Sophomore guard Ashley Morrissette poured in 18 points in Thursday's loss at Maryland.
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The Purdue women's basketball team dropped to 9-6 overall and 2-2 in conference play, falling at the 12th-ranked University of Maryland at the XFINITY Center on Thursday night. The Terrapins used a heavy rebounding advantage and 17 points off turnovers to improve to 12-2 on the season and remain undefeated in Big Ten play at 3-0.
The Boilermakers got off to a quick start on Thursday, taking an 8-2 lead out of the gate on the Terrapins and making their first five shots of the game. However, an injury to Purdue sophomore Bridget Perry in the fifth minute of the game sidelined her and the momentum immediately swung Maryland's way. Purdue had field goal droughts of 3:30 and 5:20 through the rest of the half and Maryland had a string of seven straight shots drop over a five-minute span as they took a 45-26 lead to the locker room.
Purdue played Maryland even through most of the second half, again getting off to a quick start and suffering just a five-point deficit for the final 20 minutes (43-38). Seniors Whitney Bays and Liza Clemons did the bulk of the damage in the second half, scoring a combined 23 points after the break.
The Boilermakers shot a season-low 14 free throws in the game, all coming in the second half, converting 11 of them, and had a season-low nine assists on 25 field goals. Bays extended her Purdue record with her sixth straight double-double, posting 19 points and 12 rebounds in the loss. Sophomore Ashley Morrissette finished with 18 points, while Clemons had 12 points and eight boards.
Maryland had four players in double-figures led by Shatori Walker-Kimbrough with 18 points and Brionna Jones with 16 points and 17 rebounds. Lauren Mincy added 16 points and Lexie Brown had 10 points.
The Boilermakers remain on the road this weekend, heading to No. 17 Iowa for a 1 p.m. (CT) tipoff on the Big Ten Network.