Purdue women top Wisconsin 74-62

Posted March 08, 2013 3:26 pm

Associated Press

Wisconsin guard Morgan Paige, right, drives to the basket against Purdue guard Dee Dee Williams during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the Big Ten Conference tournament in Hoffman Estates, Ill., on Friday, March 8, 2013. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

KK Houser scored 15 points and Purdue defeated Wisconsin 74-62 on Friday in the Big Ten tournament quarterfinals at Sears Centre Arena in Hoffman Estates.

Drey Mingo added 13 points and Sam Ostarello had 9 points and 11 rebounds for the third-seeded Boilermakers (22-8), who will play No. 21 Nebraska in Saturday’s first semifinal. Nebraska beat Iowa 76-61 in the first quarterfinal game on Friday.

Purdue head coach Sharon Versyp said expects a high-scoring game against Nebraska.

“I expect an up-tempo game. They want to run as much as they can,” Versyp said. “I think they have more depth than they had last year.”

Wisconsin scored the first seven points of the second half to take its biggest lead, 43-35, with 18 minutes to play. But Purdue scored the next eight to tie it, and went ahead to stay at 48-47 midway through the half.

Jacki Gulczynski, a former star at nearby Bartlett High School, led the 11th-seeded Badgers (12-19) with 21 points. Tessa Cichy had 14 points and six rebounds and Tiera Stephen scored 10 points for Wisconsin.

The Badgers, who made all 21 of their free-throw tries in their 58-57 first-round victory over Illinois on Thursday, made 13 of 14 against Purdue.

Purdue forward Sam Ostarello, left, looks to a pass as Wisconsin forward Jacki Gulczynski defends during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the Big Ten Conference tournament in Hoffman Estates, Ill., on Friday, March 8, 2013. Purdue won 74-62. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Wisconsin forward Jacki Gulczynski (35) shoots against Purdue forward Sam Ostarello, left, and Drey Mingo, right, during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the Big Ten Conference tournament in Hoffman Estates, Ill., on Friday, March 8, 2013. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

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