Purdue Calumet Sports Update, February 8, 2016

PUC-Womens-Basketball-Tops-IUSB-Captures-Fifth-Straight-20-Win-Season#13 Purdue Calumet Holds Off IUSB 75-68, Captures 20th Win for Fifth-Straight Season
Darien Thompson and Cassidy Deno led the way as the No. 13 Purdue University Calumet women’s basketball team held off visiting Indiana South Bend for a Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference win Saturday, 75-68.

Thompson (Anderson, Ind./Anderson) poured in 23 points on 8-of-13 shooting — including 4-of-7 from downtown — and Deno (Otterbein, Ind./Benton Central) added 21 points on 7-of-18 from the floor to lead the Peregrines, who improved to 20-6 overall and 11-5 in the CCAC.

The 20 wins marked the fifth straight season that Purdue Calumet has won at least 20 games under nine-year head coach Tom Megyesi.

The Peregrines got off to a strong start in the first half thanks to Thompson’s lights-out shooting from behind the arc. The junior guard drained all four of her makes (4-6) in the first half, including the first basket of the game on an assist from Katie Wampler (Scottsburg, Ind.). Purdue Calumet led 22-17 after the first quarter and then 43-36 at halftime, as Deno added 14 of her 21 in the first 20 minutes.

The Titans (13-14, 7-9) didn’t go away easily, though, as IUSB executed a 11-7 run to tie the game at 50-all at the 4:20 mark of the third quarter. Purdue Calumet responded with a 9-3 run over its own, as four different players scored — capped by freshman Michaela Kikendall’s (Morristown, Ind./Morristown) layup at the 39-second mark.

The Peregrines entered the fourth frame up, 59-53, but the Titans opened the final quarter on a 7-0 run fueled by a Courtney Smith three-point play and two Sarah Rogian baskets inside to give IUSB the lead at 60-59.. That’s when Peregrine sophomore post Ellie Michalski (Mukwonago, Wis./Mukwonago) stepped up for the home team, connecting on three layups over the next five minutes to help Purdue Calumet regain the lead, as two Deno free throws made it 69-66 with 2:36 left.

Purdue Calumet closed it out at the free-throw line after that, hitting 4-of-6 from the charity stripe while holding the Titans’ offense to just two points in the final two minutes to seal the victory.

Michalski finished with 13 points and five rebounds and Wampler led the Peregrines with nine boards to go along with four points. Kikendall added eight points off the bench, plus she and Kiser each dished out four assists.

Smith led Indiana South Bend with 16 points, Rogian had 15 points and Paige Avery added 11 points in the setback.

Purdue Calumet shot 49.1 percent (27-of-55) for the game compared to 48.3 percent (29-of-60) for the Titans, and the Peregrines won the rebounding battle, 33-29. Purdue Calumet forced IUSB into 17 turnovers that led to 21 points, while the Titans held the edge on points in the paint, 36-30. The host also capitalized more at the free-throw line, hitting 15-of-19 (78.9 percent) compared to just 3-of-5 for Indian South Bend.

The Peregrines return to action Wednesday, Feb. 10, when they travel to No. 5 St. Francis (Ill.), for a 5:30 p.m. Contest in Joliet, Ill.

Men's Hoops Drops 75-63 Contest to IUSB Saturday Afternoon
The Purdue University Calumet men’s basketball team dropped a 75-63 contest against Chicagoland Collegegiate Athletic Conference opponent IU South Bend Saturday afternoon.

Purdue Calumet was led by LaBradford Sebree (Kokomo, Ind./Kokomo), who notched 19 points and five rebounds while Chandler Spring (Covington, Ind./Covington) recorded 12 points, three assists and three rebounds.

IU South Bend took the early 9-4 lead to start off the game, but a deep three-point field goal by Sebree as time expired on the shot clock put the Black and Gold within two points with 15:00 left in the opening period.

The Titans wouldn’t let the Peregrines take the lead, jumping out on a 10-0 run in the next few minutes, and leading by as much as 14 points before heading in to the locker room with a 39-26 advantage.

Junior guard Darric Obinger (Munster, Ind./Calumet Christian) would connect on a three-pointer followed by a layup to put Purdue Calumet within 7, 47-40 with 13:45 left in the game.

The Peregrines would continue to hang with the Titans, after a layup from Danny Paschen (Schererville, Ind./Lake Central) made it 56-49 with just under 10 minutes remaining.

The three-point shooting from the Titans propelled IUSB past the Peregrines, connecting on 7-of-14 from beyond the arc in the second half to lead them to the 75-63 victory.

Riley Sticheter headlined the Titans scoring efforts with a game-high 21 points and 12 rebounds, while Javonte Young notched 19 points, five rebounds and four assists.

The Peregrines return to action on Wednesday, Feb. 10, when the Peregrines take on St. Francis (Ill.) in a CCAC match-up at 7:00 p.m. (CT).