The Last Word from Purdue's WNIT victory at Butler: Smith resets, heat check for Reynolds, Terry's milestone
The second-round win advances the Boilermakers to Thursday's 7 p.m. matchup against Duquesne at Mackey Arena
Unexpected contributions. A milestone night. A strong closing kick. And now a home game in the Postseason WNIT.
Final thoughts from the 62-51 victory over Butler on Monday night at Hinkle Fieldhouse before a crowd of 1,968, which included a heavy dose of Purdue fans.
RESET, RESTART
Jayla Smith had nearly become a forgotten commodity. She hadn’t played more than 10 minutes in a game since mid-February against Nebraska. In fact, she didn’t play against Penn State on Feb. 28. She started the first game of the season at UCLA but wasn’t in the starting lineup six days later for the home opener.
Her high mark —before Monday—was a 13-point performance against Florida in the Bahamas in November. However, her minutes continued to dwindle, and she hasn’t reached double figures.
Smith showed flashes but not enough to earn consistent playing time. However, down two starters for Monday’s game – Caitlyn Harper’s injury and Madison Layden opting out – the Boilermakers needed scoring help.
She delivered 11 points, including seven in the second half.
“This is a mental game,” said Smith, who scored a combined 10 points the last seven games. “I just think confidence comes first and I pretty much fed off my teammates for the most part. That’s what helped me.”
But Smith seemed more aggressive on Monday, maybe because the Indianapolis native had plenty of support among the crowd.
“That was helpful too,” Smith said.
When the regular season ended and the possibility of playing in the postseason remained, coach Katie Gearlds spoke with Smith about a fresh start.
“You just keep telling her you believe in her,” Gearlds said. “There’s not a single person who believes in Jayla the way I do. It’s not the year she wanted but it’s not over. Let’s keep building on this. When the season was over, let’s reset, restart and see what we can do.”
How does Smith keep it going?
“Keep doing the same thing,” she said.
“I DID WANT TO BE THAT SPARK”
Same situation for Reynolds, a transfer from Maryland.
Down two starters, and the Boilermakers needed more production from the bench. Like Smith, Reynold delivered.
A tweak to the offense gave Reynolds open looks outside the 3-point line. Gearlds had Mary Ashley Stevenson post down low and used Reynolds on the perimeter. When the Bulldogs doubled inside, Reynolds had her opportunities.
She provided the spark for the Boilermakers to close the first half on a 12-2 run, including nine straight points, to rally from a seven-point deficit. She hit two 3-pointers, and freshman Sophie Swanson scored twice, including after an offensive rebound, and Purdue had a 31-28 lead.
“Mila stayed with it,” Gearlds said. “She hasn’t had the opportunity as much as she probably had hoped but her effort never wavered in practice. Her commitment to her teammates and her team never wavered.”
Reynolds made two more 3-pointers in the third quarter as the Boilermakers stretched their lead. She made four of six from 3-point range and finished with a team-high 15 points.
“I did want to be that spark just to get us going,” Reynolds said. “I know we probably didn’t have anything clicking at the very beginning. I just want to win at the end of the day.”
Like Smith, Reynolds’s season has been long and sometimes frustrating. Before Monday night, the South Bend Washington graduate had made just 3 of 15 from 3-point range. She had scored a combined 10 points in the last 10 games.
It came together at the right time for Reynolds and the Boilermakers.
“I have to stay confident at the end of the day,” she said. “The numbers don’t lie. It looks like I’m probably not the best shooter, but I know what I’m capable of and I got the belief from my teammates and my coaches.”
Reynolds may or may not have tweaked her ankle during the afternoon shootaround. If she did, Gearlds is fine with it happening again.
“We hope she never disappears,” Gearlds said. “If she has to twist her ankle or do whatever in shoot around, we’ll do that too.
LONG WAIT WORTH IT
Purdue didn’t play for 18 days. The Boilermakers’ last game before Monday was March 7 against Nebraska in the Big Ten tournament. And now nearly three weeks later, they’re playing in the second round of a postseason tournament.
Fatigue set in during the first half, allowing the Bulldogs to build a seven-point lead. But to Purdue’s credit, it regrouped and settled into the game.
Most of the practices since the Huskers' loss have taken place without knowing who the opponent will be. The Boilermakers found out last Thursday.
Purdue took Friday off and prepared for the Bulldogs on Saturday and Sunday.
“I told the officials we are gassed; we were dying on our knees trying to catch our breath,” Gearlds said. “So proud of them to come out and battle.”
The circumstances leading into Monday’s victory were satisfying knowing what the Boilermakers had to deal with and overcome to pull out a victory.
“The 18 days were long just waiting to see who we were going to play in a tournament,” senior Jeanae Terry said. “Just to be able to play with my teammates again means everything.”
ALL ALONE
Terry has a place in the Big Ten record books that she doesn’t have to share, at least not yet.
She became the first conference player in men’s and women’s basketball to score 1,000 points, 1,000 rebounds, and 700 assists. Coming into Monday’s game, she needed two rebounds.
Terry finished with 12 rebounds along with four points and five assists.
“I think it will sink in once I get on the bus,” Terry said. “I’m a little tired right now. My teammates are huge energizers for me, and they show it in the locker room once they found out what happened. It’s a great feeling, Yeah, I’m happy.”
Said Gearlds: “That’s unreal.”
STRONG FINISH
The Boilermakers struggled throughout the regular season to close out opponents. They lost nine games by nine points or less, one reason why they’re sitting with a 14-18 record after Monday’s win.
Purdue built a 14-point lead early in the fourth quarter, but the Bulldogs pulled within four with 2:32 to play. But Abbey Ellis scored twice, and Reynolds drained a mid-range jumper to give the Boilermakers control.
“Having games like this will give us great experience moving forward,” Gearlds said.
MACKEY SOUTH
Purdue fans made up nearly two-thirds of the announced crowd of 1,968. They were loud and made it a home game for the Boilermakers. It didn’t go unnoticed.
“We enjoyed seeing everybody come out,” Smith said.
It was an impressive showing for a fan base to attend a road game and support a team that struggled throughout the season and started Monday night five games under .500.
“I know I bought a lot of tickets. Jayla had a lot of people,” Gearlds said. “I actually was walking up the tunnel downstairs and I could hear the crowd when we ran out on the floor. It felt like a home game out here. Hopefully, we can pack it even more Thursday.”
DON’T OVERLOOK
The defense on Butler’s 3-point shooters.
The Bulldogs had made 9 of 20 against Bowling Green in the first-round victory on Thursday but managed to make 4 of 22 against the Boilermakers. Butler entered the game shooting 39% from beyond the arc.
ROAD SUCCESS
Remember when the Boilermakers couldn’t win away from Mackey Arena this season?
They dropped seven straight during the Big Ten season before winning at Northwestern in February. Starting with the victory over the Wildcats, Purdue has won four of its six games either on the road or at a neutral site.
THURSDAY’S GAME
Duquesne (21-12) at Purdue (14-18)
Time: 7 p.m.
Streaming: B1G+
Radio: BOB-FM
Tickets: $13 and $11. Available through purduesports.com