Jan. 27, 2008
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WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind.- Lakisha Freeman scored 21 points and Kalika France added 18 as Purdue defeated Illinois 71-59 Sunday afternoon at Mackey Arena. With the win, the Boilermakers improved to 10-10 overall and 6-3 in the Big Ten, while the Fighting Illini dropped to 11-9 and 3-6 in the Big Ten.
In the first half, the Boilermakers led by as many as ten and were paced by nine first-half points from Freeman and eight from France. On the defensive end, Purdue held the Fighting Illini to just 22 percent shooting from the field and went into the intermission leading 29-25 following a long two-point basket by France at the buzzer.
In the second half, Illinois hit five of its first six shots, including a three-point basket from Rebecca Harris that put the Fighting Illini up 40-37 and forced Purdue to call a timeout.
The timeout was well spent as the Boilermakers went on a 14-0 run in which they hit six straight shots to claim their biggest lead of the game at 51-40. In the Boilermaker run, Freeman delivered four points and Danielle Campbell had five, including a three-point play in the post. Natasha Bogdanova, who had nine points, all on three-point baskets, hit a three from the left side in the 14-0 run to put Purdue up 46-40.
Illinois cut the Purdue lead to 64-59 with just under three minutes to play but a Bogdanova three and driving layup by France gave the Boilermakers a 69-59 lead to secure the Purdue victory.
The Boilermakers return to action at Mackey Arena at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 31, when they play host to Minnesota.