MINNEAPOLIS – The seventh-seeded Purdue women's basketball team saw its run at the 2023 Big Ten Tournament come to an end after a hard, physical 69-58 loss to second seed Iowa on Friday night at the Target Center in Minneapolis.
The Boilermakers (19-10) rallied from a double-digit deficit for the second straight night to take a lead in the third quarter, only for the No. 7 Hawkeyes (24-6) to regain the advantage and stop any charge by Purdue late in the fourth.
A night after hitting a game-winning 3-pointer to lift Purdue over Wisconsin, Jayla Smith matched her career high with 16 points on 7-of-13 shooting and a pair of triples. Jeanae Terry posted another all-around performance with six points, 12 rebounds five assists, one block and one steal. Terry notched her 19th game of the year with at least five points and five rebounds.
Cassidy Hardin made history on Friday night playing the most games in Purdue women's basketball history with her 141st career appearance.
Purdue finished even on the boards with Iowa at 37-37 and turned 13 offensive rebounds into 16 points, while giving up just six second chance points to the Hawkeyes.
The Boilermakers posted a season-high nine blocks. Rickie Woltman turned away a season-high three shots with additional rejections coming from Hardin, Terry, Smith and Ava Learn. Purdue's bench totaled six of the blocks.
Iowa was led by Big Ten Player of the Year Caitlin Clark's 22 points, as the team shot 46.3% overall. Purdue stymied the national player of the year candidate to just seven points over the opening 20 minutes.
The Boilermakers overcame a close start that saw Iowa build up a nine-point gap. Terry scored four of Purdue's nine points to keep the deficit to single digits, despite the team going 4-of-16 from the field.
Purdue's stepped up in the second to allow just two field goals for the entire quarter and zero over the final 6:23. Smith and Woltman combined for eight points to give the Boilermakers a 15-10 edge in the period. Purdue turned six Iowa giveaways into six points to trail by just four, 29-25, at the break.
Hardin nailed an early 3-pointer in the third to start a 9-2 run, all points coming from behind the arc, that give Purdue it's only lead of the game with 6:27 to play. A minute later, Madison Layden sank a mid-range jumper to tie the score at 36-36 at the midway point of the third. Purdue trailed by five after Iowa closed the period on a 9-4 run.
The Hawkeyes extended its lead to 15 points early in the fourth. Smith scored half of her points in an effort to spart a rally, but Iowa had an answer for every Purdue basket. The Boilermakers made four 3-poitners over the final 10 minutes.
NOTES
• Purdue leads the all-time series with Iowa 40-38.
• Ava Learn recorded a rebound and two blocks and the team's only positive plus-minus over eight minutes of action.
• The Boilermakers shot 33.3% for the game with eight 3-pointers.
• Iowa finished with a clip of 46.3% overall and seven triples, in addition to 12-of-13 at the line.
• Abbey Ellis tallied eight points, taking her over the 1,500-point plateau for her career.
• Purdue's bench outscored Iowa's second unit 26-6.
UP NEXT
The Boilermakers will now wait to hear their name called for NCAA Tournament on Selection Sunday on March 12. Purdue is looking for its 27th NCAA Tournament appearance in program history and first since the 2017-18 season.