WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The Purdue women's basketball team put four players in double figures to roll past Northwestern 75-60 on Wednesday night, picking up its second straight win at Mackey Arena.
The Boilermakers (9-15, 2-11) had a trio of underclassmen tally 14 points. Freshman Kendall Puryear notched a double-digit performance for the sixth time in the last seven games, going for 14 points on an efficient 7-of-9 shooting with five rebounds and a pair of blocks.
Sophomores Rashunda Jones and Sophie Swanson both recorded their fourth straight game in double figures. Jones finished with 14 points and matched her career high with seven assists. Swanson went for 14 points with a pair of 3-pointers and a career-high five rebounds.
Fifth year Ella Collier joined the trio in double figures with 13 points, including a pair of triples.
The Boilermakers nearly shot 50% for the third time in the last three games, posting a 49.2% clip from the field with six 3-pointers.
Purdue capitalized 17 points off 13 Northwestern (8-15, 1-11) miscues. Eight Boilermakers recorded a steal. After two swipes against the Wildcats, Destini Lombard is now up to a team-high 51 steals this season.
Four Boilermakers finished with five rebounds – Reagan Bass, Collier, Puryear and Swanson. The Wildcats grabbed 12 offensive rebounds, but the Boilermakers allowed just two points off second chances.
KEY MOMENTS
• Jones and Puryear gave Purdue a pair of early baskets, as Northwestern opened the game on a 10-4 run.
• Swanson scored five straight for the Boilermakers off the bench to start a 9-0 run that put Purdue ahead 13-10.
• The Wildcats countered with a 9-2 run over the final 3:37 that gave the visitors a 19-15 after the first.
• Purdue opened the second with a quick five-point swing to take a 20-19 lead.
• After Northwestern regained a three-point lead with 5:50 to play in the half, the Boilermakers rolled off a 12-2 swing to open a 35-28 advantage.
• Jones paced the Boilermakers in the first half with nine points, while Puryear added eight points, to give Purdue a 35-31 lead at the break.
• Purdue shot 47% from the field over the opening 20 minutes and turned seven Northwestern turnovers into 11 points.
• The Boilermakers came out of the gates hot in the third quarter on a 10-0 run with five points from Ella Collier.
• Lombard's lone 3-pointer of the night with 4:12 on the clock in the third opened a 15-point advantage.
• Collier paced Purdue in the third with seven points, while the defense held Northwestern to 4-of-15 shooting and just eight points.
• The Boilermakers poured it on in the fourth with 25 points on 9-of-14 shooting, led by Swanson's seven points. Puryear was 3-for-3 from the field in the final frame.
• The Boilermakers never let their advantage get smaller than eight points in the fourth.
• Purdue closed the game out hitting six of their final eight shots.
NOTES
• Purdue now leads the all-time series with Northwestern 55-26 with their fifth straight victory.
• The five-game run matches Purdue's longest active streak against a Big Ten team with five games against Wisconsin
• Purdue's bench made an impact on the night, outscoring Northwestern's second unit 31-19.
• The Boilermakers spread the ball around with eight of the nine dressed players scoring on the night.
• Purdue improved to 27-9 under head coach Katie when four or more players finish in double figures.
• The freshmen post tandem of Puryear and Lana McCarthy powered Purdue to 44 points in the paint, the Boilermakers' highest tally since the win over Indiana State.
• Bass crossed the 800-rebound plateau on Wednesday night.
• Lombard played her 125th career game.
Purdue will head to Indiana for the Barn Burner Trophy Game on Saturday with a noon tip on BTN.