In the lead up to the Nebraska game Monday, April Wilson's offense was way out of whack.
The junior point guard had scored only 10 points in the previous three games, hitting a single field goal in each (in a total of 22 attempts) for a paltry shooting percentage of 13.6. For a Boilermaker team struggling to score, the slump was of particularly bad timing.
But it was broken vs. the Cornhuskers, as Wilson hit 7 of 9 to score a career-high 20 points while making a season-best three three-pointers. Her efforts helped keep the Boilermakers (9-9 overall, 2-5 in the Big Ten) in the game late, although they came up short in a 69-59 loss.
"It had been a while," Wilson said Wednesday, a day prior to Purdue's game at Minnesota. "I'd been scoring two or three points and Coach has been wanting me to get more shots up and get more points on the board, so it was good to see it go in. I just wish the outcome of the game was different."
Wilson's offense is critical. The Boilermakers have only two consistent scorers - forward Whitney Bays (14.9 points per game) and guard Ashley Morrissette (11.4) - and with Bridget Perry sidelined (ankle), Purdue has to look elsewhere.
Wilson's an option, largely because of her ability to get into the mid-range, where she can be an effective scorer.
"Just having Whitney and Ashley score isn't going to get us wins," she said. "It hasn't been happening. It has to be on a consistent basis that our top four or five people being in double-figures."
Coach Sharon Versyp has been urging Wilson to get more involved offensively, or to at least start hitting some shots. Wilson's making 37.4 percent of her field goals, the lowest mark of her career, and had been better than 50 percent only twice before Nebraska. But it was an uptick Monday.
"I'm really pleased at her fight," Versyp said. "That's the biggest thing. She scored and wasn't hesitant, was attacking aggressively. And when she's not hesitant she's very good.
"But I like that she executed the game plan, was really communicating and really followed things."
Now, Wilson needs to keep it going, especially if Purdue wants to break its four-game losing streak. She sensed that Cornhusker defenders were sagging off, a reason why she hit three of her four three-point attempts.
"I was a little bit wide open, so I want to make them respect me," she said. "I was knocking down the shots, so hopefully it will change (and defenders will respect me) in the next couple games."
• Purdue plays its first opponent for second time this season, when it hits No. 21 Minnesota (16-2, 5-1) at 8 p.m. Thursday.
The first go-round didn't go so well, with the Boilermakers losing 81-68 on New Year's Day. It started the recent string for Purdue, which has lost five of six. In the loss, the Boilermakers gave up 48 points in the paint and 10 on the break, many of those critical breakdowns in the final minutes.
"Keeping them off the boards is a big key," Versyp said. "You have to be physical with them. It depends on how the game is called, how physical you can be. You have to box out and box their post players out significantly. You just can't allow them to get deep because if they get deep they're going to score and be very effective on the boards and on the offensive end."
Center Amanda Zahui B. is a big key for the Boilermakers, after the Gopher burned Purdue to 21 points and 19 boards in Game 1. Frontcourt mate Shae Kelley had 22 and six. Versyp said Purdue will mix up its defensive schemes to try to contain the duo.
"She's a big player, really good," Clemons said of Zahui B., "but we have to be really physical."
Despite the losing streak, Purdue feels at least a bit better about itself now than following the defeat to Wisconsin. Against Nebraska, the Boilermakers competed, being within striking distance midway through the second half.
"It was a lot of improvement," Wilson said. "I felt like we fought to the end. We played the 40 minutes. The Wisconsin game was an ugly one, our transition D was awful. It was a little suspect in this game (vs. Nebraska) but it got better and I think we improved in a lot of areas we had been struggling on."
• Perry is likely out at least a few more weeks.
The sophomore wing was injured vs. Maryland Jan. 8, a high ankle sprain that needs a 4-to-6 week recovery period. That might put her ready for the Feb. 2 game at Indiana, if she hits the early part of the window.
"She's progressing very well, but the last piece is the hardest," Versyp said. "That's what takes the longest, the jumping ability, the zigzag, the moving, cutting."
The junior point guard had scored only 10 points in the previous three games, hitting a single field goal in each (in a total of 22 attempts) for a paltry shooting percentage of 13.6. For a Boilermaker team struggling to score, the slump was of particularly bad timing.
But it was broken vs. the Cornhuskers, as Wilson hit 7 of 9 to score a career-high 20 points while making a season-best three three-pointers. Her efforts helped keep the Boilermakers (9-9 overall, 2-5 in the Big Ten) in the game late, although they came up short in a 69-59 loss.
"It had been a while," Wilson said Wednesday, a day prior to Purdue's game at Minnesota. "I'd been scoring two or three points and Coach has been wanting me to get more shots up and get more points on the board, so it was good to see it go in. I just wish the outcome of the game was different."
Wilson's offense is critical. The Boilermakers have only two consistent scorers - forward Whitney Bays (14.9 points per game) and guard Ashley Morrissette (11.4) - and with Bridget Perry sidelined (ankle), Purdue has to look elsewhere.
Wilson's an option, largely because of her ability to get into the mid-range, where she can be an effective scorer.
"Just having Whitney and Ashley score isn't going to get us wins," she said. "It hasn't been happening. It has to be on a consistent basis that our top four or five people being in double-figures."
Coach Sharon Versyp has been urging Wilson to get more involved offensively, or to at least start hitting some shots. Wilson's making 37.4 percent of her field goals, the lowest mark of her career, and had been better than 50 percent only twice before Nebraska. But it was an uptick Monday.
"I'm really pleased at her fight," Versyp said. "That's the biggest thing. She scored and wasn't hesitant, was attacking aggressively. And when she's not hesitant she's very good.
"But I like that she executed the game plan, was really communicating and really followed things."
Now, Wilson needs to keep it going, especially if Purdue wants to break its four-game losing streak. She sensed that Cornhusker defenders were sagging off, a reason why she hit three of her four three-point attempts.
"I was a little bit wide open, so I want to make them respect me," she said. "I was knocking down the shots, so hopefully it will change (and defenders will respect me) in the next couple games."
• Purdue plays its first opponent for second time this season, when it hits No. 21 Minnesota (16-2, 5-1) at 8 p.m. Thursday.
The first go-round didn't go so well, with the Boilermakers losing 81-68 on New Year's Day. It started the recent string for Purdue, which has lost five of six. In the loss, the Boilermakers gave up 48 points in the paint and 10 on the break, many of those critical breakdowns in the final minutes.
"Keeping them off the boards is a big key," Versyp said. "You have to be physical with them. It depends on how the game is called, how physical you can be. You have to box out and box their post players out significantly. You just can't allow them to get deep because if they get deep they're going to score and be very effective on the boards and on the offensive end."
Center Amanda Zahui B. is a big key for the Boilermakers, after the Gopher burned Purdue to 21 points and 19 boards in Game 1. Frontcourt mate Shae Kelley had 22 and six. Versyp said Purdue will mix up its defensive schemes to try to contain the duo.
"She's a big player, really good," Clemons said of Zahui B., "but we have to be really physical."
Despite the losing streak, Purdue feels at least a bit better about itself now than following the defeat to Wisconsin. Against Nebraska, the Boilermakers competed, being within striking distance midway through the second half.
"It was a lot of improvement," Wilson said. "I felt like we fought to the end. We played the 40 minutes. The Wisconsin game was an ugly one, our transition D was awful. It was a little suspect in this game (vs. Nebraska) but it got better and I think we improved in a lot of areas we had been struggling on."
• Perry is likely out at least a few more weeks.
The sophomore wing was injured vs. Maryland Jan. 8, a high ankle sprain that needs a 4-to-6 week recovery period. That might put her ready for the Feb. 2 game at Indiana, if she hits the early part of the window.
"She's progressing very well, but the last piece is the hardest," Versyp said. "That's what takes the longest, the jumping ability, the zigzag, the moving, cutting."
