Purdue ends Western swing 2-2 after win over Marist
Andreona Keys made sure Purdue ended its Western swing with a .500 record, posting a 20-point, eight-rebound, four-assist, three-steal effort on Sunday evening.
The senior led Purdue (5-2) to a 61-47 victory over Marist in the finale of the Rainbow Wahine Challenge. While Keys might have been the individual star, it was a collective defensive show that led Purdue.
Marist shot less than 33 percent, including only 4-of-22 from three-point range.
"We played really well and the kids did a great job," Coach Sharon Versyp said during her post-game radio interview. "Having to defend Marist, with five shooters and constantly motion, motion, motion, I thought we set the tone pretty well."
The Boilermakers jumped to an early lead, frequently getting the ball inside to Keys and Ae'Rianna Harris, who finished with 14 points, 12 rebounds and four assists. Only a half-court buzzer beater kept Marist (1-5) within 35-23 at the break.
The lead stretched to as many as 21 in the second half.
"The kids did some really good things and we got some good playing time for a lot of people," Versyp said. "Three games in three days is tough, but we weathered that pretty well."
Along with her 20-point effort, Keys reached the 250 career assist mark, making her just the ninth player in program history with at least 500 rebounds and 250 assists. Dominique Oden finished with 12 points, three rebounds and three assists, while Lamina Cooper posted 10 points, six rebounds and two steals.
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