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EVANSTON, Ill. ― Purdue sophomore guard Nya Smith was one of the leading scorers a season ago at UNC Greensboro where she helped the Spartans capture the Southern Conference and entry into the NCAA Tournament.
Fast forward a year later and Smith, after entering the transfer portal and joining the Boilermakers, played a key role in returning Purdue to the Big Ten Conference tournament.
Smith's shot making and poise on the final day of the Big Ten Conference season, alongside her junior Arkansas transfer teammate Kiki Smith and St. John's transfer Tara Daye, provided the final touches in the fourth quarter to lead Purdue over Northwestern 67-60 Sunday, March 1.
More: Purdue women's basketball 8-year-old fan scores with Dream On 3
More: This player trained with Katie Gearlds, who saw herself in Purdue women's basketball returnee
The win helped Purdue advance to the Big Ten Conference tournament. Purdue will likely hold the No. 14 seed next week in Indianapolis. Seeding was not officially set right after the game ended.
Daye scored a layup to create a 2-possession lead for Purdue (13-16, 5-13 Big Ten Conference) with 16.1 seconds left in regulation.
Nya Smith finished with 17 points, six assists and five rebounds. Kiki Smith added 17 points and Daye led with 18 points and seven rebounds.
Both Smiths with Daye directed Purdue team ball pressure to outlast Northwestern, who was celebrating the final game of head coach Bob McKeown. McKeown coached college basketball for 40 years with his last 18 being in Evanston.
More: 3-point record set as Purdue women's basketball upsets No. 23 Washington
Purdue (13-16, 5-14 Big Ten) overcame five first half turnovers by Daye and went behind 4-0 to start the first quarter.
The Boilermakers had 17 turnovers but settled down with just six in the second half.
This story will be updated.
Ethan Hanson is the sports reporter for the Journal & Courier in Lafayette. He can be reached at [email protected], on Twitter at EthanAHanson and Instagram at ethan_a_hanson.
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Purdue women's basketball qualifies for Big Ten Conference tournament
Continue reading...
Fast forward a year later and Smith, after entering the transfer portal and joining the Boilermakers, played a key role in returning Purdue to the Big Ten Conference tournament.
Smith's shot making and poise on the final day of the Big Ten Conference season, alongside her junior Arkansas transfer teammate Kiki Smith and St. John's transfer Tara Daye, provided the final touches in the fourth quarter to lead Purdue over Northwestern 67-60 Sunday, March 1.
More: Purdue women's basketball 8-year-old fan scores with Dream On 3
More: This player trained with Katie Gearlds, who saw herself in Purdue women's basketball returnee
The win helped Purdue advance to the Big Ten Conference tournament. Purdue will likely hold the No. 14 seed next week in Indianapolis. Seeding was not officially set right after the game ended.
Daye scored a layup to create a 2-possession lead for Purdue (13-16, 5-13 Big Ten Conference) with 16.1 seconds left in regulation.
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Nya Smith finished with 17 points, six assists and five rebounds. Kiki Smith added 17 points and Daye led with 18 points and seven rebounds.
Both Smiths with Daye directed Purdue team ball pressure to outlast Northwestern, who was celebrating the final game of head coach Bob McKeown. McKeown coached college basketball for 40 years with his last 18 being in Evanston.
More: 3-point record set as Purdue women's basketball upsets No. 23 Washington
Purdue (13-16, 5-14 Big Ten) overcame five first half turnovers by Daye and went behind 4-0 to start the first quarter.
The Boilermakers had 17 turnovers but settled down with just six in the second half.
This story will be updated.
Ethan Hanson is the sports reporter for the Journal & Courier in Lafayette. He can be reached at [email protected], on Twitter at EthanAHanson and Instagram at ethan_a_hanson.
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Purdue women's basketball qualifies for Big Ten Conference tournament
Continue reading...
