Nov. 20, 2008
Box Score | Notes | Photo Gallery 
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The No. 21 Purdue women's basketball team has started the season 2-0 for the third consecutive year and Thursday's win 70-50 win over Portland was due in large part to the play of point guard FahKara Malone. The 5-foot-3 junior recorded a career-high nine steals to go along with a team-high 17 points, six rebounds and four assists.
After falling behind 4-0 to start the game, Malone hit back-to-back three-pointers to start a 16-0 run that gave Purdue a 16-4 lead with 14:36 remaining in the first half. During that stretch Malone contributed eight points, two steals, two rebounds and an assist. By the 14 minute mark of the first half, nine of the 13 Purdue players had seen game action.
The Boilermakers used an 11-2 run starting at the 7:26 mark in the first half to stretch the lead to 22 points at 36-14 with 3:46 left in the half. Purdue took that 22 point lead into the lockerroom on two-point basket by Alex Guyton on an assist by Malone with one second left on the clock.
Portland outscored Purdue in the second period 30-28, primarily behind the play of its leading scorer, Laiken Dollente who managed only two points before halftime, but contributed 17 in the second. She led all scorers with 19 points on 4 of 11 shooting, including 3 of 5 from three-point range and 8 of 10 from the free throw line.
Purdue outrebounded the Pilots 38-30 and were paced by senior Danielle Campbell's team-high eight rebounds. The 6-foot-4 junior also contributed three blocked shots, marking the fourth time in her career that she has blocked three or more shots in back-to-back games.
Freshman Chantel Poston had a breakout game with 15 points, six rebounds, one assist and one steal. Also reaching double-figures for the Boilermakers was senior Lindsay Wisdom-Hylton with 14 points and Campbell with 11. Purdue shot 41.4 percent (25 of 58) from the field for the game, including 30.8 percent (4 of 13) from beyond the arc. The Boilermakers were 18 of 24 from the free throw line for 75.0 percent.
Defensive pressure was the key in Purdue's win, forcing 26 Portland turnovers, including 16 in the first half. The Boilermakers committed only 15 turnovers of their own, while coming up with 16 steals and 14 assists.
Purdue largest lead of 29 points came at the 10:18 mark of the second half. The Boilermakers scored 18 points off offensive rebounds compared to just four points by the Pilots and Purdue held a 32 to 8 advantage in points in the paint.
The Boilermakers return to action on Sunday, Nov. 23 at 2 p.m. when they play host to Oakland. The Golden Grizzlies have all five starters back, including the Summit League preseason Player of the Year, from a team that went 20-10 last season. Oakland lost by just three points, 64-61, to No. 23 Georgia on Thursday.
The Purdue women's basketball team and staff will conduct a free basketball clinic for ages 13 and under following Sunday's game.