Women's Basketball Suffers 73-65 OT Loss to Northwestern

The Purdue women's basketball team suffered a 73-65 overtime loss at the hands of visiting Northwestern on Wednesday night in Mackey Arena. The Boilermakers went to extra time for a school-record fifth time this season, falling to 10-14 overall and 3-10 in Big Ten Conference play.

The game got off to a solid start as the Boilermakers played even with the Wildcats for the first seven minutes of the game, playing through a couple ties and lead changes. Sophomore guard Bridget Perry sparked a 12-2 run for the Boilermakers at the 13-minute mark with an offensive putback as the Boilermakers held Northwestern scoreless for six minutes and built a 25-12 lead with seven minutes to play in the half. Purdue held the double-digit lead late into the period, but the Wildcats countered with an 8-0 run in the last two minutes, heading to the locker room down, 36-39, to the Old Gold and Black. Purdue shot 48.5 percent in the first half (16-33), and cleaned the glass to a 24-11 rebounding advantage.

Northwestern quickly erased the Boilermakers' lead in the second half, cutting it to one on a pair of occasions before tying things up at 40-40, and taking their first lead since the opening minutes, 42-30 with 14:23 to play. The Boilermakers countered with a run of their own, taking a 48-42 lead as they spurred another Wildcat dry spell that lasted more than four minutes. However, turnovers kept the lead from extending further and Northwestern got back in the game with an 8-0 run, taking a 50-48 edged with 8:14 to play. The last eight minutes of the game featured six ties and five lead changes as neither team could pull away. Both squads had chances in the final minute of regulation, but couldn't finish the other off and the game headed to overtime.

Northwestern took a quick lead in the extra session, but the Boilermakers answered right back with a three from sophomore guard Ashley Morrissette. However it would be all Wildcats the rest of the way as they went on a 7-0 run and went six-for-six at the foul line down the stretch to seal the win and improve to 18-6 overall and 8-5 in conference play.

Perry and seniors Whitney Bays and Liza Clemons all turned in double-doubles for the Boilermakers, marking the second time this season and the fourth time in school history three Purdue players have hit the mark in the same game. Perry had a game-high 19 points and and 11 rebounds, while Clemons had 10 points and a game-high 13 rebounds and Bays had 13 points and 11 boards. With her 14th double-double of the season, Bays broke the Purdue single-season record.

Northwestern had four players in double-figures, led by sophomore Ashley Deary with 18 points. She added six assists and three steals, going a perfect nine-for-nine at the free throw line. Classmate Nia Coffey finished with 17 points and 11 rebounds, while junior Maggie Lyon had 14 points and five steals and fellow junior Lauren Douglas had 13 points and seven rebounds off the bench.

Purdue has a quick turnaround, heading to No. 18 Rutgers on Saturday to play at the Big Ten newcomers' Rutgers Athletic Center for the first time in school history.