In an in-state rivalry game against Purdue with less than 2,000 fans from both sides combined in attendance, the Purdue women's basketball team dominated the Hoosiers in all facets of the game: points, rebounds, shooting percentage and fan energy. IU lost to the Boilers 82-60 Thursday night at Assembly Hall.
Purdue traveled well, with a loud, raucous student section in attendance along with alumni to match the sparse Bloomington resident and student crowd. Players from both sides echoed that the fans played no part in the outcome of the game, even though half Assembly Hall (if not more) was decked out in black and gold.
In the first half, IU quickly got behind by several buckets, but stayed within arm's reach of the Boilers during the game's first 20 minutes, as in the first half of several conference games thus far this season. The Hoosiers out-shot Purdue 54.2% to 48.1%, yet faced a 37-30 deficit going into the locker room at half time.
Though Purdue didn't storm out to a big lead at the beginning of the second half, the team's lead increased slowly to 17 with 15:14 left in the game, and IU never recovered. Indiana made a few short runs to get the crowd going, but nothing substantial, only shooting 7-of-30 in the second half, 23.3% from the field.
Purdue certainly didn't light up Assembly Hall either, shooting 37.8% in the final 20 minutes, but much of that was disguised by several trips down the floor where the Boilers would miss a shot or two before getting one or two offensive rebounds and finally laying one in.
IU was simply dominated on the glass, losing the rebound battle 49-29, and also had 21 turnovers to go with only 12 point in the paint and nine off the bench.
Purdue saw five players score in double figures, making it hard for IU Coach Felisha Legette-Jack's players to know who to defend, and instead often Purdue was able to make the extra pass and get the easy bucket.
IU junior forward Aulani Sinclair led the team with 20 points and tied for the team-lead in rebounds with six, but it simply wasn't enough to fend off the balanced Boilermaker offense.
Indiana will get one more chance to try and knock off their in-state rivals - who have yet to drop a conference game - during the Hoosiers' final game of the regular season on Feb. 26 in West Lafayette, Ind., but against a home Mackey Arena crowd, it'll certainly take a much improved IU squad to defeat Purdue on its home court.
