Jan. 12, 2006
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Aya Traore scored 17 of her 19 points in the second half and overtime to lead No. 12 Purdue to a 60-56 victory over No. 17 Minnesota in a defensive struggle between the last two unbeaten teams in the Big Ten.
Traore's driving layup with a minute to go in overtime gave the Boilermakers (13-2, 5-0) the lead for good, and she added a free throw in the final seconds to put the game out of reach, giving Purdue its ninth straight victory.
The Gophers (10-4, 3-1) had one last shot to tie the game in final 10 seconds, but Shannon Schonrock's 3-pointer was off the mark, giving Purdue its first win on the road over a Top 25 team in more than two years. They beat No. 23 Michigan State in East Lansing, on Jan. 8, 2004, a span of eight games.
Jamie Broback scored 21 points to lead the Gophers, who committed 23 turnovers and shot just 25 percent in the second half.
Traore has emerged as an integral part of the Boilermakers' offense this season, averaging over 12 points a game alongside steady juniors Katie Gearlds and Erin Lawless.
Traore scored five straight points to put the Boilermakers ahead by three points with under 1:30 to play in regulation. But Broback converted a three-point play with 25 seconds to go to send the game to overtime tied at 49.
The overtime featured four lead changes, but the Gophers' offensive struggles in the second half carried over as they lost to Purdue for the first time in four tries.
Minnesota led 37-30 with 10:30 to go in regulation, but the Boilermakers responded with a 12-3 run to take their first lead of the second half.
Gearlds hit a 3-pointer and Traore capped the run with two free throws to give the Boilermakers a 42-40 lead with under 5 minutes to play.
Minnesota managed one field goal - a 3-pointer by Broback - in the 6-minute span of that run and committed turnover after turnover to keep Purdue in the game.
Kelly Roysland scored 10 points for the Gophers, who lost for the second time in three games.