Minnesota women take down Purdue

Published 3:04 am Friday, March 6, 2015

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. — Shae Kelley scored 26 points, Amanda Zahui B. added 21 points and 11 rebounds and Minnesota edged Purdue 82-78 in the Big 10 tournament.

The Golden Gophers (23-8) advance to play third-seeded Ohio State in the quarterfinals on Friday.

Minnesota made a 12-point run midway through the first half— including seven points from Zahui — and led 45-32 at the break.

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Purdue chipped away in the second half and eventually took the lead on Whitney Bays’ jumper with 7:35 to go.

Minnesota retook the lead on Shayne Mullaney’s 3-pointer with four minutes left and Minnesota made 15 of 18 from the line down the stretch to seal it.

Mullaney finished with 19 points for Minnesota.

Bays led Purdue (11-20) with 28 points — her career-high in her final college game. Fellow senior Liza Clemons added 19 points.