WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The Purdue women's basketball team saw its 2023-24 season come to a close in the WNIT Great 8 with a 67-59 loss to Vermont at Mackey Arena.
The Boilermakers were led by their two active seniors who left it all on the court in their career finales.
Abbey Ellis paced the Boilermakers (15-19) on the offensive end with 16 points. The Australian's final made basket with 32 second left in the fourth gave her exactly 2,000 points for her career. Ellis etched her name in the Purdue record books with the second-highest career free throw percentage at 87.2%, while her 1,182 points ranks 29th most by a Boilermaker.
Jeanae Terry went for 11 points, five assists and five rebounds on Monday. The fifth-year senior set Purdue's single-season assist record with 202 helpers. The first player in Big Ten men's or women's basketball history with 1,000 points, 1,000 rebounds and 700 assists, Terry closed her career with 575 assists in just three seasons as a Boilermaker, ranking third in program history.
Terry is the only player in Purdue history to record multiple triple-doubles, while also holding the record for non-point double-doubles with five.
Sixth-year senior Caitlyn Harper, whose season came to a close due to an injury on senior night, finished her time in West Lafayette ranked sixth in field goal percentage.
While the seniors stood out in their final games, Purdue's freshmen showed off the future of the program. Rashunda Jones went 6-of-8 at the line to finish with 12 points, four rebounds, one assist and one steal.
Mary Ashley Stevenson finished three points shy of a double-double. The New York City native tallied seven points, while setting career highs with 13 rebounds and four assists. The Big Ten Freshman of the Year notched her 11th game with at least seven points and rebounds, the most in the Big Ten. She finished her freshman season with 174 rebounds, seventh most by a rookie in program history.
Ellis powered Purdue in the first half with a game-high 11 points. The Boilermakers shot 41.9% from the field, while holding Vermont (25-11) to just 32.3% shooting. Purdue led 29-23 at the break.
Vermont found its shooting touch in the final 20 minutes. The guests went 16-of-23 for a 70% clip. The Boilermakers got to the free throw line 20 times in the second half but managed 14 makes.
Purdue stayed within two possessions for much of the fourth quarter, before the guests went on a 10-2 run to put the game out of reach.
NOTES
• The series is now tied at 1-1.
• The Boilermakers committed just nine turnovers, their 10th game this season with 10 or fewer giveaways.
• Purdue shot just 1-of-8 from behind the arc.
• Vermont put four players in double figures.
• While forcing 14 turnovers, the Boilermakers managed nine points off the Vermont miscues.
• Purdue surrendered just six points off seven second-chance opportunities.
• Jones scored 10 of her 12 points in the second half.
• Stevenson recorded seven offensive rebounds, the most by a Boilermaker freshman since Sam Ostarello in 2010.
• Purdue's freshman class finished the season averaging 23.5 points per game, the most in the Big Ten this season and the third highest mark in Purdue history.