WEST LAFAYETTE ― No waiting, no stopping.
Purdue women’s basketball pushed Howard and found a consistent and rapid flow in the second quarter after a sluggish start in the opening four minutes.
Fifth year senior Madison Layden-Zay scored 14 points and ignited Purdue on an 22-0 run that ran from the first quarter to second quarter and ultimately trampled Howard, 92-62, at Mackey Arena on Wednesday, Nov. 26.
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Purdue (4-2) travels to Central Michigan on Sunday at 1 p.m. before heading back to Mackey Arena to play Evansville next Wednesday, Dec. 3, at 7 p.m.
Layden-Zay entered as Purdue’s fourth all-time leader in 3-pointers and finished 4-for-6 from beyond the arc.
Sophomore Lana McCarthy led Purdue with 19 points and 13 rebounds, Kiki Smith added 13 points, six assists, Tara Daye scored 15 points and grabbed 13 rebounds, and Taylor Feldman scored 10 points.
Purdue 5th Year Madison Layden-Zay (33) steals the ball during the NCAA women’s basketball game against the Eastern Illinois Panthers, Thursday Nov. 6, 2025, at Mackey Arena in West Lafayette, Ind.
Howard (6-2) had started the season strong including a season opening victory over Providence but couldn’t sustain its early pressure after forcing six turnovers in the first quarter.
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Howard forced Purdue to use a full court press that forced two turnovers in the opening five minutes, sparking a 7-2 run for the visitors in the first quarter. Junior guard Zoe Stewart led with 16 points while seniors Nile Miller and Zennia Thomas added 12 points for the Bison.
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Feldman’s entry off the bench proved vital for Purdue not only in handling the ball against the press but defensively in switching off guards. She drew a charge and Howard, which finished 0-for-10 from 3-point range.
While Purdue earned the win, it did so with a sluggish end defensively. Howard went 12-for-14 from the free throw line in the second half while McCarthy and sophomore forward Kendall Puryear each finished with three fouls.
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Walk-on freshman Carley Barrett made her first appearance with 19 seconds remaining in regulation.
Ethan Hanson is the sports reporter for the Journal & Courier in Lafayette. He can be reached at ehanson@jconline.com, on Twitter at EthanAHanson and Instagram at ethan_a_hanson.
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Purdue women’s basketball beats Howard in pre-Thanksgiving matchup
