by Ben Crane, Illinois Communications
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Fighting Illini women’s basketball team was outdone by Purdue’s hot shooting on Thursday night at State Farm Center, falling 89-67, behind a three-point barrage that saw the visiting Boilermakers tally 15 three-pointers on 65 percent shooting from beyond the arc.
The Illini (6-10, 1-4 B1G) were led by Aaliyah Nye, (Potawatomii) who totaled 19 points with six three-pointers of her own. De’Myla Brown and Jayla Oden also finished in double-figures scoring for the Illini with 12 and 11 points, respectively. Kendall Bostic pulled down a game-high nine rebounds for the Illini.
Purdue (12-6, 3-4 B1G) was anchored by Abby Ellis, who tallied 21 points, including six three pointers, and Madison Layden who notched 19 with five triples. Brooke Moore added 14 points off the bench, while former Illini guard Jeanae Terry recorded eight points, six assists, and six rebounds in her first game back at State Farm Center.
The Boilermakers scored the first four points of the game before a pair of Nye triples on back-to-back possessions. The first quarter remained a back-and-forth battle, with Purdue closing the period with 16-14 lead. The Illini regained the edge in the second period, and held a 30-27 advantage at the 3:23 mark before the Boilermakers closed out the half on a 13-0 scoring run to take a 40-30 lead.
Folllowing Nye’s three-pointer to open the third quarter, Purdue answered with a 10-0 run, including triples from Layden and Ellis. The run pushed the Illini deficit back to double-figures and the Illini would be unable to pull closer than 10 the remainder of the contest.
