Purdue women's basketball exhibition victory: Standout players, questions and one thought

The Boilermakers cruised past Quincy on Sunday and now turn their attention to the season opener Nov. 6 at UCLA.

Plenty of good individual performances Sunday during the Purdue women’s basketball team’s 106-45 exhibition victory over Quincy. But it gets real for the Boilermakers in eight days when they visit No. 4 UCLA.

GAME STATS

3 PLAYERS OF NOTE

Jayla Smith: In our preview, we stated Smith – now a junior with a lot of game experience to lean on – needs to find a consistent level of play for the program to continue to inch forward. Smith is talented, can do things other players can’t, and is a bad matchup for opponents when she’s focused on what’s in front of her. Sunday was one of those days. Granted, Smith overwhelmed the Division II players with her athletic ability, savvy, and skills to score 20 points and was one of the most impressive players on the floor. But how does Smith harness this type of performance against Big Ten competition and the Power 5 programs on the schedule? She’s more than capable and has flashed a lot of talent during her career. The Boilermakers have a handful of veteran players they can rely on, and Smith is one who can make a difference every game.

VIDEO: Courtesy Purdue Athletics

Rashunda Jones: The freshman guard’s reputation on the defensive end has followed the South Bend Washington graduate to West Lafayette. She can be a game-changer on the defensive end, and that will lead to more production on offense, not only for Jones but for her teammates. She’ll face players equal or better throughout the season, but Jones plays with a level of confidence that she’s unlikely to get rattled. She’ll bring a spark off the bench, assuming she doesn’t crack the starting lineup at some point and is showing signs of getting her teammates more involved. One play from Sunday provided an example. Jones pushed the ball up the floor, dribbled to the middle, and found freshman McKenna Layden on the wing. Layden drained a 3-pointer. It might not be a big deal to those on the outside, but plays of that nature are essential in the growth and development of the young point guard.

Mary Ashely Stevenson: Extremely efficient game for the freshman forward with enough perimeter skills to cause matchup problems throughout the season. She posted a double double – 15 points, 12 rebounds in 15 minutes. Another player whose talent level stood out against the competition. She’ll take a step up in class – along with her teammates – at UCLA, but this was a good start. Stevenson brings different elements to this year’s team, skills missing from the program for several seasons. Her ability to step out and shoot - and also - hit 3-pointers will stretch defenses. Love the hustle from Stevenson, who sprinted in from the perimeter, picked up an offensive rebound, and scored during a 50-point game. Gearlds needs this freshman class to be difference makers, and Stevenson is one who will help the Boilermakers win a few more games.

VIDEO: Courtesy Purdue Athletics

2 QUESTIONS

• Will McKenna Layden lead Big Ten freshmen in 3-point shooting this season? She was 4 of 5 from beyond the arc, including four straight to start the game.

• How will the bench minutes be distributed once the regular season starts?

1 FINAL THOUGHT

How much of what we saw Sunday will translate to the Nov. 6 opener against the Bruins? Probably not a lot. Obviously, the Boilermakers won’t find the game as easy as Sunday and will be challenged to run offense in the halfcourt when UCLA shuts down their transition game, among other things. They’ll be forced to handle a lot of adversity, play with poise and composure when a wave of athleticism, talent, and size comes charging at them. The question – who will be on the floor to get the Boilermakers out of those situations? It’s a long process to see who Gearlds will trust in crucial situations, and that’s why next week will provide some early answers, more than what we learned on Sunday. But this will be a great learning experience for this team, which has improved its roster with more skill and overall basketball IQ. Those elements may not surface against one of the nation’s top teams in November, but the hope is that you’ll see it once the Big Ten season starts.