Purdue (6-2) struggled early against a tough Dayton defense that forced them work deep in the shot clock and turned them over four times in the first four minutes of the game. The Flyers scored off three of those turnovers to go up 9-5. Purdue settled down on offense and forced Dayton into turnovers and bad shots on the other end; Dayton shot 1-7 and had three turnovers in the last 4:14. Purdue held the lead briefly at the end of the quarter before the Flyers ended a scoreless run and went back up 14-13.
Purdue played a zone defense in the second quarter and the Flyers struggled as they were outscored 15-7. Purdue enjoyed a 9-0 run as Dayton endured another cold shooting stretch going 0-7. Bridget Perry capped the run with a triple and jumper on back-to-back possessions to put Purdue up 22-17. Dayton scored drawing within three but on Purdue's next trip down the floor Ashley Morrissette got fouled while hitting a three and converted the four-point play to Purdue back up seven. At the end of the second quarter Purdue was up 28-21.
Both teams shot 50% from the floor in the third quarter as the offensive production picked up. Purdue struggled to slow down a hot shooting Dayton squad through the middle of the period; Dayton shot 4-6 from the field and 4-4 from the line. Meanwhile Purdue turned the ball over four times falling behind 38-35. Purdue tied it back up and took the lead after a trey from April Wilson and layup from Hayden Hamby. Dayton answered immediately and after Andreona Keys hit one of two free-throws Dayton hit four straight to go up three, 44-41. After Dayton pressured Purdue into a shot clock violation with 30 seconds left the Boilers got a second chance when Dayton turned the ball over. April Wilson made good on the opportunity hitting a jumper to cut the deficit to one.
Purdue hung on to win the game despite shooting only 24% from the field in the final period. Purdue started off missing their first seven shots. Down 47-43 Purdue scored three points on four consecutive possessions; a Wilson trey, Wilson three-point play, Dominique McBryde three-point play, and Hamby triple. Two free-throws and a field goal from the Flyers kept Purdue from running away with it; Purdue led 55-49. The Boilers went cold missing their next nine shots as Dayton enjoyed a little run to take the lead. With 40 seconds left Dayton missed their first free throw of the game, but connected on the second putting them up one, 56-55. Ashley Morrissette hit a jumper for Purdue to give them the lead for good with 28 seconds left. Dayton fouled Bridget Perry three times she connected on four of six to preserve the Purdue win, 61-58.
Bridget Perry posted a double-double with 11 points and a career high 14 rebounds. April Wilson led Purdue with 15 points, seven assists, and four rebounds. Ashley Morrissette ended the game with 13 points and was 2-3 from behind the arc.
Purdue shot 33%.
The win over Dayton gave Coach Versyp her 200th win with the Boilers.