Second-half surge helps Purdue to easy win at Wisconsin
After the first quarter, it looked like Purdue might be in for a grind at Wisconsin Wednesday night.
But then the offense kicked in. On the heels of a 48-percent shooting night, with 23 assists on 30 field goals and only nine turnovers, the Boilermakers (12-6 overall, 3-1 in the Big Ten) routed the Badgers (5-12, 0-4) by a final of 79-57.
“When you have 23 assists and only nine turnovers, you know you’re going to have a great game,” Coach Sharon Versyp said on her post-game radio interview. “We shot over 50 percent from three in the first half, but cooled a little in the second.”
Purdue scored only a dozen points in the first quarter and ended the second down by two. But a spurt at the end of the first half gave the Boilermakers a bit of cushion. Dominique Oden’s three-pointer put Purdue up six with about two minutes left, then Ashley Morrissette matched the margin with another three a minute later.
The Boilermakers hit five three-pointers in the period to help take a 36-30 halftime lead. But they were more dominant in the third and fourth, shooting 58 percent (18-of-31) in scoring 43 points. Yet Purdue led only 46-44 with four minutes left in the third quarter.
A 12-0 run, however, gave Purdue comfort. The last bucket came on a layup by Ae’Rianna Harris with only 23 seconds left of the third, putting Purdue up 58-44.
“I thought our defense was a lot better in the second half. We really capitalized on their turnovers,” said Versyp, who saw the Boilermakers score 29 points off 24 UW giveaways. “The first half, they had turnovers but we didn’t capitalize. We forced them and were able to run a lot better.”
The lead climbed to as many as 24 points with two-and-a-half minutes left in the fourth. Andreona Keys matched her career-high with 18 points, one of five in double-figures for Purdue. Morrissette had 16 with six assists and no turnovers, while Bridget Perry added 12 and Oden and Harris had 10 each.
Purdue hit eight three-pointers.
The Boilermakers also got a boost from freshman Lamina Cooper, who had six rebounds, three points, two assists and a steal off the bench.
“They played with so much heart,” Versyp said of Cooper and Harris, Purdue’s two key rookie reserves. “They really got after it. … The second half they were big keys for us.”
Wisconsin shot 40 percent, with only two players in double-figures.
Now, the Boilermakers ready for a battle with Ohio Sate on Sunday.
“We’re going to play a lot of zone against them,” Versyp said. “They’re going to rebound some but you’ve got to take away their shots, their comfortable shots.”
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