Oregon Ducks Triumph Over Purdue Boilermakers
In a commanding performance, the Oregon Ducks triumphed over the Purdue Boilermakers 82-64 during the first round of the Big Ten Tournament held on Wednesday night in Indianapolis. Katie Fiso was a standout player, contributing 20 points to the Ducks’ victory, while teammate Ehis Etute recorded a double-double with 16 points and 12 rebounds.
Game Highlights
The Ducks, seeded 11th with a season record of 21 wins and 11 losses, also saw Mia Jacobs support the effort with 14 points and nearly securing a double-double of her own with nine rebounds. For the 14th-seeded Boilermakers, who finished their season at 13-17, Lana McCarthy also tallied 14 points and grabbed nine rebounds before fouling out.
Quarter Breakdown
The game began with a strong start from Oregon, as Etute’s eight points in the first quarter helped establish a lead, ending the period at 21-12. However, Purdue struggled heavily in the second quarter, going without a field goal for seven minutes and allowing Oregon to extend their advantage to 47-24 by halftime.
Despite a dismal first half where they managed only 24 points while shooting at 24%, Purdue made a significant turnaround in the third quarter, making 73% of their shots and scoring 25 points. Yet, Oregon still held the upper hand at 64-49 as they entered the final quarter, even after shooting just 25% during that period. Overall, Oregon maintained a solid shooting percentage of 47% in the first half, with their performance dipping to 33% after the break but still proving sufficient for the win.
Looking Ahead
Interestingly, this clash marked a rematch; just a week before, on February 25, Oregon defeated Purdue 71-65. The Ducks now advance to face the sixth-seeded Maryland on Thursday in the next round, where the winner will go on to challenge third-seeded Michigan in the following match.
