Purdue’s 54 points inside fends off Syracuse’s comeback

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Asia Strong made her fourth 3-pointer with less than three minutes to go, cutting a once 21-point Purdue lead to six. But on the other end, just like she had all game, Lasha Petree scored driving into the right lane, earning an and-one and pushing away a potential Orange comeback.

These were just a pair of 54 points inside the paint that allowed Purdue (7-1, 0-0 Big Ten) to get past Syracuse (5-2, 0-0 Atlantic Coast) 87-78 in SU’s final game of the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. It marked the second loss to a Big Ten opponent with Penn State defeating the Orange earlier in November. SU fought back after being outscored 24-11 in the second quarter, cutting its 21-point deficit to as low as five with the help of a 14-2 fourth-quarter scoring run. But Purdue held off the Orange.

Syracuse trickled back after it seemed like it would never compete near the end of the game. By halftime, the Orange trailed 47-29 and their field percentage dropped to 33%. And Fair, who had been coming off a season-high 25 points, was silent in the first half.

It was a completely different start for Syracuse than against Bucknell, where it scored just six points in the first quarter. On Wednesday, SU scored eight points within the first two-and-a-half minutes, including a couple 3s from Georgia Woolley and Dyaisha Fair. Both sides went back-and-forth early in the first quarter as the Boilermakers led 13-12 by the first media timeout.

But following that timeout, Purdue took control, using a 24-point second quarter to balloon its lead to double-digits. Syracuse’s field-goal percentage dropped to just 33% at the half. Teisha Hyman provided most of the scoring for Orange, scoring 13 points in the first half, but the 11-point second quarter for Syracuse created a large deficit. In the second period, SU shot 26% from the field while Purdue shot 66.7%.

Even throughout the fourth quarter comeback, the Orange couldn’t stop Petree, who continued to drive down the right side of the lane for six points in the third quarter and finished with 31 points. The Boilermakers attacked the inside, scoring 18 of 23 first-quarter points down low, including a basket from Madison Layden inside just four seconds into the game. Purdue recognized its 3-point shooting wasn’t there — it finished 3-of-17 from deep — and so it went inside.

Prior to Wednesday’s game, head coach Felisha Legette-Jack said Purdue’s quickness and pace provided it the option to “lull” the Orange inside before kicking it out for outside shots. The Boilermakers were fast, but they didn’t need to rely on its outside shooting since they easily beat Syracuse directly at the rim instead.

As the Boilermakers’ season-leading scorer, Petree notched her fourth 20-point performance, with the others against Murray State, Harvard and Oklahoma State. Converting on 62% of her shots, she also added one 3-pointer and four free-throws.

Typically, though playing against weaker opponents, the Orange have controlled the glass, relying on Strong and Dariauna Lewis to secure rebounds. Lewis and Strong still contributed as they normally do with 11 and 10 rebounds, respectively, but Purdue dominated the boards overall, outrebounding Syracuse 44-38.

Purdue started the second quarter with a 13-7 run behind a pair of free throws and a 3 from Petree, extending its lead to 36-25 before the media timeout. To conclude a 7-0 run, Cassidy Hardin was double-teamed, but Jayla Smith cut into the lane to provide an option. Smith caught the pass and went straight up for the layup.

Syracuse often went fast, and those possessions just ended after one shot. Hyman stole the ball on a solo press as Purdue brought the ball up the floor. She found herself open with a long-range jumper, but it didn’t drop in and instead gave the ball right back to Purdue. And after Woolley broke the full-court press, Strong tried to drive into the right side of the lane, but the ensuing layup was contested and missed. On another possession, Strong tried to crossover, but she lost the ball out of bounds for just one of 12 Syracuse turnovers.

Woolley, who made her second start for Syracuse, tried to drive down the right side of the lane towards the end of the second quarter. She was met with defenders and lofted a right-handed off-balance layup that wasn’t close to the rim. Woolley finished with just six points on 2-of-6 shooting. SU tried to force shots often, rather than being patient and setting up possessions, though Legette-Jack likes the team to be fast.

Other starting players like Hyman, Fair and Strong provided the bulk of the scoring for Syracuse. The Orange received no help from their bench, which totaled three points from Cheyenne McEvans. The Boilermakers saw scoring from nine different players, including 33 bench points.

The Boilermakers also capitalized in transition, registering 10 fastbreak points and forcing five Orange turnovers. Purdue’s last four points in the first half came off fastbreak layups, one from Abbey Ellis and the other from Smith.

In the third quarter, Syracuse’s lack of success was more of the same. Trying to advance the ball up the floor on a fast-break, Lewis passed the ball behind Fair and out of bounds. It allowed Petree to score at the other end. And after Hyman tried a low-percentage heavily contested layup, Petree scored another layup inside.

Though Purdue continued to score inside and counter anything Syracuse put on the board, Strong finished with 18 points in the game, including making four 3s. She could’ve had another 2-pointer at the end of the period as she nailed the long-range jumper but was called for a travel with 0.9 seconds left. The buckets helped mitigate Purdue expanding even further on its lead as the Orange ultimately still trailed by 18.

Syracuse trickled back temporarily, stopping a fastbreak seemingly for the first time all game. Legette-Jack said on Tuesday she wanted SU’s defense to keep the Boilermakers in front, and it only could during the comeback. After Purdue rebounded a missed 3 from Fair, Abbey Ellis had a breakaway layup. But Hyman sprinted back, forcing Ellis to stop in the paint, which allowed more SU defenders to collapse on her.

The play ultimately forced a 3-second violation and was part of a 7-0 run for Syracuse that cut the deficit to 68-57. But Petree ended it with another layup, continuing to create issues for the Orange’s defense. By the end, despite cutting the deficit to 78-72, the Boilermakers closed the game on a 9-4 run behind an and-one from Caitlyn Harper to fend off SU.