Purdue Women’s Basketball Tops Lamar 79-64
Harris posted her second straight double-double
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The Purdue women’s basketball team got another outstanding performance from sophomore forward Ae’Rianna Harris on Saturday as she led her team to a 79-64 victory over visiting Lamar University at Mackey Arena. Harris finished with 18 points, tied a career-high with 14 rebounds and rejected a career-high seven blocked shots as Purdue improved to 3-0 for the eighth time in 12 seasons under head coach Sharon Versyp.
The Boilermakers got off to a slow start, turning the ball over and allowing Lamar to race out to a 24-17 first quarter lead. However it was all Old Gold & Black in the second quarter, starting and ending the period on 9-0 runs, and holding Lamar to just six points, matching the second-lowest single quarter total in program history. Sophomore Lamina Cooper did the bulk of the scoring, dropping the first seven points and scoring 10 in the frame.
The 25-6 quarter put Purdue out to a 42-30 halftime lead to which they’d never really look back from. Lamar managed to cut it to seven, 58-51, in the opening minute of the fourth quarter, but the Boilermakers responded with a small run and kept the lead at double digits the rest of the way.
Cooper scored a career-high 16 to bolster Harris’ efforts, while sophomore Dominique Oden and freshman Karissa McLaughlin joined her in double figures with 12 apiece. Senior Andreona Keys dished out a season-high six assists and the Boilermaker shot a blistering 53.7 percent from the floor.
Lamar evens its record at 2-2 despite 18 points, six assists and four steals from junior standout Chastadie Barrs.
Purdue has a quick turnaround, heading West to Utah for a Monday night tip against the Utes. Tip is scheduled for 7 p.m. MT and will air live on the Pac-12 Network.