Dec. 30, 2007
Minneapolis, Minn. - Minnesota (11-3, 2-0 Big Ten) turned a two-point halftime deficit into a 70-63 victory over Purdue (5-7, 1-1 Big Ten) on Sunday in Minneapolis, Minn.
The Boilermakers played much of the first half without starting point guard FahKara Malone who went to the bench at the 13:00 mark after picking up her second personal foul. Reserve point guard Lauren Mioton provided solid minutes off the bench as Purdue never trailed in the first half and held its largest lead at 8:36, when two free throws by junior Natasha Bogdanova gave Purdue a 25-16 advantage.
Minnesota used an 8-0 run, scoring the last four points of the first half and the first four of the second, to take its first lead at 38-36.
"We didn't come out in the second half with the energy that we needed," Purdue head coach Sharon Versyp said. "Minnesota increased its defensive intensity in the second half and we didn't match it."
Purdue regained the advantage 49-47 on two free throws by Brittany Dildine at 11:39, but a jump shot by Minnesota's Emily Fox, followed by three-pointer by Katie Ohm, gave the Gophers a three-point lead. Purdue tied it at 52-52 on a three-point play by Bogdanova with 9:16 to go in the game, but the Boilermakers could not regain the lead.
Minnesota senior forward Leslie Knight led all scorers with a career-high 20 points and junior Emily Fox contributed 16 points, seven assists and four steals in the Minnesota victory.
Senior Kalika France scored a team-high 15 points and pulled down a game-high nine rebounds, both career highs, for the Boilermakers. The 5-foot-9 guard also contributed four assists and a steal.
Purdue freshman Keshia Mosley made the most of her first career start with career highs in points and rebounds with 12 and six. Junior Lakisha Freeman also reached double figures with 14 points on 7 of 11 shooting from the field.
The Boilermakers shot 53.2 percent from the field but were limited to just 47 shot attempts, connecting on 25 of them. Minnesota had 16 more field goal attempts in the game, finishing 27 of 63 for 42.9 percent.
Purdue was once again plagued by turnovers, committing 22 in the game, including four critical turnovers in the last two minutes of play. The Golden Gophers turned the ball over just nine times and held a 14 to seven advantage on the offensive glass.
The Boilermakers scored 36 points in the first half, but the Gophers increased their defensive intensity in the second half, holding Purdue to 27 second-half points.
Purdue continues conference play at Indiana on Jan. 3. The game will be broadcast on the Big Ten Network and tip off is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET.