For the third straight year, Ashland University women’s basketball team took on a Big Ten Conference opponent and this year Ashland fell to Purdue 85-69 on Sunday (Nov. 4).

The new-look Eagles that featured a new head coach, two new assistants as well as six new players put up a tremendous fight and even trimmed the lead to single digits in the fourth quarter but could not overcome the Boilermakers.

Ashland fell behind early as Purdue went on a 7-0 run out of the gate fueled by five points from Karissa McLaughlin who finished with 29.

The Eagles quickly settled in and finished the fourth quarter trailing 26-15.

The second quarter was much better for the Eagles as they tried to claw their way back.

Karlee Pieru was a catalyst for AU scoring seven points in the quarter to help the Eagles try and close the gap.

Purdue turned it on though at the end of the half and held the Eagles scoreless for over two minutes of action to take a 47-32 lead into the break.

Just like it did at UConn last year, the Eagles looked like a new team in the third quarter. AU came out of the gates firing going on a 9-4 run to cut the lead to just ten for Purdue.

The Eagles look poised to surge and get closer, but McLaughlin would not be denied. The Sophomore guard racked up 11 of her 29 in the third quarter to keep Purdue in front 61-48 at the end of the third.

The fourth quarter again proved beneficial for the Eagles as they opened the quarter on a 7-0 run to close the gap to just six points.

But again Purdue was able to hang in and extend the lead back to double digits before ending the game on a 6-0 run of their own to lock up the win.

Jodi Johnson had a team high 20 points for the Eagles while Sara Loomis chipped in 17.

McLaughlin led the way for Purdue with 29 and Ae’Rianna Harris helped out with 15 points for the Boilermakers.

AU will open the regular season on Friday (Nov. 9) against Cedarville at Ohio Dominican with tip-off at 5:45 pm.