Boilers Falter at Penn State 72-61
The Boilermakers shot 35 percent in the second half
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Purdue women’s basketball team just couldn’t get things going on the offensive end Thursday, trailing from wire-to-wire at Penn State and taking a 72-61 loss to the Lady Lions at the Bryce Jordan Center. Purdue made just 38.9 percent from the field in the loss, including 5-of-17 in the fourth quarter as they dropped to 17-12 overall and 8-8 in conference play.
Penn State came into the game shooting 29 percent from behind the arc, but bucked the trend Thursday as they hit on 7-of-16 from deep, including 5-of-9 in the first half. The Boilermaker had no answer as the Lady Lions continually drug possessions late into the shot clock and converted in the closing seconds.
The Boilermakers made a few rallies in the second half, cutting Penn State’s lead to four, 45-41, on a layup from junior Dominique Oden with 4:36 left in the third quarter, and again to four, 55-51, in the opening minute of the fourth quarter. Both times the Lady Lions went on a run to extend their lead back to double figures behind the play of junior guard Siyeh Frazier, who finished with 18 points, nine rebounds and four assists.
Oden led Purdue with 14 points, six rebounds and three steals, but connected on only 5-of-16 from the field. Sophomore Karissa McLaughlin scored 13 points, hitting a pair of 3’s, and junior Ae’rianna Harris finished with 13 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks in her 11th double-double of the season. Sophomore Lyndsey Whilby was just shy of double figures with nine points and five rebounds off the bench.
Purdue plays its final home game of the season Monday, hosting No. 8 Maryland at 6:30 p.m. at Mackey Arena.