WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The Purdue women's basketball team climbed all the way back from a 17-point deficit to tie Sunday's game against Rutgers at Mackey Arena, but the Boilermakers scored only six points over the final 4:30 to fall to the Scarlet Knights 59-53. Purdue is now 7-1 at Mackey Arena this season.
Karissa McLaughlin and Dominique Oden led the way offensively with 17 and 13 points, respectively. McLaughlin was 6-of-16 from the field with a trio of 3-pointers to notch her eighth double-figure game of the year. Oden scored 11 of her 13 points in the second half, while also grabbing seven rebounds.
The Boilermakers (11-4, 2-1) could not find much rhythm offensively in the opening 20 minutes, shooting 30.4% from the field. Rutgers (12-2, 2-1) opened a 17-point lead with 7:01 to play in the second, benefitting from 12 turnovers by the hosts. The Boilermakers rallied from that point with a 10-2 run to close out the half to pull within nine. Out of the break, Purdue continued its run into the third quarter, trimming the gap down to six points.
The Scarlet Knights did not allow the Boilermakers to come closer than six points until the fourth quarter. Purdue completed the comeback after a 9-0 early in the fourth. Cassidy Hardin converted from distance, before Oden shaved it to two with an and-one. Ae'Rianna Harris knotted the proceedings at 47-47 with 4:46 to play.
After Hardin connected again from the outside to tie it at 51-51 with 1:17 to play, Purdue went 1-of-5 from the field, while Rutgers went on an 8-2 run to close the game.
NOTES
• Rutgers leads the all-time series 7-5.
• Oden finished in double figures for a team-high 11th time this season.
• Following the first quarter when Rutgers scored 24 points on 58.8% shooting, the Boilermakers held the Scarlet Knights to just four points in the second period.
• The Boilermakers committed just two turnovers in the fourth quarter during their rally.
• Purdue was outrebounded 35-28.
• The Scarlet Knights converted 18 Boilermakers turnovers into 21 points, while Purdue scored 19 points on 16 Rutgers giveaways.
• McLaughlin totaled a team-high five assists, as Purdue assisted on 73.6% of its made baskets.
• Jenelle Grant scored five points in 10 minutes of action, including a 3-of-4 mark at the free throw line.
UP NEXT
The Boilermakers will venture to Bloomington on Thursday for the first of two meetings this season against No. 14/15 Indiana.