WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The Purdue women's basketball returns from the holiday break for a Sunday tilt at Mackey Arena against No. 25 Michigan State at 2 p.m. on Big Ten Network + The Boilermakers will open 2021 with six of their next seven opponents appearing in top-25 polls or receiving votes.
Tim Newton and Jane Schott will have the call on 95.3 BOB FM.
GAME INFORMATION
Purdue (5-2, 2-1) vs. No. 25 Michigan State (7-0, 2-0)
Sunday, Jan. 3
Time: 2 PM
TV: BTN+
Radio: 95.3 BOB FM
Live Stats: PurdueStats.com
The Boilermakers went into the break following a balanced 83-72 win over Nebraska on Dec. 23, with six different players scoring at least five points. Kayana Traylor paced Purdue with 21 points on 7-of-16 shooting from the field. The Boilermakers knocked down 10 3-pointers on the afternoon, led by a trio from Karissa McLaughlin. Purdue won the rebounding battle 40-30 and turned 12 offensive boards into 13 points, while holding Nebraska to no second-chance points.
Traylor enters Sunday on a two-game streak of 20-point outings. Her 21-point, seven-assist outing against Nebraska netted the Martinsville, Ind., her first career Big Ten Weekly Honor Roll appearance. The junior is third on the team with 38 made free throws at an 84% clip at the line. Purdue is 14-4 when Traylor hits at least four free throws in a game over her career.
NOTES
• Purdue leads the all-time series against Michigan State 42-34.
• Head coach Sharon Versyp is on the verge of joining Purdue's 300-wins club as the ninth member across all sports, currently 299-178 at Purdue.
• Through seven games, Purdue leads the Big Ten with 11 trips to the free throw line per game and 161 total free throw attempts this season. Traylor ranks third in the league with 38 made free throws this season.
• Karissa McLaughlin made a solid impact in her first home game of the season, knocking down a trio of 3-pointers to finish with 13 points. The senior now needs four triples to set the program record for career trifectas, currently behind Courtney Moses' 240 and Kaite Gearlds' 238.
• The Boilermakers posted back-to-back 80-point games for the first time since 2017-18. Purdue has scored at least 80 points in four times this season and is 53-3 in the Versyp era when crossing that threshold.
• Senior Fatou Diagne has found her rhythm over the last three games, averaging 11.7 points and 11.7 rebounds. Surprisingly enough, the Senegalese international has not recorded a double-double this season, despite finishing one point shy once and one rebound short twice.
• The Boilermakers found their touch from the field, shooting over 45% in five of the last six games, including a 45% clip from deep during that stretch.
• The Boilermakers are one of five teams from the Big Ten with at least 60% of assisted field goals this season.
• Ra Shaya Kyle leads the nation in offensive rebounding percentage at 25.9% and ranks 12th in total rebound percentage.
• Madison Layden is one of seven rookies across the country with 15 steals, 20 assists and five points per game this season.
Stay up to date on all the latest scores, stats and stories surrounding Purdue women's basketball this season by following the team on Twitter (@PurdueWBB), Instagram (@PurdueWBB) and Facebook (/PurdueWBB).