WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The Purdue women's basketball team opened 2023 with a 73-61 win over Wisconsin at Mackey Arena. The Boilermakers dominated inside to improve to 11-3 on the year and 2-2 in BIg Ten play.
Lasha Petree, per usual, led the Boilermakers in scoring with 18 points. The fifth-year senior was 5-of-13 from the field and a perfect 6-for-6 at the line. Caitlyn Harper and Ava Learn joined Petree in double figures. All 13 of Harper's points came in the first half, while Learn notched her entire haul in the final 20 minutes.
The Boilermakers pounded the ball inside all afternoon. Purdue outscored the Badgers (4-11, 0-4) in the paint 40-24, posting its fifth game with 40 or more points in the painted area.
With the dominant effort inside, Purdue's defense stymied the Badgers' offense, forcing 19 turnovers. The Boilermakers tallied 30 of their 73 points off Wisconsin miscues.
Jeanae Terry tallied five of Purdue's season-high 16 steals, matching her career high. Madison Layden recorded a season-high four swipes.
Terry stuffed the stat sheet yet again. The senior finished with seven points, seven assists, six rebounds and five steals.
The Boilermakers started strong, jumping out to a 13-8 lead on 6-of-10 shooting. Harper tallied eight points in the opening 10 minutes as Purdue built up an 11-point lead.
After Purdue took a 27-12 lead early in the second, Wisconsin responded with a 12-4 run to close the first half. The Boilermakers shot 43.8% from the field in the first half
Wisconsin battled back in the third quarter to cut the gap down to one with two minutes to play. Ava Learn vaulted the Boilermakers back into a multi-possession lead with 10 points on 4-of-4 shooting in just six minutes of action in the frame.
Purdue's defense locked in for the fourth quarter, forcing seven Wisconsin turnovers and scoring 14 points off those giveaways. Purdue went 9-of-12 at the line to close out the game.
NOTES
• Purdue leads the all-time series 55-22.
• With one 3-pointer, Cassidy Hardin moved into a tie with Stephanie White for seventh in Purdue history with 183 triples.
• Learn finished one point shy of her career high.
• Terry posted her 11th game this season with at least five rebounds and five assists.
• Terry also dished out her 100th assist on the year in the win. It marked the third time she hit the century in a season in her career.
• Fueled by Learn's 12 points, the Boilermaker bench topped Wisconsin 24-6.
UP NEXT
Purdue will be back on the road next Saturday when it travels to Penn State. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. on B1G+.