EAST LANSING, Mich. – A first half deficit proved too much for the Purdue women's basketball team to overcome in a 77-59 loss on the road on New Year's Day to No. 21 Michigan State. The Boilermakers (7-7, 0-3) outscored the Spartans (12-2, 2-1) 38-29 in the second half but could not rally from a 27-point gap at the break.
A pair of Boilermakers led the way with 10 points. Destini Lombard finished in double figures for the 12th time this season, going 4-of-8 from the field with a pair of 3-pointers. Lana McCarthy was an efficient 5-of-7 from the floor to reach double figures for the sixth time.
For the game, the Boilermakers shot 41.4% from the field and went 7-of-18 from distance. Ella Collier connected twice from the outside, while Rashunda Jones, Mahri Petree and McKenna Layden each added a 3-pointer.
After the Spartans built up their lead in the first half, Purdue found its rhythm over the final 20 minutes. The Boilermakers shot 47% overall and tallied 11 of their 16 assists for the game in the final two quarters. Defensively, Purdue held Michigan State to 24.3% from the field and 1-of-16 from behind the arc.
Michigan State put four players in double figures on the night, led by Jocelyn Tate's 19 points. The Spartans shot 37% from the field and went 7-of-31 from behind the arc. The hosts jumped out to an early lead with an even 50% clip in the first half with six 3-pointers and converted 18 Purdue turnovers into 18 points.
NOTES
• Purdue leads the all-time series 44-40.
• The Boilermakers grabbed four offensive rebounds in the second half to turn into nine points, while the Spartans finished with seven points on 13 second chance opportunities.
• Kendall Puryear finished the night with eight points and a team-high six rebounds off the bench in 17 minutes of action.
• Purdue trimmed its turnovers down to seven in the final 20 minutes and outscored the Spartans 16-12 in the paint.
• After trailing by as many as 28 points in the third quarter, the Boilermakers cut the deficit down to 15 points in the fourth.
UP NEXT
The Boilermakers will be back in Mackey Arena for the next two outings against No. 1 UCLA on Tuesday night at 7 p.m. on BTN, before a Jan. 11 matchup against No. 24 Michigan at 2 p.m. on B1G+.