Jan. 29, 2009
MADISON, Wis. - In a game of runs, Purdue used a 7-2 run to finish the game and escape with a 52-51 win over Wisconsin in Madison.
The Boilermakers (14-7, 7-3) fell behind 10-0 to start the game, but outscored the Badgers 18-4 to earn a four point edge - their largest of the game - at 18-14. Wisconsin responded with a 14-4 run to lead by six at the half, 28-22.
Purdue never led in the second half until Brittany Rayburn knocked down a three-pointer with 7.8 seconds to go in the game. The Boilermakers went 36 minutes without an offensive rebound, but pulled down four crucial ones in the final four minutes, none bigger than Danielle Campbell following her own miss in the Boilermakers final possession. Campbell was triple-teamed after securing the rebound and found the wide-open Rayburn on the left wing for the game winning shot.
Senior Lakisha Freeman finished with a team-high 13 points, Rayburn had 11 points on 4 of 7 shooting, including 2 of 3 from three-point range. Wisconsin shut down Purdue's post players from the floor, but Danielle Campbell dished out a game-high five assists, including one that set up the game winner and Lindsay Wisdom-Hylton had four assists.
For Wisconsin, sophomore Alyssa Karel scored 15 points and Lin Zastrow chipped in 12.
The Boilermakers return to action on Sunday against Northwestern. The game is at 2 p.m. in Mackey Arena and festivities include National Girls and Women in Sports Day and the 1999 National Championship team reunion.