WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The Purdue women's basketball team bounced back into the win column Monday night with a 70-60 coast-to-coast victory over Marshall at Mackey Arena. The Boilermakers went 21-of-26 at the free throw line.
Sophomore Ra Shaya Kyle registered her first career double-double in the win with 15 points and 10 rebounds to lead Purdue (4-1) in scoring. Kyle finished 5-of-6 on free throws and 5-of-8 from the field.
Abbey Ellis hit double figures for the third straight night with 14 points. The Australian went 3-of-5 on field goals with two 3-pointers and 6-of-6 at the line. Cassidy Hardin jumped back into double digits with 10 points on a trio of 3-pointers.
Kyle gave the Boilermakers an early boost with eight points in the first half. Adding a pair from Rickie Woltman, Purdue built up an a seven-point lead over the opening 10 minutes on 10 points in the paint.
Purdue maintained its lead in the second, connecting from the outside four times - two from Ellis, one from Hardin and Mide Oriyomi's first of the year. The Boilermakers dished out nine assists on 12 first-half field goals and went to the line just four times over the first two periods.
Following a Hardin triple to start the third, Purdue made just one field goal until the 2:39 mark of the quarter. While Purdue was 1-of-6 during the drought with seven of giveaways, the defense allowed just six points and forced the Thundering Herd (3-1) to go 1-of-7 to start the frame.
The visitors managed to trim the gap down to three at 9:03 in the fourth, before Jayla Smith made a sizeable contribution off the bench with five straight points for the Boilermakers to retake an eight-point advantage. Purdue sealed the win late by making seven of their final eight free throw attempts in the final minute.
DOUBLE-DOUBLE
Kyle's first career double-double came one week short of the one-year anniversary of her Purdue debut last season against North Alabama. The sophomore tallied 15 points for her fourth straight outing in double figures. Her 10 boards and nearly 28 minutes on the floor set career highs. The Marion native snapped a streak she brought into the night of 11 made free throws in a row, before sinking her final five attempts on the night.
JAYLA JAMS
Jayla Smith finished the night with seven points and a career-high seven rebounds over 23 minutes off the bench. The freshman stepped up in the fourth quarter to score all her points, going 2-of-4 from the field and 3-for-4 at the line. Her two field goals were made while fighting through a foul both times. Smith notched her eighth steal of the year, putting her two back of Madison Layden for the team lead.
QUOTE
Head coach Katie Gearlds …
Everything needs to be ticked up a notch. We have to get better at everything we're trying to do every day. Today was not very pretty. At the end, it says Purdue – 70, Marshall – 60, so we'll take it.
NOTES
• Purdue is now 150-55 when playing an opponent for the first time.
• The Boilermakers won the rebounding battle 38-32 and converted 16 offensive boards into 21 second-chance points, the most since 26 against North Alabama on Nov. 29, 2020.
• The Boilermakers were 21-of-26 at the line for the second game with more than 20 made free throws this season.
• Purdue has scored at least 70 points in all four wins this season.
• Despite being held to just seven points, her first game out of double figures this season, Madison Layden recorded four steaks, one assist and seven rebounds.
• Brooke Moore recorded her first blocked shot of the year and the fourth of her career.
• Jeanae Terry finished with nine points, six rebounds and four assists.
• Purdue closed the game shooting 50% in the fourth.
UP NEXT
Purdue will jet down to Florida for the St. Pete Showcase this weekend. The Boilermakers will open the event on Thanksgiving at 5 p.m. against No. 22 West Virginia, the first test against a ranked opponent in the Katie Gearlds Era.