WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The Purdue women’s basketball team dropped its road contest at Purdue Fort Wayne on Wednesday night, 68-67. Purdue held a two-point lead under a minute to play, before PFW (1-2) guard Rylee Bess connected on a game-winning 3-pointer with five seconds on the clock.
Purdue (2-1) was led offensively by Hila Karsh’s 18 points with a pair of 3-pointers. Kiki Smith stuffed the stat sheet with 16 points, three 3-pointers, six rebounds, two assists, a career-high five steals and one block. Tara Daye joined them in double figures with 13 points and six rebounds.
The Boilermakers shot 47.4% from the floor and connected on seven 3-pointers. Purdue held a 13-rebound advantage at the end of the night 36-23 and did not allow a second chance point on one offensive rebound.
Purdue Fort Wayne finished the night shooting 48% form the field and went 15-of-23 at the line. The Mastodons took advantage of 24 Boilermaker turnovers to score 24 points.
NOTES
• Purdue leads the all-time series 7-1.
• There were 14 lead changes, 18 ties and neither club opened a lead greater than six points.
• Madison Layden-Zay connected on one 3-pointer to pull her within 34 of the all-time career record of 244.
• Lana McCarthy finished with eight points, three rebounds, a pair of assists and one steal.
• Purdue turned eight rebounds into nine second chance points.
• Karsh has finished in double figures in all three games this season.
UP NEXT
The Boilermakers will hit the road for the second straight game with a trip to No. 23/20 Kentucky next Tuesday night. Tipoff is slated for 7 p.m. on SEC Network.