WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The Purdue women's basketball team put four players in double figures, but it was not enough to overcome 15 Iowa 3-pointers in a 96-71 loss in front of a sold-out Mackey Arena on Wednesday night.
The two clubs played in front of 14,876 fans. It was Purdue's fourth sellout in program history and the second in as many seasons, following a record attendance against Indiana last year.
Purdue (9-6, 2-2) was led by Abbey Ellis' 15 points on 5-of-11 shooting. The Australian added six assists and five steals. She was the first Boilermaker with 15 points, five assists and five steals in a game since Ashley Morrissette in 2016-17 against Iowa.
Caitlyn Harper chipped in with 13 points, including a pair of 3-pointers. Jeanae Terry totaled 10 points off mid-range jumpers, and Madison Layden notched 10 points.
While Purdue shot 40.3% from the field, the 3-point line proved to be the difference. Purdue was 5-of-20 from behind the arc, while Iowa (16-1, 5-0) was 15-of-33 to power a 53.2% shooting clip on the night. Reigning National Player of the Year Caitlin Clark finished with a 26-point, 10-assist, 10-rebound triple-double to lead five Hawkeyes in double figures.
Purdue took advantage of their opportunities at the free throw line with a 16-of-17 mark on the night. Layden was 5-of-6, and Ellis was 4-4.
The Boilermakers dished out 15 assists on 25 made field goals. Abbey Ellis tallied six helpers, while Jeanae Terry added four. Purdue turned it over 11 times and flipped 15 Iowa turnovers into 16 points.
Purdue shrugged off an 8-2 start by the Hawkeyes, as Ellis and Layden scored the next nine points and gave Purdue an 11-8 lead. Following a Jeanae Terry jumper with 4:38 to play in the period, Iowa went on a 12-point run to lead 29-18 after the first.
The Boilermakers started the second on a 6-2 run to chip the gap down to six points at 31-25. Despite shooting 42% in the first half, the Boilermakers trailed 51-37 at the break as the Hawkeyes hit nine of their triples in the opening 20 minutes.
Harper and Ellis powered the Boilermakers early in the third, scoring the opening eight points for the hosts. After Purdue pulled back within 11, Iowa opened the gap to 22 points with two minutes to play. Jayla Smith notched four of her eight points in the third.
Purdue continued to battle into the fourth quarter. Terry hit another mid-rage jumper to start the period, before Ellis and Harper again combined for the Boilermakers' next eight points. Layden hit her first triple of the game with 5:24 to go to cut the deficit to 15 points. Iowa closed the game on a 16-6 run.
NOTES
• Purdue leads the all-time series with Iowa 40-39.
• Iowa won the rebounding battle 40-23.
• Jayla Smith scored eight of Purdue's 15 bench points.
• Terry's four helpers moved her over 650 for her career and 460 as a Boilermaker.
• Ellis' five steals matched her Purdue high from her home debut against Western Michigan in 2021-22.
UP NEXT
The Boilermakers will hit the road for their makeup game at Maryland on Sunday at noon. The game was originally scheduled for last Saturday, but a roof leak at the XFINITY Center postponed the game for a week.