Purdue falls in Challenge at Georgia Tech
Early in the second quarter, the Boilermakers couldn't find the basket.
Even shots in the paint weren't going down; And Georgia Tech took advantage, going on a 21-9 run in the 10-minute span to extend its lead to 13 at halftime, then holding off Purdue to hand the Boilermakers (5-3) a 68-55 loss Thursday night in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge.
Purdue missed 13 consecutive shots at one point, helping to give GT (7-1) as high as a 16-point lead in the first half.
"They nailed some big shots and it just took the air out from under us," Coach Sharon Versyp said during her post-game radio interview. "But the big key was that we missed 10 layups early. They were two-foot baskets, some contested and some not, and when you miss those shots that early,when they really could give you a lot of energy, it just drained us."
The Boilermakers, spurred by Andreona Keys in her return to her hometown of Atlanta, rallied in the second half, pulling to within 38-35 with four minutes left in the third quarter. Keys, who scored 20, had eight in the 15-5 run, but that was as close as the Boilermakers would get. The Yellow Jackets responded by scoring eight of the next 10.
Purdue shot about 40-percent from the field, with 16 turnovers, but played nearly even on the glass to the bigger Yellow Jackets. But the Boilermakers made only 11-of-21 free throws.
"You can't shoot 50-percent from the foul line," Versyp said. "We were doing what we wanted to do, slowing the game, getting to the line, but when you're missing bunny layups, that becomes contagious and the free throws become contagious."
Keys, on her homecoming, had 20 points on 7-of-10 shooting with four assists and two rebounds, while Ae'Rianna Harris added 10 points, six boards and three steals.
Georgia Tech, coached by former Purdue All-American MaChelle Joseph, was led in scoring by Francesca Pan, who had 15.
"This was a tough one," Versyp said. "We have to show up as an entire team and we didn't show up. Georgia Tech played good basketball but we weren't in it mentally a little bit and that's got to grow. These games are like Big Ten games, so we've get to grow and get better."
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