Dec. 18, 2010
Indianapolis - In the first Boilermaker BlockBuster event since 2004, Purdue (6-3) held Auburn (4-6) to just 30 percent from the field in a 76-56 victory. The Boilermakers were led by junior guard Brittany Rayburn who scored a season-high 25 points.
Purdue got off to a quick start due in large part to Rayburn's shooting from beyond the arc. Rayburn hit her first two three-pointers of the game. They were the junior guard's first made three-pointers since Nov. 21 against DePaul. It ended an 0 for 10 drought in her last four games.
Purdue's defense picked up right where it left off after holding Murray State to just 12.2 percent field goal percentage. The Boilermakers held the Tigers to just 10 first-half field goals and 30.6 percent from the field. The three ball was important to both teams, contributing to Purdue's first half lead and keeping the Tigers in the game. Four of Auburn's 10 first half baskets were three-pointers as the Tigers went 4 of 8 from beyond the arc.
The Boilermakers continued to stifle Auburn with their tough defense in the second half. The Tigers shot only 9 of 30 from the field during the second period. The tough team defense allowed Purdue to pull out to a comfortable 25-point lead with 8:12 remaining in the game.
With 5:31 remaining in the second half junior forward Drey Mingo got the fans to their feet by returning to action for the first time since Nov. 21. Proof that Mingo has won her bout with bacterial meningitis, the junior forward scored two points and grabbed one rebound in her two minutes of action. Junior Alex Guyton scored a career-high 14 points for Purdue and pulled down a game-high nine rebounds, tying her career-high for boards. Guyton also contributed a game-high four steals, one shy of her career best. Freshman point guard Courtney Moses scored 12 points, dished out a team-high four assists and grabbed two steals.
The Boilermakers outrebounded the Tigers 42-33, despite giving up a season-high 20 offensive rebounds to Auburn. Purdue also had the advantage in the paint, outscoring Auburn 34 to 18.
Although, this was technically a neutral court site for both teams, Conseco Fieldhouse had a familiar feel for several of the participants. Auburn head coach Nell Fortner spent three seasons as the head coach of Indianapolis' WNBA franchise - the Indiana Fever.
The Boilermakers are familiar with the venue from the games they have played in the Big Ten Tournament. Freshman guards Moses and Dee Dee Williams as well as junior Rayburn all played at Conseco Fieldhouse as members of the Indiana All-Star team as well.
This was the first time Fortner, who coached at Purdue during the 1996-97 season, had faced her former team. During the 1996-97 campaign, Fornter led the Boilermakers to a 17-11 record and a tie for the Big Ten regular season championship.
On a day that Purdue put together its second-straight great defensive effort, Mingo stole the storyline with her return to the hardwood. Many believed it would be mid-January before Mingo could return to action. Mingo's toughness and uplifting enthusiasm will surely provide the Boilermakers with some momentum as they head into the holidays.
Purdue's next game will be Monday night as the Boilermakers return to Mackey Arena to face Southern Illinois. Tip will be at 7:30 p.m. and the game will be televised live on the Big Ten Network.