 51-49. But Jones delivered another big play – a 3-pointer off a pass from Abbey Ellis at the third-quarter buzzer, giving the Boilermakers a 54-51 lead. Jones finished with 13 points.
“Going into this game, I didn’t want to fear anything or look scared; you’ll come out playing timid if you’re scared,” Jones said. “I just came out and thought: ‘Attack, Attack, Attack.’ ”
BOX SCORE: Indiana 74, Purdue 68
TOO MANY 3-POINTERS
Purdue couldn’t keep up with the Hoosiers on the 3-point line. IU started 4 of 4 and continued hitting from beyond the arc, thanks to Sara Scalia, Yarden Garzon and Chole Moore-McNeil. The Hoosiers had 15 3-pointers, including 4 of 4 to start the fourth quarter. That was the difference. Holmes made her first 3-pointer of the season to break a 56-56 tie early in the fourth quarter. Harper scored inside - she finished with 18 points - to keep the Boilermakers within striking distance, and the production from Jones allowed them to stay connected but couldn’t slow down the Hoosiers from the perimeter. IU had this type of production without one of its top 3-pointer shooters - Sydney Parrish - who suffered a foot injury in Friday’s practice. Scalia and Moore-McNeil combined for 40 points, hitting 9 of 14 from 3-point range.
BY THE NUMBERS
Points per possession: Indiana 1.156, Purdue 1.030
Points off turnovers: Indiana 15, Purdue 13
Points in the paint: Indiana 18, Purdue 30
Second-chance points: Indiana 8, Purdue 13
Fastbreak points: Indiana 2, Purdue 4
2-point field goal percentage: Indiana 42.3 (11 of 26); Purdue 45.8 (22 of 48)
It will always be a make or miss game. Fewer turnovers led to more scoring chances for Purdue. We'll see if this is the beginning of a good stretch or a one-time thing before a good home crowd. The key is do this in front of 3,000 people on the road.
I was pleased with the reduction in turnovers. After the last couple of games, that was a welcome change.
IU's three point shooting was absolutely incredible, and some of those were not good shots. They just kept falling. On the other end, Mary Ashley Stevenson had a lot of good shots go halfway down.
It's never fun to lose to your rival, especially at home, but this felt like one of their best games of the season. If they can keep this up, the victories will come.