EVANSTON, Ill. – Scoring 20 points on 25 turnovers, the Purdue women's basketball team pulled away to a 65-54 win on the road at Northwestern on Saturday afternoon at Welsh-Ryan Arena.
Abbey Ellis led the way offensively with 24 points on the afternoon. The senior topped 20 points for the second time this season on 7-of-15 shooting with a trio 3-pointers and a perfect 7-of-7 mark at the line. The senior was joined in double figures by Jayla Smith, who finished with 11 points.
Jeanae Terry finished one rebound shy of her third non-point double-double of the year. The Detroit native went for six points, 10 assists and nine rebounds in 27 minutes of action.
Despite shooting 39.3% from the field, the Boilermakers (12-5, 3-4) connected seven times from the outside. Purdue forced Northwestern (6-11, 0-7) to commit 25 turnovers and scored 20 points off the giveaways, while holding the Wildcats to just eight points on 19 miscues.
The Boilermakers won the rebounding battle 40-30 and flipped 14 offensive boards into nine points and held the Wildcats scores on four second chance opportunities. In addition to Terry's team-high nine rebounds, Rickie Woltman snagged eight off the bench and Madison Layden added seven.
The Boilermakers held a 12-9 lead after the opening quarter. Abbey Ellis and Madison Layden connected on early triples as Purdue scored nine points on nine Northwestern turnovers.
Jayla Smith sparked the Boilermakers to start the second with a personal 6-0 run. Cassidy Hardin added a triple before buckets from Rickie Woltman and Lasha Petree put Purdue ahead by 14 with 4:40 to play. Purdue connected on seven of its first nine field goals in the second during the run, but Northwestern climbed back into the game with an 11-0 run to end the half. The Boilermakers carried a 30-27 lead into the break.
Northwestern opened the third on a 9-5 run that put the hosts ahead 36-34 with 6:51 left in the period. From there, Ellis took over. The Australian international vaulted the Boilermakers back into the lead with 12 of Purdue's 19 points in the frame. Terry dished out four helpers as Purdue took a 49-43 lead to the fourth.
Purdue's lead grew to double figures on an 18-9 run that carried to the midway point of the fourth. The Boilermakers sealed the game when Ellis picked off a Northwestern pass and dished a no-look dime to Jayla Smith that put the Boilermakers up 12 with 3:05 to play. Northwestern chipped the gap down to nine tow minutes later, but the Boilermakers closed the game going 4-for-4 at the line. The Wildcats made just two of their final 12 field goal attempts.
NOTES
• Purdue leads the all-time series 51-26. The win snapped a four-game skid against the Wildcats
• Smith finished in double figures for the third straight game.
• Cassidy Hardin notched her 186th career triple, pulling her within two of Jodi Howell for sixth in Purdue history.
• The Boilermakers dished out 19 assists on 24 made field goals. Purdue is 5-2 when providing an assist on 70% or more of its field goals.
• Ellis has made her last 13 free throws.
• Purdue recorded 13 steals on the afternoon with five different players finishing with two.
UP NEXT
The Boilermakers will return to Mackey Arena on Wednesday for a 7 p.m. tip against Nebraska. The first 1,000 fans through the gates will receive a mini–Purdue Basketball door hoop.