Purdue Women's Basketball Clinches Big Ten Tournament Berth

Boilermakers defeat Northwestern in must-win regular season finale

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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The Purdue women's basketball team secured a spot in the Big Ten Conference tournament with a 67-60 victory over Northwestern on the final day of the regular season. Sophomore transfer Nya Smith led the way with 17 points, 6 assists and 5 rebounds, while junior Arkansas transfer Kiki Smith and St. John's transfer Tara Daye also made key contributions. The win helped Purdue (13-16, 5-13 Big Ten) advance to the Big Ten tournament as the No. 14 seed, where they will face No. 11 Oregon in the late game on Wednesday.

Why it matters

Purdue's victory was critical in extending their season and earning a spot in the Big Ten tournament. The Boilermakers had to win to keep playing, and they were able to overcome a slow start and some early turnovers to secure the victory in the final regular season game for longtime Northwestern head coach Bob McKeown.

The details

Purdue overcame 17 turnovers, including 5 in the first half by Tara Daye, to rally from an early 4-0 deficit. Nya Smith, Kiki Smith and Daye led a 6-0 run late in the fourth quarter to create a two-possession lead that the Boilermakers would not relinquish. Nya Smith finished with 17 points, 6 assists and 5 rebounds, while Kiki Smith added 17 points and Daye led the team with 18 points and 7 rebounds.

  • Purdue opened the game trailing 4-0 in the first quarter.
  • Daye scored a layup to create a two-possession lead for Purdue with 16.1 seconds left in regulation.

The players

Nya Smith

Purdue sophomore guard who transferred from UNC Greensboro, where she was a leading scorer a season ago. She had 17 points, 6 assists and 5 rebounds in the win over Northwestern.

Kiki Smith

Purdue junior guard who transferred from Arkansas. She scored 17 points and helped spark a key 6-0 run late in the fourth quarter.

Tara Daye

Purdue senior forward who transferred from St. John's. She led the team with 18 points and 7 rebounds.

Katie Gearlds

Purdue's head coach, who previously lost to Northwestern's Bob McKeown when he was the head coach at George Washington.

Bob McKeown

Longtime Northwestern head coach who was coaching his final game before retiring after 40 years in college basketball, the last 18 of which were in Evanston.

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What they’re saying

“It starts with confidence. You just have to believe in yourself. Coming from a mid-major, people are going to expect less from you and not always put faith in you. But if you can put faith in yourself and you rely on your support system, anything can happen.”

— Nya Smith, Purdue Sophomore Guard (Yahoo Sports)

“Kiki is one of my best friends on the team and I love seeing her be successful. Being successful together is so much fun. Seeing all the assists we have together as a team, we are all excited to see each other score.”

— Nya Smith, Purdue Sophomore Guard (Yahoo Sports)

“I felt a little bit off balance. Anytime you're on the road, you're met with more physicality. I just had to get more balanced. Just play with more composure. That comes with taking it one step at a time.”

— Tara Daye, Purdue Senior Forward (Yahoo Sports)

“This game was about playing to extend our season. Let's go out there to Indianapolis, and it's the same thing. We have to find a way to win a basketball game if we want to keep playing. This group wants to keep playing ... Let's find a way to keep playing.”

— Katie Gearlds, Purdue Head Coach (Yahoo Sports)

What’s next

Purdue will be the No. 14 seed in the Big Ten tournament and will face No. 11 Oregon in the late game on Wednesday at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

The takeaway

Purdue's victory over Northwestern not only extended their season, but also showcased the team's resilience and determination to keep playing. The Boilermakers overcame early struggles and leaned on their transfer talent to secure the win and earn a spot in the Big Ten tournament, where they will look to continue their season.