Purdue women's basketball plagued by turnovers in loss at Notre Dame
SOUTH BEND — A chronic issue surrounding Purdue women's basketball became more glaring on a Sunday afternoon that felt like another homecoming for South Bend and their fans.
Purdue's lack of ball control was on display for the sellout Notre Dame crowd celebrating the statue unveiling of Fighting Irish Hall of Fame coach Muffet McGraw at Purcell Pavilion.
The Boilermakers dribbled into repeated double teams, attempted jump passes to covered teammates and were pickpocketed repeatedly by Notre Dame freshman leading scorer Hannah Hidalgo.
Purdue committed a season high 21 turnovers — more mistakes than made baskets (14) and were trounced by Notre Dame 76-39 on Sunday afternoon.
Hidalgo led Notre Dame (10-1) with 23 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists while Maddy Westbeld added 15 points, 12 rebounds and Natalija Marshall 14 and seven rebounds.
Little resistance was showed by Purdue (6-5) which was outplayed and dismissed in every sense by the 14th-ranked Irish.
"It's the same old story for us," Purdue coach Katie Gearlds said. "We have to take care of the basketball, we can't pass up open shots. Because when we pass up open shots it leads to a turnover."
Turnovers have been chronic for Purdue against quality opponents. The Boilermakers made 19 blunders and UCLA on Nov. 16 and Minnesota on Dec. 10.
Purdue entered Sunday ranked 160th in the country averaging 16 turnovers per game.
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Purdue women's basketball falls to Notre Dame for ninth straight loss
