COLLEGE STATION, Texas – The Purdue women's basketball team improved to 10-2 on the year with a gritty 59-53 win on the road at Texas A&M on Wednesday afternoon. The Boilermakers closed out the non-conference campaign with a 9-1 mark, their best record since 2003-04.
Caitlyn Harper came up big inside for the Boilermakers with a game-high 15 points on 7-of-11 shooting. Cassidy Hardin connected on a trio of Purdue's eight 3-pointers to finish with 13 points, while Abbey Ellis added 11.
Jeanae Terry came close to another non-point double-double, as the senior went for three points, 11 rebounds and seven assists. Purdue notched 18 helpers on 22 made field goals.
Defensively, Purdue kept Texas A&M (5-5) to just 33.3% shooting on the afternoon and 5-of-23 from outside. The Boilermakers scored 14 points off 15 Aggie giveaways, while only surrendering nine points on a season-low eight turnovers.
Both clubs struggled offensively to start in the first quarter with both making just two of their first nine shots. Harper provided an early spark going 3-of-4 for seven pints. Ellis chipped in Purdue's other four points.
Hardin tallied seven points in the second quarter on a triple and a traditional 3-point play. Lasha Petree and Ellis both made shots from the outside, as Purdue took a 26-22 lead into the break.
The Boilermakers opened the second half with back-to-back-to-back 3-pointers from Hardin, Petree and Ellis to hold off an early run by the Aggies. Harper and Smith combined to score Purdue's final eight points of the frame that let gave Purdue a five-point lead going into the fourth.
The lid went back on the basket for the early stages of the fourth, before Smith gave Purdue a seven-point lead on a layup with 8:05 to play. Texas A&M fired back to tie the game with a 7-0 run to even the score at 47-47.
Out of a media timeout, Hardin put momentum clearly on Purdue's side with a crowd-silencing 3-pointer with 3:10 to play. Harper made it a five-point lead on a layup inside with less than a minute to go. From there, Purdue closed the game out with its final five points at the line. Purdue closed the game on a 10-4 run.
Texas A&M managed one field goal in the final 3:33 of the game, a last-second layup by Jada Malone. The Aggies were 1-of-5 down the stretch from the field.
NOTES
• Purdue leads the all-time series with Texas A&M, 4-1.
• Hardin finished in double figures for the fifth time this season.
• Harper hit double figures for the second time in the last three games.
• Purdue lost the rebounding battle 45-33 but only allowed 13 second-chance points.
• The Boilermakers are now 6-2 this season when making seven or more 3-pointers.
• Purdue has held eight opponents to 40% shooting or less.
• The Boilermakers are 8-0 this year and 22-5 in the Katie Gearlds era when holding a team to 70 points or less.
UP NEXT
Purdue will be back in action on Dec. 29 with a road trip to No. 13/11 Iowa on the Big Ten Network.