Jan. 1, 2014
Tipoff: 7 p.m. (ET) on Thursday, Jan. 2
Location: Value City Arena - Columbus, Ohio
Television: None
Internet: Ohio State All-Access - http://www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com/allaccess/
Radio: Live on WBPE (95.3 BOB-FM) and purduesports.com with Tim Newton providing play-by-play and Jane Schott providing analysis.
The Series: Ohio State is the lone Big Ten Conference team to own a winning record over the Boilermakers, leading the all-time series 40-27, including a 20-8 advantage in Columbus. Purdue snapped a four-game slide against the Buckeyes last year, earning an 82-75, triple-overtime victory at Mackey Arena, marking just the second triple-overtime game in school history. Ohio State has won seven straight in Columbus heading into Thursday's game.
The Rankings: Purdue is ranked 17th by the Associated Press and 19th in the ESPN/USA Today Division I Coaches' Poll. Ohio State is unranked.
The Opponent
Ohio State enters Big Ten Conference play at 10-6 overall, playing the third-toughest schedule in the nation. First-year head coach Kevin McGuff has relied heavily on the services of freshman guard Ameryst Alston, who leads the Buckeyes and ranks second among Big Ten freshman at 16.2 points per game. Ohio State has four other players averaging between eight and 10 points per game, including senior Darryce Moore, who adds a team-high 6.7 rebounds per game as well.
New Year, Big Ten Beginnings
The Boilermakers are 19-12 in their first Big Ten Conference game of the season and 22-16 in their first game of the calendar year. Versyp is 5-2 in conference openers and 4-3 in her first game of the New Year at Purdue.
Charity Stripe Conversion
Purdue leads the Big Ten Conference and ranks third in the nation, cashing in 79.9 percent from the free throw line. The Boilermakers are averaging 17.3 points per game at the charity stripe, which accounts for more than 23 percent of their scoring per game.
RPI Rising
The Boilermakers are currently ranked ninth in the RPI (.6792), good for highest in the Big Ten, and have played the 18th toughest schedule in the nation, second-best in the conference. Of Purdue's 16 remaining games, just one is against a team outside the top-100 of the RPI.
Sharing is Caring
The Boilermakers lead the Big Ten and rank 15th in the nation in assisted basket percentage, assisting on 67.7 percent of its field goals this season. Purdue's top-two assist outputs came against IPFW (28-of-32) and Central Michigan (30-of-37).
Making the Honor Roll
Senior KK Houser earned a spot on the Big Ten Player of the Week Honor Roll this week after matching her career high with 21 points and setting a new career high with 11 assists in her second career double-double against Central Michigan.
Relevant Records
- This is the 39th season in Purdue Women's Basketball history. The Boilermakers are 757-400 all-time.
- Purdue is 171-81 under head coach Sharon Versyp, who is in her eighth season with the Boilermakers. She has a career record of 288-146.
- The Boilermakers are 350-176 all-time against Big Ten Conference opponents.
- Purdue is 241-214 all-time on the road, including a 148-115 mark against Big Ten opponents.
- The Boilermakers are 205-119 all-time in the month of January, including an 86-77 record on the road and a 5-6 mark on Jan. 2.
- Purdue is 23-15 all-time in its 13th game of the season.