UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State’s Gabby Elliott matched a career high with 32 points, but it wasn’t enough as the Nittany Lions came up short in a high-scoring shootout with Purdue, 92-85, in Big Ten women’s basketball action Thursday night at the Bryce Jordan Center. The Nittany Lions dropped to 10-18 overall and 1-16 in the conference.
Elliott piled up points and did so in an efficient manner, scoring her 32 points on 11-of-18 shooting, including an impressive 6-of-8 mark from beyond the arc. It was the second time this season she scored 32 points, matching her effort in a game against Iowa on New Year’s Day. She hit seven 3-pointers in that game. Grace Hall joined Elliott in double-digits, scoring 16 points on 6-of-11 shooting, including a 3-of-4 clip from long range, marking a career best. Gracie Merkle scored in double-digits for the 23rd time this season with her 11 points. Alli Campbell guided the offense with her seven assists and chipped in with eight points. Penn State took advantage of open looks from outside, hitting 10 of their 20 attempts from beyond the arc.
HOW IT HAPPEN ED
First Quarter
Elliott put on a show for Penn State and Sophie Swanson did the same for Purdue in the opening quarter. Elliott racked up eight points on 3-of-5 shooting, including one 3-pointer, but Swanson countered with 10 points to help the Boilermakers take an 18-17 lead after 10 minutes of play. It was the Nittany Lions that got off to a hot start, taking a 10-4 lead with just under five minutes left on the clock. All eight of Elliott’s points came during that stretch. Swanson caught fire from there as she fueled a 10-0 Purdue run with a personal 8-0 run that included a pair of 3-pointers and a layup that put the Boilermakers up 14-10. The teams traded buckets in the closing minutes of the quarter, starting with a 3-pointer by Hall to end the Boilermakers’ big run. The final bucket came on a jumper by Campbell to pull the Nittany Lions within one at 18-17 with five seconds remaining.
Second Quarter
Swanson and Elliott picked up right where they left off with Swanson adding seven points to give her 17 in the half and Elliott tacking on five points to give her 13 at the break. Rashunda Jones poured in nine points and Lombard added seven to support Elliott’s effort and give Purdue a 41-30 advantage going into the locker room. A layup by Hall pulled Penn State within one at 20-19, but Purdue countered with an 11-0 run to go up 31-19 with 4:48 left in the quarter. The Boilermakers led by as much as 13 on two occasions in the quarter. The first came after a layup by Swanson with 2:00 remaining, while the second occurred following a layup by Jones with 44 seconds left. Tamera Johnson closed the gap to 11 at 41-30 with a layup on the Nittany Lions’ final possession.
Third Quarter
Penn State came out firing in the second half. After Jones opened the scoring with a basket to put Purdue up 13, the Nittany Lions used a 10-0 run over a span of three minutes to cut the deficit to three at 43-40. It was a team effort with four different players contributing to the run. It started with a 3-pointer by Elliott, which was followed by a Merkle layup just 25 seconds later. Hall pulled the Nittany Lions within five with a 3-pointer, and Campbell made it a one-possession game at 43-40 with a layup made possible by an offensive rebound by Merkle. The Boilermakers later scored eight straight points to up their lead to 11 at 53-42, and made it a 13-point advantage with a 3-pointer by Ella Collier with 3:58 showing on the clock. Penn State clawed its way back into striking distance, closing the gap to seven (61-54) at the end of the quarter. Hall scored the Nittany Lions’ final five points.
Fourth Quarter
The high-scoring affair and terrific individual efforts continued in the fourth quarter as the teams matched each other with 31 points each. Elliot led Penn State with 16 points, while Jones carried Purdue with 15 points. The closest the Nittany Lions got was five at 68-63 after a jumper by Elliott just under three minutes into the quarter. The Boilermakers’ lead ballooned to 18 with 3:34 to play. The Nittany Lions cut the deficit to seven at 86-79 with a 3-pointer by Elliott with 1:01 showing on the clock, and again at 90-83 following a four-point play with a 3-pointer and a free throw by Elliott with just 13 seconds remaining. Merkle later made a layup in the closing seconds to finish the scoring at 92-85.
POSTGAME NOTES
Penn State vs Purdue
February 27, 2025
Bryce Jordan Center (University Park, Pa.)
- Prior to the contest, Penn State honored five seniors: Tamera Johnson, Gabby Elliott, Grace Hall, Jayla Oden and Alli Campbell. All five seniors scored at least two points.
- Elliott surpassed the 10-point mark for the eighth consecutive game and 20th time this season, totaling 32 points, matching her career high.
- Hall drained three shots from beyond the arc for the first time in her collegiate career. She achieved a personal best points total, compiling 16 points throughout the contest.
- Penn State dished out 24 assists.
- The Lady Lions outrebounded the Boilermakers by a 34-30 margin.
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