In the beginning, it looked like a replay of the first matchup between MSU women’s basketball and Purdue.
The Boilermakers’ sixth-year senior forward Drey Mingo scored six of No. 25 Purdue’s first 13 points at home against the Spartans on Thursday. Mingo was the catalyst in Purdue’s five-point win over MSU on Jan. 27 with 22 points and 10 rebounds.
MSU recovered, though, to take a 37-26 lead into the locker room.
Following a pair of Mingo free throws with 11:09 remaining in the half, the Spartans went on an 11-0 run to take a lead they would keep the rest of the way. Junior forward Annalise Pickrel contributed eight of her 13 first half points during the decisive run.
MSU didn’t allow Mingo to score again in the half.
A pair of 3-pointers from Purdue guard KK Houser cut into the deficit, putting the MSU advantage at 25-21 with 5:13 left on the clock. Houser led the Boilermakers with 11 points.
Pickrel helped grow the Spartans’ lead to the biggest of the night right before the halftime buzzer with a pair of free throws.
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