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WEST LAFAYETTE − This is Reagan Bass’ favorite time of the college basketball season.
The Purdue women’s basketball senior transfer from Akron doesn’t have to worry about tests or getting to classes.
It’s winter break and that mean’s it’s just ball.
It also means the Big Ten slate has arrived and for the Boilermakers, it’s a brutal start to the conference season.
“Growing up, you always dream about playing in the Big Ten,” Bass said. “I have some friends who play in this conference and now that’s my reality.”
Already having lost a heartbreaker to a top 10 Maryland team, Purdue resumes league play Sunday at No. 22 Iowa in one of the most raucous environments in the sport. That’s just the first of five straight ranked foes, including Maryland, that Purdue opens Big Ten play with.
More: Purdue basketball’s offense has nose dived. What are the reasons behind it?
“We challenged ourselves, maybe too much, but at the same time we’ve got a group that’s been in the gym working and understanding that the Big Ten is a marathon, not a sprint,” Purdue coach Katie Gearlds said. “That’s the ultimate goal is to put yourself in a position to be ready to go in January and February.”
The Boilermakers’ non-conference schedule included teams currently ranked second (South Carolina), fourth (Notre Dame) and 15th (Kentucky). In spurts, Purdue showed it could compete with two of them and also had Maryland on the ropes before fading late.
“Playing South Carolina, Kentucky, those ranked teams I feel like prepared us for conference play,” transfer guard Destini Lombard said. “When I was getting recruited (out of the transfer portal), that was my main focus, a team that would play top teams, top competition, top players. I wanted to challenge myself to play on a higher level my last year of college basketball.”
Purdue Boilermakers guard Sophie Swanson (31) high-fives Purdue Boilermakers guard Destini Lombard (4) Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024, during the NCAA women’s basketball game against the Indiana State…
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Author : Journal & Courier
Publish date : 2024-12-28 19:01:00
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