by WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The Purdue women’s basketball team improved to a perfect 7-0 at Mackey Arena this season with an 80-43 win over Dayton on Sunday afternoon. The Boilermakers (7-4) posted their third win of 35 points or more this season, tied for the most by a Purdue squad in the last 25 seasons.
Purdue set the tone on the defensive end, holding the Flyers (5-5) to just 43 points, the fewest given up by the Boilermakers in the Katie Gearlds era and tied for the 13th fewest in Purdue history. The Boilermakers held Dayton to 25.5% from the field and 6-of-23 from behind the arc. Purdue flipped 26 Dayton turnovers into 30 points, while recording a season-high 14 steals.
Hila Karsh paced Purdue with 17 points on 7-of-9 shooting with a trio of 3-pointers. Karsh notched a career-high five steals in the win. Tara Daye posted her second straight double-double and fourth of the year with a 15-point, 12-rebound outing to go with two assists and a block.
Kiki Smith poured in 16 points and added two rebounds, two assists and two steals. Madison Layden-Zay jumped back into double figures for the first time in five games with 10 points, a pair of 3-pointers, three rebounds, five assists and three steals.
On the offensive end, Purdue shot 41.7% from the floor, 10-of-24 (41.7%) from distance and a perfect 10-of-10 at the line. The Boilermakers finished with 17 assists on 30 made field goals.
