Purdue Sports Update: Jan. 5

WBB Drops Pair of Contest Against Ranked Foes

The women’s basketball team could not climb out of a double-digit deficit in the first half in a 78-62 loss on the road to No. 20/25 Nebraska on Sunday afternoon.

The Boilermakers (8-7, 0-4) held the 13th ranked offense nine points below its season average and recorded 13 steals on 15 Nebraska (13-2, 2-2) turnovers to score 16 points, but the Cornhuskers shot 51.1% from the field and went 12-of-19 behind the arc.

Purdue was 44.2% from the floor and knocked down eight 3-pointers on 20 attempts on the afternoon. The Boilermakers put up 30 points in the paint, their 12th game over 30 this season, and flipped 10 offensive rebounds into 16 points.

Three Boilermakers finished in double figures, led by Tara Daye’s 12 points. The redshirt junior notched her 13th double-digit performance to go with six points and a season-high six assists.

Kiki Smith jumped back into double figures for the first time in three games with a 10-point outing with a pair of 3-pointers. Kendall Puryear added 10 points off the bench on 5-of-7 shooting with six coming in the fourth quarter.

The Layden sisters both finished with six points. McKenna Layden connected twice from the outside to match her season high, while Madison Layden-Zay finished with six points on a pair of triples. Layden-Zay passed head coach Katie Gearlds for third all-time on the Purdue 3-point chart. She is now five away from Karissa McLaughlin’s career record of 244.

Purdue 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.

The Boilermakers will hit the road for the second straight time on Thursday night with a 7:30 p.m. tip at Wisconsin on B1G+.

Wrestling Finishes Strong to Salvage Doubleheader

No. 20 Purdue split a doubleheader on Friday, suffering its first loss at Drexel (19-16) before answering in the nightcap with an impressive victory at Rider (24-6).

The Boilermakers (7-1) won 13 of 20 total matches, competing in two different states just a few hours apart. Purdue closed the night winning seven matches in a row to finish the non-conference slate on a high note.

DOWNED AT DREXEL

Purdue began its trip at Drexel’s John A. Daskalakis Center in Philadelphia. In a hard-fought affair with each team winning five matches, the dual came down to the final bout at heavyweight to decide a winner.

No. 4 Joey Blaze (165 lbs) took Purdue’s only bonus points with another impressive major decision, winning 15-3. No. 24 Ben Vanadia (197) picked up his first of two ranked victories, topping No. 32 Ibrahim Ameer in a 13-8 decision.

No. 33 Greyson Clark (141), No. 21 Gavin Brown (149) and No. 26 James Rowley also added decision wins. But bonus points for Drexel in the 157- and 174-pound matches put them in the driver’s seat, and No. 31 Nate Schon clinched the dual with a 12-3 major at 285.

REDEMPTION AT RIDER

Needing a response on a quick turnaround, Purdue traveled across state lines to Lawrenceville, N.J., to battle a tough Rider team with four ranked stars. The Boilermakers trailed 6-3 early until going on to win seven straight decisions, running away with a 24-6 blowout.

Vanadia registered an upset over No. 23 Brock Zurawski, racking up an incredible 4:59 riding time advantage and imposing his will. The redshirt senior is now 13-4 with a team-high four ranked victories.

Blake Boarman (133) rebounded from three consecutive losses to notch an upset over No. 32 Will Betancourt, winning a 2-1 rock fight. The Chattanooga transfer, who ranked as high as No. 17 earlier this season, regained momentum at the right time heading into Big Ten season.

No. 16 Brody Baumann (174), Brown, Buell, Blaze and Filipovich each took care of business with their own decisions to seal the win.

UP NEXT

The Boilermakers will travel west for their Big Ten opener at No. 6 Nebraska next Friday, Jan. 9. Action from the Devaney Center in Lincoln gets started at 8 p.m. ET with the broadcast on B1G+.