Purdue run buries Valparaiso
When Andreona Keys went down with what looked like knee injury midway through the second quarter vs. Valparaiso, it appeared to be potentially bad news for Purdue.
It wasn't.
Soon after, the Boilermakers went on a 42-4 run over a 14-minute stretch — and got additional good news when Keys returned to the floor to start the second half — turning a 35-all tie into a 77-39 lead just before the end of the third quarter. The Boilermakers (6-4), who ended a two-game losing streak, went on to win 95-49 Friday night in Mackey Arena.
"We just wanted to go harder for our captain," said Lamina Cooper, who scored a career-high 17 in the win, "and show her that we support her and we're there for her."
Purdue was dominant from midway through the second until near the end of the third, first by scoring 42 points but perhaps more impressively by giving up only four. Valpo, which had only a point in the final 4:30 of the first half, scored on a field goal to start the second half, plus had another free throw, before finally hitting a layup again just before the third-quarter buzzer.
"Our energy on defense (was key)," Cooper said, "and letting that translate to our offense, sharing the basketball."
Purdue did that, assisting on 24-of-32 field goals while committing only six turnovers and shooting 55.2 percent from the field. The run — and really it was a 60-14 stretch in the final 24-plus minutes — was a clinic.
Freshman Karissa McLaughlin, who came off the bench while Keys started at the point, hit a three-pointer from the right win, followed by a baseline drive just before the end of the first half, putting Purdue up 48-36.
Then to start the third quarter, Cooper scored on consecutive layups, the second in transition set up after her own steal. The sophomore's 17, a game after she tied her career-high with 16, came on 7-of-12 shooting, plus she had three blocks and two steals.
"When she got the rebound and took off, went coast-to-coast and stopped for a pull-up with three people in front of her, we yelled for her, because it's so exciting to see her play with confidence and knock down shots, attack the basket," Keys said. "She's a threat all-around."
Purdue started to empty its bench with 2:19 left in the third quarter — walk-on Abby Abel scored a career-high five late, much to the delight of the Mackey crowd — as the lead hit 40 when Dominique Oden scored on back-to-back triples early in the fourth.
Valpo shot only 31.5 percent from the field, with only 13 points on 4-of-26 (15.4 percent) in the second half. Purdue held a 41-28 edge on the glass, didn't turn the ball over much and made a season-high 11 three-pointers. McLaughlin hit four of them, while Oden had three.
"She plays more confident and comfortable," Versyp said of McLaughlin, who came off the bench for only the second time this season. "The players reinforced that. And 'Nique finally got that (long) ball going, which was good because they had been shooting not that great. That was big for us."
Ae'Rianna Harris added 15, 11 rebounds, four assists and four blocks, while Keys had nine points and 11 boards.
Purdue got a scare with six minutes left in the second quarter, when the senior crumpled to the ground holding her right knee. But after being examined on the bench, then in the locker room, she was back on the court.
"I tweaked it. I'm fine," Keys said. "... Coach V said, 'Are you OK? We're going to wait to the third quarter if you're fine.' And I was fine. I ran on it a little bit before I got back out (there)."
The Crusaders Meredith Hamlet murdered Purdue in the first half, scoring all 19 of her points.
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