Indiana Women's Basketball Secures Big Win Against Purdue
Boilermakers Fall 79-70 in Bloomington Showdown
The Indiana Hoosiers women's basketball team secured a thrilling 79-70 victory over their in-state rivals, the Purdue Boilermakers, in a highly anticipated matchup at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall in Bloomington on Sunday afternoon.
The Hoosiers were led by a stellar performance from sophomore guard Grace Berger, who poured in a game-high 26 points and dished out seven assists. Berger's backcourt mate, senior guard Ali Patberg, added 19 points and six rebounds, while junior forward Brenna Wise contributed 14 points and nine rebounds.
Purdue was paced by junior forward Ae'Rianna Harris, who finished with 18 points and eight rebounds. Junior guard Karissa McLaughlin added 16 points and four assists, while senior forward Dominique Oden chipped in with 11 points and six rebounds.
Hoosiers Dominate First Half
Indiana came out firing on all cylinders in the first half, shooting 50% from the field and holding Purdue to just 33%. The Hoosiers jumped out to a 20-point lead in the second quarter before the Boilermakers closed the gap to 10 by halftime.
The Hoosiers continued to control the tempo in the second half, but Purdue made a late push in the fourth quarter. The Boilermakers cut the lead to five with just over three minutes remaining, but Indiana hit some key free throws down the stretch to seal the victory.
Big Win for Indiana
The win is a big one for Indiana, as it improves their record to 15-4 overall and 6-2 in Big Ten play. The Hoosiers are now in sole possession of third place in the conference standings, just one game behind second-place Maryland.
The Boilermakers, meanwhile, fall to 12-6 overall and 4-4 in Big Ten play. Purdue is now tied for fifth place in the conference standings with Rutgers.
What's Next?
Indiana will be back in action on Thursday, January 23, when they travel to Ann Arbor to take on the Michigan Wolverines. Purdue will be back in action on Wednesday, January 22, when they host the Penn State Nittany Lions.
