WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The Purdue women's basketball team dropped its final game of the Elevance Health Fort Myers Tip-Off 99-51 to reigning national champions No. 4 South Carolina on Saturday at Suncoast Arena.
Destini Lombard paced Purdue (4-3) with a career-high 22 points and went 4-of-5 on 3-pointers. The fifth year added one rebound and two blocks. Purdue shot 39.6% from the field and went 7-of-13 from distance. Ella Collier finished with nine points to go with three rebounds. Sophie Swanson and Amiyah Reynolds both had three assists.
The Boilermakers kept pace with the Gamecocks (7-1) early in the first quarter. Purdue went 2-of-3 from distance to start with triples from Collier and Lombard.
South Carolina took the lead at the end of the first with a 13-2 run. The Gamecocks added to the lead with runs of 15 and 11 in the first half and a 12-point swing in the second half.
The Boilermakers continued to battle in the second half shooting 46.4% from the field and 71.4% (5-7) from distance. Purdue committed five turnovers in the final 20 minutes and dished out seven of its 10 assists for the game.
Lombard scored 19 of her points in the second half.
South Carolina put seven players in double figures led by Mila Fulwiley's 14. The Gamecocks shot 47.1% on the afternoon and went 6-of-24 from distance.
UP NEXT
The Boilermakers will start a three-game homestand on Wednesday night against Maine at Mackey Arena. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. on B1G+.