WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – A tough third quarter proved too much for the Purdue women's basketball team to overcome in a 69-46 loss to No. 4 Indiana. Playing their third straight ranked opponent, the Boilermakers fell to 15-7 overall and 6-6 in the Big Ten.
The loss snapped a three-game winning streak that including back-to-back wins over ranked opponents, including the program's first ever top-five victory on the road at No. 2 Ohio State last Sunday.
Purdue set a new program record for attendance at Mackey Arena with 14,876 fans. It marked the third sellout in program history and the first since 2000. The 14,876 is the third largest crowd in the nation this season and the 16th largest in Big Ten women's basketball history.
The Boilermakers were led offensively by Lasha Petree's 13 points. Abbey Ellis finished in double figures for the fifth time in the last six games with 10 points. Purdue could not find its rhythm on the offensive end shooting a season-low 32.8% overall and making three of its 16 3-point attempts.
Purdue forced the Indiana (22-1, 12-1) into 15 turnovers but only managed six points on the giveaways. The Hoosiers converted 18 Boilermaker turnovers into 18 points.
Indiana shot 40% from the field and hit nine 3-pointers. The Hoosiers put four players in double figures, led by Sydney Parris and Mackenzie Holmes with 15 each.
The Boilermakers shook off a pair of early turnovers and starting 0-for-4 from the field in the first quarter. Petree and Caitlyn Harper started a five-point run to counter a 7-0 run by the Hoosiers. Harper cut the deficit to 14-10 with a layup through contact before the end of the quarter.
Purdue opened the second on a 7-0 run with five points from Ellis to go with a Cassidy Hardin layup, which put the hosts up 17-14. Indiana retook the lead at 29-23 with a 12-4 run. The Boilermakers went 6-of-11 from the field with Ellis picking up seven points in the frame.
The Boilermakers could not find their rhythm in the third. Despite open looks, Purdue went 1-of-17 from the field and did not attempt a free throw. Indiana pounced on the offensive struggles to outscore Purdue 19-2.
The hosts continued to fight into the fourth quarter. Petree tallied nine of her points in the final frame, with Jayla Smith scoring all five of her points. Purdue went 8-of-18 from the field and committed just one turnover in the fourth, but the deficit proved too much to overcome.
UP NEXT
The Boilermakers head back out on the road Thursday night to face Rutgers for a 7 p.m. tip on B1G+.