WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The Purdue women's basketball team closed out its non-conference slate Sunday afternoon at Mackey Arena with a 79-73 victory over Bowling Green. The Boilermakers used a streaky first half to establish a large advantage before holding off a late charge to head into Big Ten Conference play with a 3-1 record.
Brooke Moore one-upped her performance against Buffalo on Wednesday with a career day against the Falcons (4-1). The junior from Atlanta dropped 25 points with nine assists and one block, all career highs. Freshman Madison Layden scored a career-best 13 points, while Kayana Traylor and Tamara Farquhar chipped in with 12 and 13 points, respectively.
The Boilermakers shot 49.1% from the field, knocking down nine 3-pointers for a 45% clip from distance. The quartet in double figures also combined for all 21 of Purdue's assists on 26 made field goals.
Purdue flew out of the gate in the first quarter going 8-of-11 from the field to open an early 21-9 advantage. Moore and freshman Ra Shaya Kyle evenly split 16 points in the opening frame. Farquhar went on her own 4-0 run to open the second period to extend the gap to 28-15, before Purdue took an 11-point lead into the break. The Boilermakers shot 51.6% from the field and forced five Bowling Green turnovers.
The Boilermakers used a 7-2 swing to open up a 15-point advantage midway through the third, but the Falcons rallied to start the fourth, trimming the gap all the way down to two with 6:14 to play. Traylor kept the hosts ahead by multiple possessions with five straight point on back-to-back trips down the floor. The junior totaled seven of her points in the final frame, while Purdue went 8-for-9 at the line seal the win and knock Bowling Green from the ranks of the unbeaten.
WE WANT SOME MOORE
Moore's career day started early with 15 points in the first half. Her court vision dominated the second half with six dimes in the last 20 minutes. Moore set career highs in points, assists, free throws (9-11) and blocks (1). Moore is just the second player in the nation this season to score 20 points, record nine assists and make four 3-pointers in one game, joining Kierra Collier of Drake. Moore has scored 45 points over the last two games and accounted for eight of Purdue's 20 3-pointers.
THE EXTRA PASS
The Boilermakers notched their second straight game with at least 21 assists, the first stretch since 2018-19. In addition to Moore's nine, Traylor dished out five, Layden a career-best five and Farquhar added three. Purdue has touched 20 assists 26 times since the 2015-16 season. It was Purdue's sixth game with an assist on at least 80% of its made field goals and 20 dimes over the last six seasons.
QUOTES
Head coach Sharon Versyp on Brooke Moore …
I think Brooke continues to progress in each game. Having nine assists was key for us. I thought our offense was flowing really well in the first half. She kind of disappeared in the second half a little bit, but that's just continuing to understand that she can create for others and herself. There was one time where she had her only turnovers when she should have pulled up and shot. I've been really proud of her development and how she makes those around her better.
Freshman guard Madison Layden on finding her rhythm…
I think I was nervous coming in. I had to let the game come to me and trust my teammates. I think we all played well together today. I just owe it to my teammates for putting me into great positions to score all game.
Junior guard Brooke Moore on the team's performance…
Coach V has made sure we've practiced hard this week. We work hard to build that team chemistry that allows us to flow on the court. I think we are establishing trust with one another. It's easy to go out there, perform and share the ball with each other.
NOTES
• Purdue is now 8-3 all-time against Bowling Green.
• Head coach Sharon Versyp is three wins away from joining Purdue's 300-wins club.
• Layden scored all of her career-high 13 points in the first half.
• Ra Shaya Kyle turned out a productive 13 minutes with eight points, seven rebounds and a trio of blocks.
• The Boilermakers turned away a season-best seven shots at the rim.
• Traylor tallied her 20th career game with at least 10 points and her 21st career game with at least five assists.
• Farquhar narrowly missed out on her second straight double-double, finishing with nine rebounds.
• Moore was one assist away from the first point-assist double-double since Karissa McLaughlin in 2018.
• Layden was responsible for four of Purdue's five steals, a new career high.
• Moore is one of four Boilermakers to have multiple 20-point games with at least four 3-pointers in the last six seasons – Dominique Oden (8), Karissa McLaughlin (6) and Ashley Morrissette (3).
UP NEXT
Purdue will open Big Ten play Thursday night with a 7 p.m. tip against Northwestern, which will be televised on BTN.
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