HONOLULU - The Purdue women's basketball team opened the 2017 Rainbow Wahine Challenge in tough fashion Friday, falling to the University of Southern California 58-46. The Boilermakers converted on just 29.8 percent from the floor (14-47) and committed 20 turnovers in the loss, falling to 3-2 on the season.
Despite the poor shooting, the Boilermakers had things going well in the first half, weathering an early storm that saw the Women of Troy lead by as many as six, to take a two-point lead after the first quarter and a one-point lead, 25-24, to the half. Senior Andreona Keys accounted for almost half of Purdue's points, scoring 10 in the opening frame, and the Boilermakers hit 44 percent from distance. After five turnovers in the first five minutes of the game, the Boilermakers committed just two the rest of the half.
USC stormed out of the gate in the second half, turning the Boilermakers over nine times and scoring off all but one of them to open up a 10-point advantage. USC senior Sadie Edwards took over the game, scoring 15 of her game-high 21 points in the third quarter. The Boilermakers just couldn't get things going from the field in the fourth quarter and were unable to close the gap. `
Keys was the only Boilermaker in double figures, finishing with 12 points and four rebounds, while sophomore Ae'Rianna Harris had eight points, 10 rebounds and three blocks in the loss. Fellow sophomore Dominique Oden just missed a double-double as well, totaling eight points and eight rebounds.
Purdue looks to bounce back tomorrow, facing tournament host Hawaii at 10:30 p.m. ET. The game will air live at BigWest.TV.