Box Score / Notes / Photo Gallery
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The Purdue women's basketball team dropped its second straight Wednesday, falling to visiting Nebraska 62-61 in Mackey Arena. The Boilermakers lost for the first time at home for just the second time this season and the first time since Dec. 3, moving to 14-4 overall and 5-2 in conference play.
The highlight of the evening came via the play of senior point guard April Wilson as she cracked the 1,000-career point scoring mark and tied a career-high with 24 points on 10-of-16 shooting. Wilson added five assists and tied a season-high with five steals, playing her second-career complete game.
However, Wilson's play would not prove enough for the Boilermakers on the night as Nebraska shot a blistering 58.3 percent (21-36) over the first three quarters and held on in the fourth for their fourth straight Big Ten win. Purdue turned the Cornhuskers over early and often, forcing an opponent season-high 27 turnovers, but could only turn 14 in the first half into eight points.
The Purdue surge finally came in the fourth quarter as they nearly erased an 11-point deficit, shooting 58.8 percent from the floor (10-17) and converting seven Nebraska turnovers into 13 points. The Boilermakers turned the Cornhuskers over one final time with 12 seconds to go, trailing by just one point, but were unable to get a good look up in the closing moments.
Wilson was joined in double-figures by junior Bridget Perry and freshman Dominque McBryde, who turned in 13 and 12, respectively. Perry added six boards, three blocks and two steals, while McBryde had a career-high five blocks. McBryde is the first Boilermaker freshman to block five shots in a game since Purdue assistant coach Lindsay Wisdom-Hylton in 2005.
Freshman Jessica Shepherd paced Nebraska with 22 points and six boards, while sophomore Natalie Romeo chipped in 14 points. Senior Rachel Theriot finished with eight points and 12 assists as Nebraska improved to 13-5 overall and 4-3 in conference play.
Purdue looks to bounce back Sunday, hosting Iowa for its annual cancer awareness game. The Boilermakers will be wearing pink for the game and raising funds for the Community Cancer Network.