It’s not do-or-die. There’s too much time left in the Big Ten schedule for that.But tonight’s Purdue-Illinois game is important as both teams try to build momentum down the stretch. The teams meet at 8:30 p.m.INDIANAPOLIS – For the first time since the 1992-93 season, Purdue won’t play in the NCAA tournament.
Alyssa Karel scored 14 points and Rae Lin D’Alie added 13 to help Wisconsin beat the Boilermakers 73-51 Friday night in the Big Ten tournament quarterfinals.
Wisconsin (21-9) advanced to play No. 10 Ohio State today in the semifinals. No. 25 Michigan State will play Iowa in the other semifinal.
FahKara Malone scored 11 points and Brittany Rayburn added nine for Purdue (14-16), securing the Boilermakers’ first finish below .500 since the 1984-85 season. Purdue’s streak of NCAA tournament appearances will end at 16 after their worst Big Ten tournament loss ever.
Fifth-seeded Purdue shot 34 percent from the field and committed 19 turnovers. Wisconsin shot 53 percent in the first half to take a 41-25 at halftime.
“In the tournament, it’s very hard to get in a hole and try to pull it back,” Purdue coach Sharon Versyp said. “Our kids kept trying, but we couldn’t put the ball in the basket. That’s been our problem all year, and we don’t have certain people shooting the basketball well.”
The Boilermakers could make the WNIT if the four teams seeded ahead of them in the Big Ten tournament make the NCAA field, giving Purdue an automatic WNIT bid as the highest-seeded remaining team.
“As seniors, we don’t want it to be over,” said Malone, one of three seniors on the team with Jodi Howell and Laura Garriga. “We want to keep playing with this group as long as we possibly can.”
No. 10 OHIO STATE 66, ILLINOIS 55: Jantel Lavender, the Big Ten player of the year, finished with 19 points and six rebounds for the Buckeyes (28-4).
Illinois (16-14) was led by Jenna Smith, who had 13 points and 11 rebounds.
No. 25 MICHIGAN STATE 61, MICHIGAN 50: Kalisha Keane scored 11 points to help the Spartans win in the quarterfinals.
Lykendra Johnson, Aisha Jefferson and Jasmine Thomas added 10 points apiece for the Spartans (22-8).
Krista Phillips led Michigan (17-13) with 12 points.
IOWA 82, PENN STATE 75: Jaime Printy scored 22 points and Kelly Krei added 20 to lead five Hawkeyes (18-12) in double-digit scoring as they advanced to the semifinals.
Tyra Grant scored 32 points for the Nittany Lions (17-13).
