FORT WAYNE, Ind. (Interstat) — In a game defined by grit and missed opportunities, the Purdue Boilermakers fell just short against the Fort Wayne Mastodons, 68-67, in a non-conference women’s basketball thriller Wednesday night at the Gates Sports Center.

A back-and-forth affair that featured 10 lead changes and six ties came down to the final possession. With just over five seconds remaining and trailing by one, Purdue’s Hila Karsh saw her potential game-winning jump shot rim out, allowing Fort Wayne to escape with a victory in front of 1,158 fans.

The Mastodons were propelled by a stellar performance from junior guard Jordan Reid. The New Palestine, Indiana, native poured in 21 points and grabbed seven rebounds, consistently providing the offensive firepower Fort Wayne needed to keep pace. Her backcourt mate, Lauren Lee of Dunnville, Kentucky, orchestrated the offense with five assists.

Purdue was led by its own dynamic guard duo. Karsh, a sophomore from Rishon LeZion, Israel, scored a team-high 18 points, while Kiki Smith of Topeka, Kansas, added 16 points, six rebounds and two assists. Tara Daye was also a major contributor for the Boilermakers, finishing with 13 points and six rebounds.

The game was a statistical paradox. Purdue shot a superior percentage from the field, connecting on 47.4% of its attempts compared to Fort Wayne’s 48.0%. The Boilermakers also held a significant advantage from beyond the arc, making seven three-pointers to the Mastodons’ five.

However, the story of the game was told at the free-throw line and in the turnover column. Fort Wayne attempted 23 free throws, making 15, while Purdue went to the line only eight times, converting six. More critically, the Boilermakers committed 24 turnovers, which the Mastodons converted into 24 points. In contrast, Fort Wayne’s 16 turnovers led to only nine points for Purdue.

Fort Wayne established an early lead, ending the first quarter up 20-17 behind efficient scoring from Reid and post player Lili Krasovec of Budapest, Hungary, who finished with 15 points. Purdue battled back to take a narrow 31-30 lead into halftime, tightening its defense in the second quarter.

The third quarter was Purdue’s most productive, as they outscored Fort Wayne 22-19 to carry a 53-51 lead into the final frame. The fourth quarter became a tense, possession-by-possession battle. With 17 seconds left, Fort Wayne’s Rylee Bess of Pickerington, Ohio, drained a critical three-pointer to put the Mastodons ahead 68-65.

Purdue responded immediately, with Smith driving for a layup to cut the deficit to one with six seconds on the clock. After a Fort Wayne timeout, the ensuing inbounds pass was deflected out of bounds by the Mastodons, giving Purdue one final chance with 5.1 seconds remaining. The play was designed for Karsh, whose mid-range jumper looked true but ultimately bounced away as time expired.

With the loss, Purdue’s record moves to 2-1 on the young season. The Boilermakers will look to rebound on the road against Kentucky on Tuesday. Fort Wayne, which had opened its season with two narrow road losses, evens its record at 1-2. The Mastodons are scheduled to host Southern Illinois on Saturday.