The Boilermakers have now played four consecutive games in which they’ve scored at least 70 points.
And that comes after having done so only once previously during Big Ten play. Probably no coincidence that Purdue has played well during the stretch, winning three of the four games, with the only loss being to No. 3 Maryland.
During the stretch, Purdue (15-9 overall, 6-4 in the Big Ten) has averaged 76.5 points per game while shooting 49.4 percent from the field, numbers that are nearly 10 points higher and six percent points better, respectively, than their season averages.
“We’re moving the ball,” said Andreona Keys, whose team has 79 assists in the four games. “When we don’t turn the ball over and we have a lot of assists, that’s when we’re great. Not caring about who is scoring the most points, because there is a bunch of openings in a defense all the time, so we have to take advantage of that.”
Purdue might have to continue to do so Wednesday evening, when the Boilermakers welcome in No. 21 Michigan (19-5, 8-2) for a 6 p.m. tip in Mackey Arena. The Wolverines can score, averaging 79.6 points per game, the third-best in the Big Ten, with three — guard Katelynn Flaherty (19.9), center Hallie Thome (15.1) and guard Kysre Gondrezick (14.3) — averaging in double-figures.
“They have a bunch of weapons on their team and have been playing well,” Keys said. “… We have to limit their best players, and that’s limiting Flaherty, limiting what she can do, and Thome in the post, is going to be big, so we can stop them and then worry about the others after that and I think we’ll be great.”
Lately, the Boilermakers have been finding more ways to score themselves. The shooting helps — Purdue has hit 22 triples in the last four, including 10 vs. Illinois on Sunday — but other areas, as well. Purdue’s rebounding is better of late, and that’s equaled an upswing in second-chance points.
The Boilermakers had 18 points vs. Illinois and 17 against Nebraska, while allowing only five total. They had 13 in the loss to Maryland and only seven vs. Michigan State, although there were not many opportunities, with Purdue shooting 59-percent in the win in East Lansing.
“I think something we really needed to focus on was our second-chance opportunities, being more efficient,” Coach Sharon Versyp said. “We have to be able to score off offensive boards, and because we were kind of uncharacteristic with the turnovers (against Illinois with 19), we had to make it up somewhere.
“We shot the ball well and we were able to convert on the offensive boards, which is really, really important, and that’s something we’ve discussed and something we’ve needed to improve on, so that was a big development.”
Michigan might represent Purdue’s last possible regular-season signature win, as the last six opponents are a combined 22-29 in the league so far. Right now, the Boilermakers sit in a three-way tie for fourth in the league, two games back of Michigan, but in need of victories.
“They’ve lost (only) to Maryland and Ohio State, so they’re the third-best team on paper, no question,” Versyp said of the Wolverines. “We’re just excited to have the challenge, (we) play them at home and play them one time.”
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