WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The University of Dayton women's basketball team rallied from behind to keep it close down the stretch, but came up short in a 61-58 loss to Purdue.
The Flyers' record falls to 6-2 on the season while the Boilers improve to 6-2 as well.
GAME BREAKDOWN•
1Q: Junior
Saicha Grant-Allen had seven of the first nine points for the Flyers as they built an early 9-5 lead. Purdue countered and cut into that margin though as the first quarter ended with Dayton leading the Boilers 14-13. UD led since the 8:54 mark of the first quarter of play.
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2Q: Senior
Amber Deane started the second with a nice layup that went in and drew the foul for the and-one. By the 6:23 mark, Purdue tied the game up at 17-17. A 7-0 Boiler run eventually put the Flyers in a 20-17 deficit. Dayton tried to stay within striking distance of Purdue, but three turnovers in the last 2:17 sent the Flyers to the locker room down 28-21. Despite trailing going into the break, Dayton held the Boilers to 1-of-5 shooting in the final stages of the half.
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3Q: Freshman
Maddy Dennis had the first five points for UD to start the second half. Freshman
Lauren Cannatelli's three-pointer at the 6:46 mark cut the margin to two, 33-31. The Flyers stuck with the Boilers until the 3:28 mark when Burdette's three gave Dayton the 38-35 lead, capping off a 7-0 Flyer run. The third quarter ended with Dayton holding a 44-43 lead over host Purdue.
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4Q: Senior
Jodie Cornelie-Sigmundova's three to open the fourth quarter extended the Flyers' lead back to four at 47-43. Eventually, a 9-0 run by the Boilers put them back on top 52-47, taking the momentum back in the contest amidst a 3:36 scoring drought for UD. Dayton fought back thanks to some contested buckets and the free throw line to make it 55-53 with 4:27 to play in the game. The Flyers managed to tie the game up at 55-55 after blanking Purdue for a 5:07 stretch in which the Boilers went 0-for-9 from the field. Deane hit a crucial free throw with 41 seconds remaining in the game, putting Dayton on top 56-55. Purdue answered and took the lead with a bucket and a free throw to make it a 58-56 Flyer deficit. In the end, Dayton was unable to catch back up and fell to Purdue, 61-58.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS• Sunday's game marked the first time Dayton has trailed at the half this season. The Flyers had twice previously been tied going into halftime (40-40 vs. Yale; 28-28 vs. Louisville).
• Junior
Saicha Grant-Allen led the Flyers with 16 points and 11 rebounds, tying a career-high and recording her second double-double of the season. It was a season high in rebounds as well.
• Senior
Amber Deane chipped in 12 points and three assists while sophomore
Jenna Burdette added 11 points and three more assists. Senior
Jodie Cornelie-Sigmundova was just shy of a double-double of her own with nine points and 10 boards. She also tied a career high with six blocks defensively, one more than the entire Purdue team.
• The Flyers were out-shot from behind the arc 29.4% compared to Purdue's 37.5%, but hit 83.3% from the free throw line. UD went 8-for-8 from the free throw line in the third quarter alone.
KEY STATS• Purdue out-scored Dayton 12-4 on second chance points and had 16 bench points compared to the Flyers' nine points. UD's 19 turnovers were the most in a single game this season.
JABIR'S TAKE"Defensively, we held them to 33 percent," said head coach
Jim Jabir. We didn't execute though and I thought in the second half we did a better job of cleaning it up. We have to make some adjustments."
UP NEXT• The Flyers will return home for their first game at UD Arena since Nov. 22 when they host Gonzaga at 7 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 11.
