Purdue Women’s Basketball Rebounds with 79-67 Win at Hawaii
The Boilermakers shot just shy of 60 percent from the field
HONOLULU, Hawaii – The Purdue women’s basketball team snapped a two-game losing streak Saturday with a 79-67 victory over Rainbow Wahine Challenge host Hawaii at the Stan Sheriff Center. The Boilermakers cashed in 59.6 percent from the field in the win, including 60 percent from the 3-point arc as they improved to 4-2 on the season.
The Boilermakers did all their work in the first half, racing out to a 24-10 lead after the first and a 43-19 halftime edge. It felt at times as if they couldn’t miss, draining shots in bunches and using stout rebounding and converting turnovers to make big runs. Purdue turned 10 Hawaii first-half turnovers into 16 points, and drained 7-of-11 from distance, while holding the Rainbow Wahine to just eight first-half rebounds and 35 percent shooting.
Purdue head coach Sharon Versyp cleared her bench in the second half, working through a variety of lineups and personnel groups, but led comfortably the whole way. Hawaii did everything they could to erase the deficit, hitting on 7-of-13 from the 3-point line and draining 64 percent in the fourth quarter, but Purdue’s margin proved too large to cover.
Four Boilermaker scored in double figures, led by sophomore Ae’Rianna Harris who hit on 9-of-11 for 18 points. Fellow sophomore Lamina Cooper stuffed the stat sheet with 14 points, six rebounds, five assists and four steals, hitting 6-of-9 from the floor and not committing a turnover in 27 minutes. Sophomore Dominique Oden hit on four 3’s to score 14 points, and freshman Karissa McLaughlin chipped in 12 points and five assists, hitting a pair of triples.
The Boilermakers wrap up tournament play tomorrow, facing Marist University at 7:30 p.m. ET.