WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The Purdue women's basketball team pushed its way over the .500 mark for the season, dealing visiting Colgate a 71-51 loss in Mackey Arena on Sunday. The Boilermakers showed excellent ball movement and execution, assisting on 22-of-27 field goals, including the first 11 buckets of the game, as they improved to 5-4 on the year.
The Boilermakers surrendered the first bucket of the game to the Raiders, falling behind 2-0 in the opening minutes, but quickly went on a 6-0 run and never really looked back. Colgate fought hard and benefitted from hot shooting early, cashing in 61.5 percent (8-13) in the opening quarter, and kept the game within single-digits the entire first half. Senior Bridget Perry and junior Andreona Keys did the bulk of the Boilermakers first half damage, scoring eight and seven points, respectively, over the first 20 minutes, while senior Ashley Morrissette had six assists and four steals before the break.
It was all Purdue in the second half as the lead swelled as high as 13 in the third quarter and a 15-2 run in the fourth quarter stretched things out to a 26-point gap. Keys finished with her second career double-double, posting 13 points, 10 rebounds and four assists, while Morrissette turned in career-high numbers of 10 assists and five steals. Perry, sophomore Tiara Murphy and freshman Dominique Oden all pitched in double-figures as well, scoring 10 apiece, while sophomore Dominique McBryde was just short of a double-double with nine points, 10 rebounds and a season-high three blocks.
Colgate senior, and Lebanon, Indiana native, Katie Curtis scored a game-high 22 points, including 4-of-5 from 3-point range, but was the only Raider in double-figures for the game. Purdue held the Raiders to 29.4 percent shooting (10-34) in the second half, who drop to 1-6 with the loss Sunday.
Purdue continues a busy week Tuesday, hosting Central Michigan at 7 p.m. ET in Mackey Arena. Sunday was the first of four games in eight days for the Old Gold & Black, who head to Ball State on Thursday before coming home again next Sunday to host North Carolina Central before finals week.