LAS VEGAS, Nev. - No. 13 Purdue handed the UTSA women’s basketball team a 75-50 defeat in game one of the Duel in the Desert Tournament on Wednesday night. The Roadrunners dropped to 1-8 with the loss, while the Boilermakers improved to 10-2.
Senior Vivian Ewalefo led all scorers with a game-high 20 points in her return to her hometown. Sophomore Monica Gibbs added 13 points, grabbed a team-high seven rebounds and handed out five assists.
UTSA took its first lead of the game at 9-7 when Ewalefo nailed a mid-range jumper from the left wing. However, it would be the only lead the Roadrunners would have in the game.
Campbell’s jumper with 13:07 left in the first half gave the Boilermakers the lead for good and Purdue used a 29-8 run to go into the locker room with a 41-17 haftime lead.
The Boilermakers continued their hot shooting in the second half, connecting on 14-of-28 shots from the floor. Ewalefo scored nine points during an 11-4 run that pulled UTSA within 27 and the Roadrunners cut the deficit to 70-48 with less than three minutes remaining. The Boilermakers closed out the game by scoring five of the final seven points to collect the 25-point victory.
Senior Katie Gearlds led Purdue with 17 points and a team-high eight rebounds.
UTSA returns to action tomorrow night against the Boise State/UNLV winner at 7 p.m. (CT).
