WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Set for its toughest test of the season at the St. Pete Showcase in Florida, the Purdue women's basketball team opens the tournament on Thanksgiving Day at 5 p.m. against No. 22/23 West Virginia, the first ranked opponent this season. The game at the McArthur Center on the campus of Eckerd College will be streamed through FloHoops ($).
Fans can listen to the game on the Purdue Sports Network on 95.3 BOB FM, starting at 4:45 p.m., with Brian Jennings on the call.
GAME INFORMATION
Purdue (4-1) vs. No. 22/23 West Virginia (3-0)
Thursday, Nov. 25
Time: 5 PM
TV: FloHoops
Radio: 95.3 BOB FM
Live Stats: TritonStats.com
LAST TIME OUT
The Boilermakers bounced back into the win column with a 70-60 win over Marshall on Monday night. Ra Shaya Kyle recorded her first career double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds. Cassidy Hardin knocked down a trio of 3-pointers, as Purdue hit seven from the outside in the win. Abbey Ellis finished with 14 points and went 6-of-6 at the free throw line.
NOTES
• The Boilermakers own a 1-0 lead all-time against the Mountaineers. Purdue and West Virginia met once in 1990. No. 4 Purdue shot 61.6% to take an 89-59 win. Two-time All-American Joy Holmes scored 33 points with Rhonda Mateen adding 21. Purdue went on to win their first Big Ten title that year.
• Ra Shaya Kyle is averaging a 14.4 points per game, good for 15th in the nation among true centers and 9.1 points per game better than her rookie year.
• Purdue is set to face five potentially ranked teams in its next five outings – Nov. 25 vs. No. 22/23 West Virginia, Nov. 27 vs. No. 17/22 Florida State or RV/RV BYU, Dec. 1 vs. RV/No. 25 Georgia Tech, Dec. 5 vs. No. 21/24 Ohio State and Dec. 8 at No. 2/3 Maryland.
• The Boilermakers' last ranked win came against No. 25 Indiana Jan. 20, 2019. Purdue have lost 18 straight to ranked teams.
• Abbey Ellis is one of 10 guards in the nation averaging at least 13 points and shooting 50% from the field and 90% at the line.
• While Purdue has made at least seven 3-pointers in each of its four wins, the Boilermakers' 3-point defense ranks second in the Big Ten with opponents shooting 22.8% from deep and lead the league with 4.2 triples against per game.
• Purdue has scored 70 points or more and made at least seven 3-pointers in all four wins.
• Head coach Katie Gearlds led Purdue to a 23-22 record against ranked opponents during her playing career at Purdue.