PISCATAWAY, N.J. – The Purdue women's basketball team extended its road winning streak to four games with a 68-54 win at Rutgers on Thursday night at Jersey Mike's Arena. The Boilermaker have won four of their last five games to improve to 16-7 on the year and 7-6 in the Big Ten.
Purdue's four-game winning streak on the road is its longest since 2012-13 and its longest in the Big Ten since 2011-12.
The Boilermakers shot 46.7% from the field and connected on 10 3-pointers for the fifth time this season. The defense held the Scarlet Knights (10-15, 4-9) to 35% shooting and just 4-of-14 from 3-point range. Purdue set a new season high with seven blocks as Madison Layden and Caitlyn Harper turned away a pair of shots.
A trio Boilermakers finished in double figures, led by Lasha Petree's 17 points. The fifth-year senior was 7-of-16 from the field with a trio of 3-pointers to top all scorers. Rickie Woltman went 5-of-6 on the night to tally 10 points.
Cassidy Hardin finished with 12 points on 4-of-7 shooting from behind the arc. Hardin became the fifth Boilermaker in program history to make 200 3-pointers in a career, joining Katie Gearlds, Courtney Moses, Brittany Rayburn and Karissa McLaughlin.The fifth-year senior has 201 made 3-pointers for her career.
Jeanae Terry and Abbey Ellis evenly split 10 assists, as Purdue dished out 20 helpers on 28 made field goals.
Purdue won the rebounding battle 40-31 and flipped 10 offensive rebounds in to 12 points. The Boilermakers also scored 13 points off 14 Rutgers giveaways.
Ellis and Hardin connected on a pair of early triples, as Purdue started the game on an 18-3 run, including 12 straight points. Six different Boilermakers scored in the opening frame while shooting 50% from the field. Rutgers went 2-for-10 and scored seven points, the fewest allowed in an opening period by Purdue this season.
Purdue's bench helped extend the lead scoring 13 of the 18 points in the second quarter. Jayla Smith tallied five, while Ava Learn knocked down a pair of mid-range jumpers. The Boilermakers forced 10 first-half turnovers and held the Scarlet Knights to 30.8% shooting in the first half to take a 36-23 lead into the break.
The momentum kept rolling to start the third, as Caitlyn Harper and Petree hit from the outside to start an 11-2 run that extended the lead to 22 points with 5:59 remaining in the period. Rutgers closed the third with nine straight points as Purdue carried a 51-40 lead into the final period.
After Rutgers chipped the deficit down to nine early in the fourth, Purdue punched back with an 11-2 run that included a pair of triples from Hardin and one from Petree. The Boilermakers went 7-of-12 in the final period and committed just a pair of turnovers to pull away to the win.
NOTES
• The all-time series between Purdue and Rutgers is now tied at 8-8, with Purdue winning the last three matchups.
• The Boilermakers are 4-1 when making 10 or more 3-pointers in a game.
• Jeanae Terry finished with eight rebound and five assists for her 15th game this year with at least five rebounds and assists.
• Hardin has made a 3-pointer in 94 of her 135 games played at Purdue.
• Petree finished in double figures for the 17th time this season.
• The Boilermakers held an opponent under 40% shooting for the 12th time this year.
UP NEXT
Purdue will return to Mackey Arena on Sunday afternoon for a 2 p.m. tip against Northwestern. The game will be streamed on B1G+.