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The Purdue Women's Basketball (9-8, 2-4) team dropped their third game in a row Thursday night. Purdue fell to the Wisconsin Badgers 65-56. Whitney Bays' streak of double-doubles continued but it wasn't enough to get past Wisconsin. Purdue's lackluster shooting persisted and proved fatal again.
The first half was closely contested. The teams traded the lead four times. With 12:40 left in the half Torrie Thornton hit a layup which capped off a 6-0 run to give Purdue a one point lead. The Badgers answered right away with a Jacki Gulczynski three to go back up two. An April Wilson layup with 9:04 left again gave Purdue a one point lead, 21-20. The Boilermakers didn't hold the lead long as the Badgers scored on the ensuing possession. From then on Purdue went cold from the field and shooting 2 for 14 over the last nine minutes of the half. Wisconsin wasn't able to run away with it because they too struggled to hit from the field going 2 for 8 in the last five minutes. At the break Purdue was down 32-30.
Purdue's shooting woes only got worse in the second half. Wisconsin didn't take advantage of it till late in the half. The Boilers kept Wisconsin within three points through the first 10 minutes of the half, tying the score twice. Andreona Keys hit a three-pointer with 9:51 left to give Purdue a two point lead. Once Purdue got the lead Wisconsin went on a 12-3 to go up 52-45. Purdue drew within four with four minutes left but Wisconsin was able to answer and stretch their lead to 10.
Whitney Bays had another double-double putting up 18 points and pulling down 10 rebounds to go with four steals and four blocks. Ashley Morrissette just missed on a double-double with 13 points and nine assists. Liza Clemons posted eight points and nine rebounds. The Boilers assisted on 19 of their 22 field goals. Purdue struggled shooting from anywhere on the floor finishing 31.4% from the field, 23.8% from three-point range, and 50% from the line.
Right now Purdue is sitting at 12th in the conference. They're trailed by Michigan State and Penn State. Maryland is first in the conference at 5-0. Minnesota and Iowa are in second at 4-1. Nebraska, Northwestern, and Michigan all have 3-2 records. Rutgers, Ohio State, and Wisconsin are 3-3, and Indiana and Illinois are 2-3.
No. 8/8 Maryland is the highest ranked team in the conference. Other ranked conference teams are No. 17/15 Nebraska, No. 22/21 Iowa, No. 23/NR Minnesota, and No. 24/22 Rutgers.
Currently Purdue is the worst shooting team in the conference at 38.8% and 13th in three-point shooting, 28.2%. Bays is 15th in the league in scoring, 15 ppg, 4th in rebounding, 10.6 rpg, and 7th in steals, 2.4 spg. April Wilson is seventh in the conference with 4.5 apg.
Purdue is on the road next against Nebraska on Monday night. Nebraska has the best scoring defense in the league allowing only 57.4 ppg and second best field goal percentage defense, 35.6%. Nebraska's offense runs through Rachel Theriot. Theriot shoots the ball well and distributes it pacing the Huskers with 17.5 ppg and 4.9 apg. Cady Emily nearly averages a double-double with 12.8 ppg and 9.4 rpg. Tear'a Laudermill, 11.9 ppg also averages double figures in the scoring column.