A late surge by Indiana University South Bend proved to be enough to hand the No. 8 Purdue University Calumet women’s team a stunning league 71-62 league loss Saturday at the Fitness and Recreation Center.
Junior Jada Buggs (Elkhart, Ind./Elkhart Memorial) scored 18 points, senior Kami Graber (Nashville, Ind./Brown County) had 17 points, sophomore Cassidy Deno (Otterbein, Ind./Benton Central) added 14 points and junior Patrice McBee (Monterey, Ind./Culver Community) chipped in her 13th double-double of the season with 11 points and 16 boards for the Peregrines in the setback.
The Peregrines (18-6, 10-4 Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference) led by six, 56-50, with 8:12 to go in the game, but the Titans (14-13, 7-7) would use an 8-2 run – keyed by two triples by Nichole Sly and Ashley Carson to tie the game at 60-all with 5:27 to play.
A McBee layup gave Purdue Calumet a brief lead, but two straight buckets by IUSB’s Maegan Callaway, including a back-breaking 3 from the corner, put the Titans up 3, with 1:32 to go. After Purdue Calumet was unable to answer on the offensive end and was forced to foul, Sly drained all four free throw attempts down the stretch to seal the win for the visitors.
The Titans’ ability to make the 3 proved to be a major factor in the game, as IUSB finished 10 of 29 (34.5 percent) from behind the arc compared to just 3 of 17 (17.6 percent) for the Peregrines, who entered the game averaging 6.5 makes and 36.6 percent shooting from 3-point land.
Purdue Calumet finished 37.5 percent (21 of 56) from the field in the game, just edging the Titans’ 35.2 percent (25 of 71). IUSB won the battle on the boards, 44-37, with Callaway leading the way with 13 rebounds.
IUSB was also able to capitalize on 11 Peregrine turnovers with 15 points, compared to just seven points off seven Titan turnovers for the home team.
The Peregrines did the job at the free-throw line, shooting near-perfect at 89.5 percent (17 of 16), but the Titans finished 11 of 12 for 91.7 percent to keep the stat sheet even.
Callaway scored 17 points and Sly finished with 15 for the Titans, who had all five starters in double figures.
Purdue Calumet returns to action Wednesday, Feb. 11, when the Peregrines travel to Holy Cross College for a CCAC matchup. The Peregrines return home to the FNRC Saturday, Feb. 14, for their final home game of the season as they face St. Francis (Ill.). Purdue Calumet will honor its two seniors, Kami Graber and Stephanie Balon, in a ceremony before the contest.