LINCOLN, Neb. – The Purdue women's basketball team dropped its Wednesday night game at Nebraska 68-54.
Abbey Ellis posted her 19th game in double figures this season with 15 points. Ellis is now 16 points away from joining the 1,000-point club as a Boilermaker. Caitlyn Harper battled her way for 10 points to join Ellis in double figures.
Mila Reynolds came off the bench to post a career-high seven points in 13 minutes on the floor. The Boilermakers (9-12, 2-8) shot 36.1% from the field and connected on four 3-pointers.
Nebraska (14-7, 6-4) finished the game with a 42.4% shooting clip with seven triples. The Cornhuskers put five players in double figures led by 14 points each from Darian White and Alexis Markowski 14
Purdue jumped up out to an early 13-10 lead hitting five of its first seven field goals. After trailing by two after the first, Reynolds connected on triple to put the Boilermakers ahead 20-19. The Cornhuskers responded with a 13-2 run that lasted until the 2:59 mark of the second.
Ellis went on her own 7-0 run to close the half to pull Purdue within three at 32-29 at the break.
Nebraska opened the second half on a 15-4 run with Purdue's points coming from Harper. Jayla Smith chipped into the 14-point deficit with four straight points in the middle of the third. Purdue cut the gap to eight twice late in the period, before Rashunda Jones' layup late in the third made it a 54-43 game going to the fourth.
Sophie Swanson connected on a corner three, and Mila Reynolds drove through contact for a layup to pull the Boilermakers back within 11 with 4:35 to play, but the lead proved too much to overcome in the final minutes.
NOTES
• Purdue leads the all-time series with Nebraska 10-9.
• The Boilermakers committed 12 turnovers, while forcing Nebraska into 13 miscues.
• Wednesday night wrapped up a seven-game stretch for the Boilermakers against teams in the NET top 30.
• Despite allowing 11 offensive rebounds, Purdue gave up 11 second chance points.
• Ellis led Purdue on the glass for the third time this season with a season-high six rebounds.
• Rashunda Jones matched her season high with five boards.
UP NEXT
The Boilermakers will return to Mackey Arena next Monday, Feb. 5, to take on Illinois. Tipoff is set for 8 p.m. on BTN. Monday will be Purdue's annual Fight Like A Boilermaker Pinkout. Purdue's pink uniforms from the game will be auctioned off starting Friday at 9 a.m. Click here for more information.