Dec. 30, 2004
MADISON, Wis. - Erin Lawless scored a career-high 29 points and No. 20 Purdue overcame a slow start Thursday night to beat Wisconsin 72-67 in the Big Ten opener for both teams.
Lawless, who averages 16 points, had 21 at halftime for Purdue (8-3).
Down 38-28 with less than 3 minutes to go in the first half, the Boilermakers started a 19-4 run that extended more than 8 minutes into the second half for a 47-42 lead.
The Badgers (5-5) twice whittled the lead to three points, but were rebuffed. Jolene Anderson's 3-pointer pulled Wisconsin to 57-54 with 5:15 left, but she missed her next 3-pointer.
Stephanie Rich hit two free throws to cut the lead to 70-67 with 16.9 seconds left. Katie Gearlds, who finished with 20 points, hit two free throws for Purdue, Lawless blocked Kjersten Bakke's shot and Purdue held on.
The Badgers were their own worst enemy in the second half, shooting just 26 percent after hitting half of their shots before the break.
Rich led Wisconsin with 20 points, while Janese Banks had 15 and Anderson 13.
The Badgers played without Ashley Josephson, who broke her nose in practice on Dec. 22. Josephson, who led Wisconsin in scoring last season, had been averaging six points before the injury.
JR ROSS
Associated Press Writer