Purdue Women’s Basketball: Boilers look to bounce back

After a disappointing showing against Nebraska, the Purdue women’s basketball team looks to get back in the win column tonight when it hosts Michigan State. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. at Mackey Arena.

“It’s an opportunity to defend our home court,” Purdue women’s basketball coach Katie Gearlds said.

Purdue women’s basketball will bring an 11-14 overall, 4-10 Big Ten record into tonight’s matchup against the Spartans, who enter 18-7, 8-6.  The two teams played last month with the Spartans picking up a 97-70 win.

“They play really hard. Robyn (Fralick) has come in and given them the freedom to play, and they have really embraced it. They play hard all 94 feet. They all shoot it and they all drive. It puts you in a pickle. They got some skillful players who can do some different things. We will have our hands full. They are really gritty. They are going to grind things out. Should have won at Iowa. Just got win over Michigan. Lot of kids with experience and playing like they have nothing to lose and having fun doing it,” Gearlds said.

Shots need to fall for Purdue women’s basketball

Gearlds said she has seen her team compete differently since that loss in East Lansing, Michigan.

“Outside of the Indiana game, we’ve played hard. We played hard against Nebraska. For us down the stretch, it’s focusing on us and trying to win a game when we don’t shoot well. We get good looks, and, hopefully, one of these days, the ball will go in for us,” Gearlds said.

Gearlds said one thing that will help Purdue pick up a win is if the shots fall, something that did not happen at Michigan State.

“We were down five start of the fourth quarter. We got some great looks, but they didn’t go down,” she said.

Despite the record, Gearlds said there is still much ahead of her team, and she hopes the fans continue to come out to Mackey Arena much like they have all year.

“We still have something to play for. Four games left, Big Ten Tournament and an opportunity to finish this on a good note. Try to feed off our crowd. Hopefully the fans will still come out for us. Our fan base has been incredible,” Gearlds said.