Nov. 2, 2006
Box Score | Notes | Photo Gallery 
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The Purdue University women's basketball team opened its season on Thursday night, toppling the Ohio Girls Basketball Report (OGBR) Legends 70-41 in an exhibition tilt in the friendly confines of Mackey Arena.
Purdue dominated play from the get-go, sprinting out to a 10-point lead, 13-3, in the first five minutes. The Boilermakers were stellar on the offensive end, knocking down five of their first seven shots, while grabbing the offensive rebound on their only two misses. They shined on the defensive end as well, allowing the Legends to convert only one of their first six attempts from the field, and two of their first 14 tries.
The Boilermaker lead grew as high as 21, 30-9, by the six-minute mark as senior forward Erin Lawless capped a 9-0 Purdue run with an old-fashioned three-point play after a foul by Courtney Coleman. However, the Legends wouldn't go away and their full-court, run-and-jump pressure managed to force the Boilermakers into a few turnovers down the stretch. Erica Glover had a hand in a small comeback for the Legends as she chipped in four points and an assist during a seven-point run, but the Boilermakers halted the spurt with sophomore Jodi Howell's second trifecta of the half and they went into the locker room with a 38-23 advantage.
Lawless led all scorers as the half, going four-for-seven from the floor for 12 points. Senior standout Katie Gearlds followed closely with nine points on a trio of threes and three assists. Glover paced the Legends with eight points and three steals.
The second half featured more of the same as after Glover reopened the scoring to bring OGBR within 13, 38-25, Purdue held them scoreless for the next seven minutes and built a 53-25 lead to all-but-seal the game. The Boilermakers' lead would dip under 20 just once more down the stretch as they cruised to the final horn.
Lawless finished with a game-high 21 points and eight rebounds, while junior teammate Lindsay Wisdom-Hylton got close to the double-double mark as well with 10 points, eight rebounds, five steals and a pair of blocks. Gearlds tallied 16 points and a game-high seven assists and Howell was the fourth Boilermaker in double figures, finishing with 10.
Glover led the Legends with 12 points and five steals, while Sultra Harding chipped in 11 points and Kimberly Wilburn and Danea Williams posted a trio of steals apiece.
Purdue returns to action with their second and final exhibition game, facing off against the Hoosier Lady Starts on Sunday at 3 p.m.