WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The Purdue women's basketball team went on the road to open Big Ten play and toughed out a 76-71 overtime victory over Michigan State on Monday night. The Boilermakers overcame offensive miscues with stout defense holding the Spartans to 35.2% shooting on the night, while posting a plus-20 margin on the glass.
The Boilermakers (8-1, 1-0) shot 35.2% from the field and made seven 3-pointers in the win. Every player who entered the game for Purdue grabbed a rebound as the Boilermakers won the on the boards 50-30. Rickie Woltman hauled down a season-high 10. Madison Layden matched her career high with eight.
Detroit duo Jeanae Terry and Lasha Petree combined for 24 points, 16 rebounds 10 assists three steals and five blocks. Petree, per usual as of late, led Purdue in scoring with 18 points to go with her eight boards, two assists and three blocks. Terry chipped in six points but dished out eight dimes, grabbed eight rebounds and turned away a pair of shots.
Cassidy Hardin connected from the outside a trio of times to finish with 11 points, while Abbey Ellis added 13 points off the bench.
For the game, Purdue committed 30 turnovers. Despite that high number, Michigan State (6-4, 0-1) managed just 18 points on the giveaways. The Boilermakers flipped 16 Spartan miscues into 21 points.
Caitlyn Harper converted a traditional 3-point play early in the first to give Purdue an 8-4 lead. The Spartans connected a trio of times from the outside to take a 19-15 lead after 10 minutes.
The Boilermakers picked up the pace offensively to shot 70% in the second. Petree took over with 10 points on a perfect 4-of-4 shooting with a pair of triples. Petree and her fellow fifth-year senior combined for an 11-1 run midway through the frame that gave the Boilermakers the lead Purdue carried a 33-30 advantage at the break.
Purdue rolled out of the break, outscoring the Spartans 22-11 in the frame. Hardin, Harper and Jayla Smith tallied six points each. The defense held Michigan State to just 3-of-15 shooting. Purdue closed the final seven minutes on a 16-6 run to take a 55-41 lead into the fourth.
Turnovers plagued Purdue in the fourth quarter, as Michigan State climbed back into the game. The Spartans went on a 10-point run to tie the game at 61—61 with 2:39 to play. Petree put Purdue back ahead with 1:43 left on a pull-up jumper. Michigan State's Kamaria McDaniel sent the game to an extra period on a layup with two seconds left.
The Boilermakers sealed the win in overtime with a perfect 9-for-9 mark at the line. Ellis and Layden both went to the line twice and made all four of their attempts. Terry put the game to bed as she converted an and-one off an offensive rebound with a minute to play.
NOTES
• Purdue is now 2-1 against Michigan State under head coach Katie Gearlds.
• The Boilermakers are 1-1 in overtime games played under Gearlds.
• Lasha Petree was called for a foul on the opening tip of the game, unofficially the fastest foul in Purdue history.
• Woltman grabbed 10 rebounds for the third time in her career.
• Thirty-nine of Purdue's rebounds came on the defensive end.
UP NEXT
Purdue will play its Big Ten home opener Thursday night against No. 20/21 Maryland. Tipoff from Mackey Arena will be at 6:30 p.m. on the Big Ten Network.