Purdue Calumet Sets New Program Points Record in 122-91 Shootout Win Over Olivet Nazarene

PUC-PeregrinsJada Buggs led the way with 29 points and 20 rebounds and the No. 10 Purdue University Calumet women’s basketball team set a new program record in Wednesday’s convincing 122-91 Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference victory over Olivet Nazarene University.

The Peregrines (5-1, 2-0) – who had six players in double figure scoring – remained unbeaten in conference play and set the new school record for single-game points with 122, topping their previous best of 121 set during the 2012-13 season, also in a win over the Tigers (3-3, 0-1). Purdue Calumet also held visiting ONU – who entered the game as NAIA Division II’s top offensive team at 117.0 points per game – 26 points below its average.

Buggs finished 13 of 20 (65 percent) from the field – all twos – and added a game-best 20 boards, 13 defensive and seven offensive. The 6-0 junior added six assists and a block in 27 minutes for her best performance so far this season. Senior Kami Graber (Nashville, Ind./Brown County) added 17 points on 7 for 10 shooting and seven assists, and junior post Patrice McBee (Monterey, Ind./Culver Community) had a double-double with 14 points and 12 boards.

Rounding out the Peregrines in double figures was sophomore Cassidy Deno (Otterbein, Ind./Benton Central) with 14 points, senior Stephanie Balon (Wanatah, Ind./South Central) with 13 points and freshman Katie Wampler (Scottsburg, Ind./Scottsburg) with a career-best 11 points.

Purdue Calumet never trailed in the contest, jumping out to a 11-2 lead behind layups from McBee, Graber, Sammy Dillman (Bedford, Ind./North Lawrence) and a triple from Deno to counter the Tigers’ full-court press defense and run-and-gun offense. The lead would only grow, as the Peregrines would lead by as many as 42 (74-32) in the first half before an ONU 3-pointer with 11 seconds to play by Carlee Nicolas made it 74-35 heading into the break.

The Peregrines’ largest lead in the game was 45 (99-54) on a layup by freshman Ellie Michalski (Mukwonago, Wis./Mukwonago) with 11:03 to play in the second half. The Tigers, trailing by 41 with 2:13 to go, would make a small 10-0 run to end the game, capped by Tori Lemke’s trifecta as the buzzer sounded.

Purdue Calumet finished the game shooting 60.8 percent (48 for 79) from the field compared to just 26.1 percent (30 for 115) for the Tigers, who shot 18 percent (11 for 61) from behind the arc. The Peregrines also dominated on the glass, 77-46, and outscored the Tigers in the paint, 90-36.

The Peregrines return to action Friday when they host Wilberforce in a nonleague contest beginning at 7 p.m. at the Fitness and Recreation Center.