B1G Game 16: Gophers visit Purdue (2-19-25)

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Ignatius L Hoops

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Sometime during Indiana’s 20-2 opening barrage overrunning Purdue, Shimmy Miller, who was doing the BTN color, said that this season 20% of the points scored against the Boilermakers come from transition baskets. Sounds bad to me. But it must sound good to the Gophers who say they want to turn defense into offense. Indiana, up 48-22 at the half, cruised to a 78-56 win in Bloomington.

Purdue (2-14) started the conference season with ten consecutive losses before defeating both Wisconsin 84-71 and, following a loss at Rutgers, Northwestern 75-60. Both wins came in West Lafayette which is where the Gophers will attempt to keep the Boilers mired in the Wabash muck.

After three seasons’ featuring two trips to the WNIT and one to the NCAA tournament, head coach Katie Gearlds received a two year contract extension through 2028-29. A 9-16 overall record and a battle to escape the Big Ten’s bottom three was not this season’s expectation even from a revamped Boiler squad.

That’s not to say there won’t be interesting matchups between Purdue and Minnesota. Sophie Hart and Annika Stewart will face off against two freshmen posts: the 6’4” Lana MaCarthy averaging 4.4 points and 3.7 rebounds in 16.1 minutes and the 6’3” Kendall Puryear averaging 9 points and 3.8 rebounds in 19 minutes. They do draw whistles. Puryear has 48 fouls in conference play and MaCarthy 41. Purdue’s most experienced post is 6’2” senior Regan Bass a transfer from Akron. Bass averages 5.6 points and 3.7 rebounds in 19.7 minutes and has committed 26 fouls in conference play.

Purdue’s leading scorer is 5’8” sophomore guard Rashunda Jones averaging 10.2 points and 2.9 rebounds in 28.7 minutes, Jones did not play in last season’s 60-58 loss in Minneapolis. That’s also true of the other Boilers mentioned.

There are a couple of three-point threats: 5’8” graduate guard Destini Lombard transferred from Stephan F. Austin and averages 8.9 points and 2.1 rebounds in 26.4 minutes. Lombard was WAC Defensive Player of the Year. She’s 22-49 (.448) from three. And there is 6’2” sophomore guard McKenna Layden averaging 6 points and 5.7 rebounds in 27.9 minutes. Layden is 22-68 (.324) from three.

Rounding out the players to know are 5’10” sophomore guard Sophia Swanson averaging 7.4 points and 2 rebounds in 16.5 minutes. And 6’0” graduate guard Ella Collier averaging 8.9 points and 2.1 rebounds in 26.4 minutes. Collier was twice NAIA National Player of the Year at Marian in Indy (Katie Gearlds was Collier’s head coach during her first year at Marian).
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A little nervous about this game. Always tough to win on the road against a conference opponent. Gophers guards have been a little careless with the ball lately during this tough stretch. Hoping they get back to protecting the ball and play fundamental basketball and get back on track. Go Gophers!
 

Katogopher said:
A little nervous about this game. Always tough to win on the road against a conference opponent. Gophers guards have been a little careless with the ball lately during this tough stretch. Hoping they get back to protecting the ball and play fundamental basketball and get back on track. Go Gophers!
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A loss tonight could really hurt the Gophers' NCAA dreams, but Purdue is bad. Perhaps the worst Purdue team in 40 years (a long period with not many bad Purdue teams). On a press conference/personality basis, Gearlds is one of my favorite coaches in the BIG, but she is having a rough year 4. She got an extension last fall, so I assume will get one more year to show big signs of life.
 

BigTenGuy said:
A loss tonight could really hurt the Gophers' NCAA dreams, but Purdue is bad. Perhaps the worst Purdue team in 40 years (a long period with not many bad Purdue teams). On a press conference/personality basis, Gearlds is one of my favorite coaches in the BIG, but she is having a rough year 4. She got an extension last fall, so I assume will get one more year to show big signs of life.
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A loss tonight will keep them out of tournament. For a team with no Q1 wins you can’t have this slip up. Purdue is terrible, there’s no reason MN should lose this game. Hopefully they play with a sense of urgency.
 


DietCokeFan said:
A loss tonight will keep them out of tournament. For a team with no Q1 wins you can’t have this slip up. Purdue is terrible, there’s no reason MN should lose this game. Hopefully they play with a sense of urgency.
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Need to play 4 quarters like when their down and its the 3rd and 4th quarter with 5 minutes to go. Seems like that is the most life of the offense.
 

R. Jones.. made her 1st three pointer tonight.. her 1st one in her last 9 games.. and her 5th on the season..

always seems to happened to the Gophers.. so annoying and frustrating
 

We always start so slow. Purdue shooting 60% in the first half. Best half of basketball for Purdue all year.
 




Where are the fans? This isn't a B1G basketball venue. Are there even 200 people in the stands?
 


Yes, fouls are not fair. Purdue 7 for 7 at line. MN is 1 for 1. Hart is shooting through a lot of contact, no fouls.
 




Battle is really unfocused tonight. We need to get somebody going besides Sophie and GG.
 


Frink said:
Battle is really unfocused tonight. We need to get somebody going besides Sophie and GG.
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Been unfocused for a few games. When she is focused she is awesome, unfortunately she has a few too many of these games.
 

Katogopher said:
Been unfocused for a few games. When she is focused she is awesome, unfortunately she has a few too many of these games.
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"Unfortunately" I've been in Hawaii so haven't seen the last few games. Hopefully the three and the free throws she just got will get her going tonight
 

Better 3rd quarter but really need to start the 4th strong and put them away.
Heyer does a lot for this team; but, my wish for her is to develop the outside shot consistently. She gets wide open and a lot and when she is off she is way off. Go Gophs!
 

Not a good sign when GG misses a free throw, need those free throws in a close game on the road
 


DietCokeFan said:
Better 3rd quarter but really need to start the 4th strong and put them away.
Heyer does a lot for this team; but, my wish for her is to develop the outside shot consistently. She gets wide open and a lot and when she is off she is way off. Go Gophs!
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2nd on the team in made 3's before GG..
 






GG has now tied her career high twice this season with 27... for some reason just can't get to 28.. really like when GG decides to go post up smaller post players.. good to see her 3 ball has started to drop the last few games.

7-12 from deep in her last 2 games.. maybe a good sign that she is getting hot from deep this time of year.

HUGE SHOUT out to Soh the Goph tonight.. a career high 22 points and made did she look good tonight.. 16 1st half points.. 11-14 from the field. seems like she is just getting better as the season goes, and I'm glad we get her next season!

wasn't pretty but I'll take a DUB.. and week off now to rest and maybe get locked back in!
 

gopherdudepart2 said:
I don't understand why Gophers didn't shoot technical fouls off the intentional fouls? Thought Grace's foul shots were from the foul on the floor. That review was ridiculously long.
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agree thought GG would get 4 free throws there.. for the foul on the ground and then the T..

and how Swanson didn't get tossed is crazy.. for a two hand shove.. I don't care if Tori sold it a little.. there is no need for that..
 

Gophers112233 said:
GG has now tied her career high twice this season with 27... for some reason just can't get to 28.. really like when GG decides to go post up smaller post players.. good to see her 3 ball has started to drop the last few games.

7-12 from deep in her last 2 games.. maybe a good sign that she is getting hot from deep this time of year.

HUGE SHOUT out to Soh the Goph tonight.. a career high 22 points and made did she look good tonight.. 16 1st half points.. 11-14 from the field. seems like she is just getting better as the season goes, and I'm glad we get her next season!

wasn't pretty but I'll take a DUB.. and week off now to rest and maybe get locked back in!
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You can tell Sophie's putting in the extra work. The coaching staff is great at player development, too!
 

Congratulations on a 20 win season! Good to get the win. The play was rather up and down. The defense was stagnant, especially in the first half, and then pretty good. The offense was stagnant at times and then great. I hope that they can savor their victory, rest up, and get ready for the big games coming up.
 

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