University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
Purdue
GOLDEN GOPHER WOMEN'S BASKETBALL LOSES TO NO. 13 PURDUE
1/10/2002 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
The No. 13 Purdue Boilermakers outscored the Golden Gophers by a 29-10 margin in the last 10 minutes of the game to pull away for an 84-61 victory in Big Ten women's basketball action on Thursday at Mackey Arena in West Lafayette, Ind. The loss dropped Minnesota's record to 12-3 overall, with all three losses coming to nationally ranked opponents. The Gophers fell to 2-2 in conference play.
Rookie center Janel McCarville led the Gophers with 18 points and a career-high 13 rebounds, for her third career double-double. Three other Gophers scored in double figures with Lindsay Lieser adding 12, and Corrin Von Wald and Kadidja Andersson</ a> chipping in 10 points apiece. Guard Lindsay Whalen was held to just nine points in the game, marking the second time in her career, both coming at Purdue, that the sophomore was held below 10 points in a game.
"We got a little impatient on offense," said Minnesota head coach Brenda Oldfield. "Purdue played an inspired game in the second half. They are a talented team and this is a difficult place to play."
Purdue(12-3, 3-2) used a 9-0 run midway through the first half to turn a 19-18 deficit into a 27-19 lead with 4:55 left before halftime. The Gophers countered behind the play of McCarville, who dominated the paint scoring 10 points and pulling down nine rebounds in the first half. The Boilermakers owned a 34-28 lead at the half.
The Gophers closed to within two points at 39-37 early in the second half on a jumper by McCarville, but it was as close Minnesota would come the rest of the way.
Lieser's long-range three-pointers, two straight, brought the Gophers to within 55-51 before the Boilermakers turned up the pressure and take control of the game. Purdue's Shereka Wright scored 13 of her game-high 23 points in the second half, including four during an 11-3 Boiler run that broke the game open.
Minnesota shot just 43.2 percent from the field, committed 23 turnovers and visited the free throw line just eight times, making six. Purdue did not shoot much better from the floor, 46.8 percent, but the Boilermakers made 19-of-26 free throws and turned the ball over just 11 times. The Boilermakers finished with a 16-2 advantage in steals.
Minnesota's next action is Jan. 17, when the Gophers play host to Michigan.
