No. 10 Purdue 68, Iowa 58

Jan. 3, 2007

Recap | Box Score

Kristi Smith netted a team and career-high 24 points on 9-14 shooting from the field, including 4-6 from 3-point range, and 2-2 from the foul line. Smith was also credited with seven turnovers and only one turnover and two steals. Smith becomes the first Hawkeye to lead the team in scorering in back-to-back games since Megan Skouby accomplished the feat in games on Nov. 18 and Nov. 21.

Smith has scored 20-plus points in consecutive games and has dished out a league-best 24 assists in the first three Big Ten games.

Iowa out-rebounded Purdue by 10 (36-26). The Hawkeyes recorded 14 offensive rebounds and limited the Boilermakers to only five.

Purdue senior Katie Gearlds, who was named to the preseason all-Big Ten team, scored a game-high 27 points on 9-18 shooting from the field, including 5-8 from behind the arc, and 4-4 from the charity stripe. The 27 points are the most scored by an opponent this season.

Iowa’s first 30 points were scored by sophomores Kristi Smith, Wendy Ausdemore and Megan Skouby. In fact, five sophomores accounted for 54 of Iowa’s 58 points. Juniors Stacy Schlapkohl and Krista VandeVenter scored two points each.

Both teams made eight 3-pointers tonight. Purdue ranks second in Big Ten 3-point field goal percentage, while Iowa ranks third.

Iowa attempted and made a season-low six free throws tonight. The Hawkeyes’ previous season low for free throws made (10) and attempted (13) occurred against both Samford and Minnesota. Purdue converted 8-10 from the foul line.

Purdue finished the game shooting 50 percent (26-52) from the field. The Boilermakers become the second straight Iowa opponent to shoot better than 50 percent. Ohio State made 58 percent (28-48) of its shots last Sunday.

Iowa’s post players made only 5-21 (.238) from the field, while its perimeter players were 17-36 (.472) against the Big Ten’s best defensive team. The Boilermakers ranks first in scoring defense and field goal percentage defense.

Lindsey Nyenhuis drained two triples tonight, marking the eighth time this season she made two 3-pointers or more in a game.

Purdue won its first two conference games (Michigan and Penn State) by an average of 35 points. The Boilermakers won by 10 tonight against the Hawkeyes.

Tonight was the 50th meeting between Iowa and Purdue. The Boilermakers, who have won eight of the last nine in the series, now lead the all-time series 27-23.