CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – A big second half and barrage of 3-pointers sent the Purdue women's basketball team to an 89-67 win on the road Thursday night at Illinois. The Boilermakers sank 15 triples to tie the program record.
Purdue (12-6, 3-4) put a trio of players in double figures, led by Abbey Ellis' season-high 21 points with six 3-pointers. Madison Layden added 19 points with five triples, and Brooke Moore dropped 14 points off the bench in 20 minutes of action.
The Boilermakers shot 54.1% from the field and an impressive 65.2% from distance. Cassidy Hardin drained a pair of 3-pointers for her 19th straight game with a make, while Jayla Smith added a pair off the bench in 11 minutes of work.
After Purdue jumped out to an early 11-6 lead with four points from Terry, Illinois (6-10, 1-4) battled back and built up a three-point lead midway through the second quarter.
From there, the Boilermakers unleashed a trio of triples to spur a 13-point run to close the half with a 40-30 lead. Purdue shot an even 50% from the field in the opening half with seven 3-pointers at a 58.3% clip. The Fighting Illini shot 34.3% in the first half, as Purdue held them to just 1-of-8 to finish the second period.
The Boilermakers flew out of the break on an 11-5 run to build the lead to 51-35. The Illini trimmed the gap down to 10, before Purdue scored the final 13 points of the period and opened up a 24-point advantage. Moore was 4-for-4 from the field with 10 points in the third. The Boilermakers outscored Illinois 27-13 in the third.
Purdue grew its lead out to 30 midway through the fourth, before Illinois chipped it down to 22 at the final horn.
QUOTE
Head coach Katie Gearlds …
I thought effort and togetherness was there. We weren't great in the first half, but we locked ourselves in. I told them that was a really good win on the road after a tough week for us last week. We rallied together Tuesday and Wednesday at practice. We focused together in the third quarter defensively.
NOTES
• Purdue leads the all-time series 63-18.
• Abbey Ellis finished with a plus-minus of 30 in 30 minutes of action.
• Ava Learn tallied another career high with eight points off the bench in a career-high 23 minutes.
• Purdue's 3-point record tied the mark set on Jan. 12, 2012, at Minnesota, fueled by a record 12 3-pointers from Brittany Rayburn.
• The Boilermakers are now 10-2 when making at least seven 3-pointers this season.
• Purdue held Illinois to 5-of-18 shooting in the third quart, a 27.8% mark.
• The Boilermakers are 5-0 when scoring 25 points or more in a period.
• Brooke Moore led the way on the defensive end with half of Purdue's eight steals, a season-high for the senior.
• Madison Layden finished without a steal for just the second time in her career.
• The win was Purdue's 899th, pulling them within one of the 900-victory club.
UP NEXT
Purdue will travel to No. 8 Michigan on Monday night for 6 p.m. tip on the Big Ten Network.