Purdue Women’s Basketball: Boilers fall just short against Michigan

Two issues all season for the Purdue women’s basketball team reared its head in the regular season finale — playing on the road and the second quarter.

Both proved to be tough for the Boilermakers, who were without Caitlyn Harper, who tore her ACL last week and is out for the rest of the season. When the dust settled, Michigan held on for a 64-60 Senior Night victory over Purdue. Purdue women’s basketball enters the Big Ten Women’s Tournament at 12-17 overall, 5-13. The Boilermakers, who drew the 12th seed, open the tournament against 13th seed Northwestern.

Against Michigan, Purdue found itself in an early 9-1 hole four minutes into the game, as the Boilermakers missed their first eight shots before Mary Ashley Stevenson found the net with a layup. Stevenson’s basket sparked a 6-0 run that cut into the deficit. Michigan held a slim 12-11 lead after the first quarter.

Michigan continued to score at will in the early moments of the second quarter en route to building a 27-22 halftime lead.

The third quarter featured both teams trading runs and baskets, as Purdue women’s basketball put up 19 points, shot 45 percent from the field and got solid play from Abbey Ellis, who scored 12 points in the frame. The frantic pace and play continued in the fourth quarter. Purdue had a chance to play the role of spoiler, as Rashunda Jones drained a three pointer with under a minute to go, cutting the deficit to two. However, Michigan iced the game with free throws down the stretch.

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