Jan. 2, 2011
EVANSTON, Ill. - The Purdue women's basketball team dropped its second straight conference contest on Sunday, falling at Northwestern, 76-64, at Welsh-Ryan Arena. The Boilermakers fall to 9-5 overall and 0-2 in the early Big Ten season, while the Wildcats improve to 12-3 and 1-1 in the conference.
Northwestern used a 17-2 run early in the second half to build the major difference in the game, led mostly by senior Amy Jaeschke and sophomore Kendall Hackney. Jaeschke paced the Wildcats with 23 points and 10 rebounds, while Hackney poured in 18 points, including 14 in the second half. Three other Wildcats scored in double-figures, including senior guard Beth Marshall who had 10 points and seven assists. Northwestern played close to perfect throughout, turning the ball over just nine times and committing just seven fouls.
Despite 22 points from freshman standout Courtney Moses, the Boilermakers never really got their offense going, connecting on just 40.3% (25-for-62) from the floor, including a paltry 30.0% in the second half (nine-for-30). Purdue turned the ball over 18 times and got to the free throw line just eight times in the contest.
The Boilermakers got off to a rocky start, turning the ball over on their first two possessions, but Moses and fellow Purdue freshman Dee Dee Williams got the squad on track, pouring in 13 of their first 15 points in the ball game. Williams started things off, putting in a fast-break layup in her first career start for the Boilermakers, and Moses did the bulk of the work, connecting on a trio of threes and a coast-to-coast lay in.
Purdue led most statistical categories at the break, converting 15-of-29 (51.7%) field goal attempts, outrebounding the Wildcats, 21-12, and rejecting five Northwestern shots. However, the Boilermakers committed 11 turnovers, while the Wildcats had just four turnovers and only three fouls to keep it close. Purdue needed a 40-foot heave from Moses at the buzzer to take a 37-35 advantage into the half.
The back-and-forth battle continued early in the second half as both teams struggled from the field. However, Hackney ignited the Northwestern rally, notching 10 points in the first eight minutes, including a pair of threes. The Wildcats stretched it out to a 58-48 lead at the 10:17 mark, forcing a Purdue timeout. The tide steadied after the short break, but the Boilermakers were unable to get their scoring going.
Junior Antionette Howard fell just shy of a double-double for Purdue, posting nine points and a team-high 10 rebounds, while classmate Brittany Rayburn finished with eight points and four assists.
GAME NOTES
Drey Mingo joined the starting lineup for the first time since the Boilermakers' 67-58 win over No. 21/22 DePaul.
Brittany Rayburn hit her 36th straight free throw, pulling within two of her consecutive free throw record.