Purdue women's basketball 84, Wisconsin 71: First Big Ten victory snaps losing streak
The Boilermakers closed out the Badgers with a big fourth quarter to halt the nine-game skid
Thoughts and takeaways from Sunday’s game at Mackey Arena:
• First Big Ten win of the season after 10 straight losses. First victory since Dec. 22 against Indiana State. The nine-game losing streak is over. Northwestern is the only winless team.
“Feels great,” senior Ella Collier said. “We're all excited in the locker room. It's good to finally leave Mackey with a win and being excited about how we played.”
No special celebration. No one dumped water or a liquid beverage on Katie Gearlds.
“We're not that team,” Gearlds said. “We won one game in the Big Ten. They know better than that.”
Just plenty of smiles and high-fives. It’s one win after a long dry spell of blowouts and embarrassing losses. It’s a game the Boilermakers had to win to keep their chances alive at qualifying for the Big Ten tournament. Although Purdue lost to Nebraska by six points, the players gained some confidence, which showed up on Sunday. The Boilermakers had a different look about them.
“It gave us a glimpse of what it takes to win a Big Ten game,” freshman Kendall Puryear said. “I think we started to figure it out.”
Still plenty of work ahead to salvage something out of the season, but it had to start somewhere.
• Purdue led by one early in the fourth quarter but used a 12-0 run to create enough separation. This was a new position during the conference season. How would the Boilermakers handle it? Collier's two 3-pointers keyed the run, the second one increasing the lead to 10, and Puryear’s play. Collier finished with 15 points, delivering big shots.
“I'm glad I got to see a few going in today,” Collier said. “It feels good, for sure.”
This was expected from Collier this season, but it hasn’t materialized.
“She's been doing everything we asked her to do, and she's been a great leader,” Gearlds said. “I think they all call her Momma E. She’s that for all of them, all those young guys.
“She hit the one open 3 in the fourth quarter, but the one that was a little bit more contested was one that she hadn't been taking all year. It was a big shot. I would do anything for her to finish the rest of her career on a note like this.”
• Puryear continues to show off her development. There’s been growth, and the confidence is different today compared to the middle of January. The freshman has faced some of the top post players in the conference, and Wisconsin’s Serah Williams is another. Puryear took it to Williams in the fourth quarter, scoring 10 of her season-high 18 points. She had back-to-back baskets down the stretch, giving the Boilermakers a 72-63 advantage. Her transition basket from Lombard’s pass was impressive.
“The biggest thing is she's slowed down a little bit,” Gearlds said. “It's when she gets sped up, the travels or the turnovers come. We've done a better job of staying on the perimeter and giving her a little bit more space to move.
“We use the word wiggle. She could wiggle down there a little bit differently than Lana. When you think of the word dog, KP is a dog, and she wants it. She's been just incredible.”
Puryear doesn’t back down. She fights and keeps going against more experienced and talented players, and the experience is valuable.
“It’s been helpful,” Puryear said. “It’s been a lot of practicing post defense, like every single day.”
• If the Boilermakers were going to start winning, they needed contributions from everyone. That happened Sunday before a group of more than 40 former players and coaches. Collier and Puryear led the way. Sophie Swanson was more engaged and looking for shots other than 3-pointers. She made one from beyond the arc but converted 8 of 8 from the line. Swanson added two assists, two steals, and no turnovers in 17 minutes while battling foul trouble and overcoming the cramping issues from Thursday. And McKenna Layden continues to give the Boilermakers good minutes. She made four 3-pointers but led the team in rebounding again with nine. Layden is also defending post players, and she’s been out-manned down low but has held up well. She ended up on Williams a handful of times. Layden has added a boost after joining the starting lineup. Purdue scored 58 points in the first and fourth quarters and only 26 in the second and third periods.
“For us to score 80 points and we have two really poor quarters,” Gearlds said. “(Sophie’s) just confident. You can see it. She's been confident the last week or so. KP was great inside, and Kenna continued to stretch the floor. Ella getting eyes on the rim. Thought Destini (Lombard) and (Rashunda Jones) were solid. I thought Reagan (Bass) minutes were huge.”
• Williams is on her way to another first-team All-Big Ten honor. The 6-foot-4 junior totaled 28 points and made 12 of 15 free throws. Purdue nearly used all of its fouls trying to defend Williams. Puryear finished with four, Bass had three, and Lana McCarthy was whistled for two in the first quarter. Williams had a big first half, scoring 17, but was quiet until the Boilermakers led by 13 with less than five minutes to play. Williams didn’t stay stationary on the block in the first half, moving out of the lane to escape double teams.
• Tess Myers killed the Boilermakers from the 3-point line for 25 minutes. She made 5 of 7 but missed her last four attempts. Myers missed four attempts when the Badgers trailed by six or fewer points.
MORE: Box score | Chad Krockover Photography | Dave Wegiel Photography | Mark Elsner Photography
• It’s simple. Compared to Thursday against Nebraska, the Boilermakers committed 10 fewer turnovers and attempted 10 more shots. When Gearlds’ team is shooting 50%, as has been the case the last two games, the production picks up when turnovers aren’t piling up. It’s not hard to figure out.
• Didn’t expect a combined 52 points in the first quarter from the two lowest-scoring teams in the Big Ten in conference games. The Badgers were averaging 60.7 points in 10 league games. The Boilermakers were averaging 55.4.
• Purdue tried to foul at the end of the first half since it had one to give. But the official ignored it. Ronnie Porter hit a corner 3-pointer to bring the Badgers within 45-39, capping a 6-0 run. That became part of an 18-8 run into the third quarter.
• Campbell Thulin, a 2027 combo guard from Downer’s Grove, Illinois, attended Sunday’s game. Purdue hasn’t offered Thulin.
• Redshirt freshman Amiyah Reynolds was on the injury report released before Sunday’s game. Reynolds is dealing with a shin injury and will be evaluated this week. Purdue doesn’t play until Sunday at Rutgers.
“We wanted to give her a chance to heal up,” Gearlds said. “Hopefully, she can take the time and continue rehab therapy, and we'll reevaluate.”
The Boilermakers are off Monday and will practice Tuesday and Wednesday before taking Thursday off and resume preparations Friday and Saturday.
“Just therapy and rehab for her until Friday, and we’ll see how her body responds to that,” Gearlds said. “But the kid has been playing through pain and giving us everything she has. Hopefully, we can find a way to get her back on the court.”
It was a great PURDUE win—even tho it wasn’t against one of the power houses— what a game— and you know what—- they can win this next game also —- all they have to do is play smart and as a team— next year will be a great year—we have a lot of scoring from the under class players— plus 3 (4) star players coming . I want to say a great wrap -up by Mike Carmin— like he always does after every game— hats off to you Mike —- GO BOILERS !!!
I know the level of competition wasn't as good, but it was great to see so many of the key players clicking. Puryear's post moves remind me a lot of Trey Kaufman-Renn. She is going to be a GREAT player if she keeps developing.