WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Two freshmen carried the Flyers down the stretch, as the University of Dayton upset No. 23 Purdue 56-53 at Mackey Arena Saturday night at the Boilermakers' Basketball Travelers Classic. Kari Daugherty and Brittany Wilson scored UD's final 10 points of the game to secure the victory on the road, dealing the Boilermakers' their first loss of the season.
"I love our team's heart. We played with a lot of intensity," said UD Head Coach Jim Jabir. "Offensively, we're not playing very well, but we find ways to scrap and fight. I'm very proud of what we did today. I'm proud of their determination."
Down by eight points with just 4:25 to play, UD (3-1) clawed back. The Flyers went on a 12-1 run to close out the game, and did not allow a Boilermaker point in the final 3:15.
After grabbing two offensive rebounds and then getting fouled, Kari Daugherty calmly sank two free throws to tie the game with 46 seconds left to play. Her older sister, Kristin Daugherty registered a steal on Purdue's next offensive possession. Wilson got the rebound on her missed shot and muscled up for the game-winning two points with nine seconds left in the game. Wilson finished with a career-high 10 points and seven rebounds.
"The main thing coaches talk to us about are offensive rebounds. I saw Kristin (Daugherty) heading baseline. I kept thinking, `I gotta get this. I gotta get this.' I just tried to be strong and went up strong with the ball," said Wilson. "It felt wonderful (to make the game-winning basket) but there were still 12 seconds left so we had to turn and defend. It's not over until the buzzer goes off."
The Flyer defense that caused a season-high 23 Purdue turnovers came up big again. PU turned it over on their final possession and had to foul. Daugherty made one-of-two free throws and all the Boilermakers could do to tie it was throw a desperation shot that was well off the mark at the buzzer. Kari Daugherty finished with a career-high six points and four rebounds. The two freshmen; (Wilson 5-for-6), Daugherty (4-for-6) combined for 9-for-12 from the free throw line.
"We went to two freshmen down the stretch. Kari was clutch on the foul line," said Jabir. "Brittany Wilson was just a beast on the boards. At 5-9 she is our power forward. She got fouled a couple of times and made that put back. We started switching up how we defended ball screens and tightened up our defense."
The Flyers led the game just 23-22 at the half, despite only shooting 27.3 percent to Purdue's 40.9 percent. Wilson hit a three-point field goal and a free throw, plus took a charge in the final three minutes of the first half.
Justine Raterman scored the Flyers' first eight points of the second half to spur UD to a 31-24 lead with 17:53 to play. Raterman finished with a team-high 11 points. UD held its biggest lead of the night after a Casey Nance basket at the 12:04 mark, to go up by 10, 41-31. Nance had a game-high eight rebounds.
"Justine has struggled a little bit from the field this year so it was nice to see her hit those threes," said Jabir. "It gave us a little distance and a lift. She's a very good player."
That's when Purdue started catching fire. The Boilermakers went on a 21-3 run to go up by eight.
Despite its struggles on offense, the Flyers crashed the boards, holding a 42-25 lead in the category., including 24-7 on the offensive glass.
"I'm still mystified that we got 24 (offensive rebounds) and I can't believe it was 42-25 on the boards," said Jabir. "That is a big, physical Big Ten team. Purdue is a very good team. Those rebounds are a testament to our kids' and their heart, and their will to win."
The Flyers have played teams that are ranked or receiving votes in all four of their games this season (No. 10/10 Michigan State, No. 19/23 Louisville, No. 23/RV Purdue, and Georgetown, who is also receiving votes). The Flyers close out the BTI Classic this Sunday, Nov. 22 at 1:15 p.m. ET against Seattle.
"This means a lot to our team. The fact we've beat both teams in two days is great, but we still have this next game (against Seattle) to finish," said Wilson.
