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WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Senior April Wilson matched career-highs with 24 points and 12 assists Sunday at Mackey Arena to lead the Purdue women's basketball team to a 90-73 victory over visiting Iowa. The Boilermakers snapped a two-game conference slide with the victory, improving to 15-4 overall and 6-2 in Big Ten action.
Wilson played a complete game for the second time this week and was exceptional from the opening tip until the final horn, hitting 10-of-16 from the field and 3-of-5 from behind the arc. She got things going by herself in the opening frame, hitting 4-of-5 shots for 9 points, and then started setting her teammates up in the second quarter, dishing out four assists. She accounted for 16 of the Boilermakers' 26 third-quarter points, hitting 4-of-5 again to finish with 10 points and three assists in the frame, and then closed it out with a quiet five points and three assists in the final quarter. Her 24 points mark the third time this season she's tied her career high, while her 12 assists are a season-high and are tied for fourth-most in a single game at Purdue.
The Boilermakers got off to a roaring start Sunday, quickly building a double-digit lead behind the hot hand of Wilson and contributions from several teammates. Senior forward Torrie Thornton had a couple of solid offensive rebounds and put-backs, while freshman Tiara Murphy chipped in three points, two assists, two steals and a rebound in five minutes on the floor. Purdue forced Iowa into six turnovers in the opening quarter, allowing them to get out and run and convert transition buckets. The Boilermakers' 28 points were their most this season in the opening frame and led to a 13-point advantage at the break.
The Hawkeyes were not going to go quietly as they came out red-hot in the second quarter, hitting 9-of-12 from the floor and 3-of-3 from behind the arc. Freshman Tania Davis paced the effort with eight points and two assists in the quarter, while Iowa forced the Boilermakers into seven turnovers, resulting in 12 Hawkeye points. Purdue junior Ashley Morrissette buried a pair of 3's to help the Boilermakers maintain their lead as they went to the break up 43-40.
The third quarter was a shooting display by both teams as they both shot over 60 percent from the floor, but Iowa started to slow down from distance, missing all three of its 3-point attempts. Sophomore Andreona Keys had a monster quarter for the Old Gold and Black, playing all 10 minutes and posting five points, four assists, three steals and a pair of rebounds, while classmate Bree Horrocks chipped in seven points on perfect 3-of-3 shooting.
It was all Purdue down the stretch as the Boilermaker defense locked down and forced the Iowa well to run dry, holding the Hawkeyes to 10 fourth-quarter points on 3-of-13 shooting. After attempting only six free throws in the first 30 minutes, Purdue started getting to the charity stripe in the fourth and knocked with 11-of-14 to protect its lead. Freshman Dominique McBryde erupted for 12 points in the final 10 minutes, hitting 3-of-4 from the field and 6-of-6 at the line.
Wilson was one of four Boilermakers in double-figures as McBryde followed with 18 points, six rebounds and three blocks, while Morrissette had 15 points, three assists and two steals and Keys chipped in 10 points, five rebounds, five assists and four steals. Horrocks was just shy of double-digits with nine points and five boards.
Iowa was paced by junior Ally Disterhoft with 21 points, while Davis and sophomore Christina Buttenham chipped in 14 points apiece. Sophomore Chase Coley added seven points and a game-high eight rebounds as Iowa fell to 13-7 overall and 3-5 in conference play.
Purdue heads out on the road this week, traveling to East Lansing, Michigan to battle Michigan State at the Breslin Center on Wednesday. Michigan State plays at No. 5 Maryland on Monday before hosting the Boilermakers, as both Purdue and the Spartans have only two conference losses so far.