Purdue women's basketball report: Rutgers preview, Layden's contributions, Super Bowl pick
After a week off, the Boilermakers return to action Sunday seeking a two-game Big Ten winning streak
A snapshot look at Sunday’s matchup between the Boilermakers and the Scarlet Knights at Jersey Mike’s Arena:
Time: 1 p.m. (ET)
Watch: B1G+
Listen: 95.3 BOB-FM
WHAT’S AT STAKE
Plenty of drama at the bottom of the standings. Purdue and Rutgers are two teams with one conference victory, and a win on Sunday creates separation and gives someone the tiebreaker, which could come into play when deciding who makes the league tournament.
ABOUT PURDUE
• A week off after snapping a nine-game losing streak and picking up its first Big Ten victory, and now a chance to make it two in a row. The last time the Boilermakers won consecutive conference regular-season games was last year against Wisconsin and Rutgers. Could they follow the same script? Purdue scored 84 points, its most in a Big Ten game this season, against the Badgers last week and has shot 50% in the previous two games.
• It’s easy to notice McKenna Layden’s 3-point shooting contributions. But Layden’s rebounding, especially on the defensive end, is just as important. The sophomore has led the team in rebounding in seven of the last eight games, including five as a starter.
“Whether it's her timing, her length, or just understanding of the game, her ability to defensive rebound has helped us immensely,” Purdue coach Katie Gearlds said. “We can get out in transition.”
It’s been a fundamental approach to rebounding for the 6-foot-2 Layden, who focused on boxing out at a younger age.
“I'm not the biggest, so I've always been told, ‘You’ve got to box out. You’ve got to read it depending on where they’re shooting it,’ ” she said. “It’s been both the right place at the right time and just boxing out.”
Layden plays power forward and is usually near the basket on defensive possessions, which allows her to grab more rebounds. If she’s on the perimeter:
“It’s easier for me to fly in and help the post players that are holding their man.”
Layden was still dealing with a stress fracture in her foot at the start of the season and missed the first six games. She received an injection before Purdue hosted Indiana State and didn’t play. Once Big Ten play resumed, Layden’s minutes increased and saw more action starting during the loss to No. 1 UCLA.
She isn’t afraid to shoot and showed plenty of toughness on the defensive end, fighting for rebounds and loose balls. She played well against Michigan and was inserted into the starting lineup on Jan. 15 at Oregon, where she’s remained.
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In the last two games, Layden has made eight 3-pointers and totaled 24 points. Of her 70 field goal attempts, 66 are from 3-point range.
“It's no secret that she really only shoots 3s but is still able to get 10, 11, 12 (shots) off because she's smart and understands where she's supposed to be,” Gearlds said. “I think everybody's eyes have started to find, ‘OK, where's McKenna?’ We know she can get a shot off.”
Layden embraced the idea that she would have to play through soreness. The stress fracture isn’t going to heal during the season, and Layden will have to deal with whatever pain is associated with the injury. She’s been told there’s a cyst near the fracture that needs to be removed.
She’s showing another level of toughness.
“You're playing college basketball, you're always going to have some sort of injury, some sort of soreness, whatever it may be,” Layden said. “I'm not one to feel bad for myself that I'm in pain. I know everyone else has something going on, so just the fact that I'm able to even be out there and play, and that's all I try to worry about in the moment.
“It may hurt when I'm out there, but I just try to focus on the game and what's important, and that's helping my team do whatever I can to help them win.”
•Amiyah Reynolds isn’t expected to be available on Sunday. She’s dealing with a shin injury. Jordyn Poole continues to recover from a high ankle sprain suffered against Illinois. The Boilermakers are also coping with sickness, and some players have been limited in practice.
SUNDAY UPDATE: Layden, Rashunda Jones and Sophie Swanson are questionable
• Another February. Another Super Bowl for the Kansas City Chiefs. That makes Gearlds happy. Trying to guide her team to a win against the Scarlet Knights remains at the forefront. The team’s charter flight is scheduled to arrive at Purdue around the start of the Super Bowl.
“If we can just find a way to beat Rutgers, I don't care where I watch the game,” Gearlds said. “I don't care if they win, as long as we beat Rutgers.”
Her prediction: Chiefs 37-34.
“Harrison Butker walk-off field goal,” she said.
• Purdue is 23-11 on Super Bowl Sunday.
ABOUT RUTGERS
• Like the Boilermakers, just one Big Ten victory. That came on Jan. 26 at Penn State. The two teams meet in the final regular season game on March 2 at Jersey Mike’s Arena.
• Rutgers features two of the top scorers in the Big Ten - Destiny Adams and Kiyomi McMiller - and Chyna Cornwell has a conference-best 93 offensive rebounds. Adams has reached double figures in every Big Ten game, including 31 points against Ohio State. She’s coming off a 24-point performance at Indiana. McMiller is currently the second-highest scoring freshman in the country, averaging 18.7 points. The duo accounts for 52.2% of the team’s scoring in Big Ten games, creating a challenge for opposing defenses. But the Scarlet Knights haven’t put much together despite a solid 1-2 scoring punch. Rutgers is averaging 61.1 points and shooting a league-worst 36.6% from the field and 27.8% from 3-point range in conference action. Led by Cornwell, the Scarlet Knights are the top offensive rebounding team in the conference but haven’t converted those opportunities into enough points. The Boilermakers must limit Rutgers on the boards and not give up easy baskets.
• The 3-point line has been the difference recently for the Scarlet Knights. They’re 5 of 27 in the last two games, but opponents are shooting 42.2% from beyond the arc in the last five. In Thursday’s loss, Indiana buried 15 3-pointers in the 21-point victory. Each of the previous five opponents made at least eight 3-pointers against the Scarlet Knights. Purdue has matched its season high with nine 3-pointers in the last two games.
PRESSING QUESTION
Can Kendall Puryear continue her solid play? It would help push the Boilermakers to the finish line and a spot in the Big Ten tournament if the freshman delivers more productions on the offensive end. She’s scored 10 or more points in five of the last seven games, becoming the team’s go-to player inside. Puryear had a season-best 18 points in the win over Wisconsin. She’s not in the starting lineup but is averaging 22.3 minutes in the last five games. Puryear has been on the floor down the stretch when it matters.
FYI, McKenna Layden out (illness). Bass back in starting lineup
That was a great write-up for the game by Mike— I don’t think that I can add any thing else— I just want us to control the rebounds— we’ve had some games that we were even — but I want to dominate that part— plus some offensive boards — I love second shots— I think rebounding is having an attitude—IT”S MINE __ GET AWAY !— That could be a big game changer for us— in this game and going forward— someone has to step up— block out and rebound—- I know there is hardly no write-ups about rebounding— its all about 3 pointers and buckets— but this is a very important part—- very-very important —- we have the players that can do it—GO BOILERS!!