WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The Purdue women’s basketball team could not overcome a slow start in the first half in an 83-56 loss to No. 19/19 Ohio State on Wednesday afternoon in Mackey Arena.
Madison Layden-Zay nearly posted her first career double-double, finishing with 17 points and matching her career high with eight rebounds. Finishing in double figures for the fourth straight time and the seventh time this season, Layden-Zay connected on a trio of 3-pointers, while going 6-of-6 at the line.
Layden-Zay pulled within seven of Karissa McLaughlin’s career 3-point record of 244. She is one shy of Katie Gearlds for third in program history.
Tara Daye jumped back into double figures for the ninth time this year, finishing with 10 points and five rebounds. Nya Smith posted her best scoring game as a Boilermaker with 11 points, including a perfect 5-of-5 at the line. Purdue (8-6, 0-3) went 20-of-29 at the line, both season highs.
Purdue finished the afternoon shooting 30.2% from the field and went 4-of-22 from behind the arc. The Boilermakers won the rebounding battle 40-39 but managed three points on 13 second chance opportunities.
Ohio State (12-2, 2-1) put four players in double figures, led by Kennedy Cambridge’s 16 points. The Buckeyes were 9-of-25 from distance and shot 42% on the day. Ohio State turned 26 Purdue turnovers into 29 points.
NOTES
• Layden-Zay finished with a team-high three steals. She is 15 swipes away from 200 for her career.
• It was Layden-Zay’s 29th career game with three or more steals.
• The fifth year is 19 rebounds away from joining the 500-rebound club.
• Kendall Puryear turned in a six-point, six-rebound performance off the bench.
UP NEXT
The Boilermakers will open 2026 with a two-game road swing to Nebraska on Sunday at 3 p.m. ET and Wisconsin on Jan. 8 at 7:30 p.m. ET.