WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (Interstat) — In a game defined by its dramatic swings and a final, decisive push, the Purdue Boilermakers outlasted the Washington Huskies 78-72 in overtime Sunday in a nonconference women’s basketball clash at Mackey Arena.

The contest, played before a crowd of 6,005, saw Washington squander a strong start and a late-game opportunity to force a second overtime before Purdue’s veteran duo of Tara Daye and Madison Layden-Zay sealed the victory.

Washington, which entered as a heavy favorite according to national metrics, burst from the gates with a 24-point first quarter, fueled by early baskets from Elle Ladine and a dominant presence in the paint. However, Purdue’s steady, quarter-by-quarter consistency, led by Daye’s playmaking and Layden-Zay’s perimeter defense, slowly eroded the Huskies’ advantage. The Boilermakers methodically chipped away, entering halftime down just 38-30 and completely seizing momentum with a 17-point third quarter to take a 47-46 lead.

The fourth quarter became a tense, back-and-forth affair featuring seven lead changes. Washington guard Sayvia Sellers, who led all scorers with 23 points, repeatedly attacked the rim to keep the Huskies afloat. With 14 seconds remaining in regulation and Purdue leading 63-61, the Huskies had a chance to tie or win. After a missed three-pointer, a scramble for the offensive rebound led to two point-blank attempts by Elle Ladine in the final second, but both were blocked by Purdue’s Madison Layden-Zay and Lana McCarthy to force overtime.

The most important part of the game unfolded in the extra period, where Purdue’s experience and Washington’s mounting foul trouble proved decisive. The Boilermakers opened overtime on a 7-0 run, with Daye scoring five quick points. Washington, with Sellers and key post player Avery Howell burdened by fouls, struggled to find an offensive rhythm against Purdue’s tightened defense.

Washington clawed back to within 73-72 on a Howell layup with 1:06 left, but Purdue closed the game at the free-throw line. Layden-Zay, a senior from Kokomo, Indiana, hit four critical free throws in the final 49 seconds, and Nya Smith added two more with 20 seconds left after a costly five-second violation on Washington’s inbound pass. The Huskies, unable to get a clean look at a tying three-pointer in the final moments, fell short.

Daye, a junior from Newark, New Jersey, finished with 19 points and four assists, orchestrating the Purdue offense for 38 minutes. Layden-Zay matched her with 19 points, adding four assists, a block and a game-high four steals in a full 44-minute performance. Their backcourt partnership was pivotal in generating 26 points off 18 Washington turnovers.

For Washington, Sellers’s 23-point effort was complemented by 13 points each from Ladine and Howell. The Huskies won the battle inside, scoring 40 points in the paint to Purdue’s 36, but were ultimately undone by their 18 turnovers and a 9-for-15 performance at the free-throw line in the second half and overtime.

The loss drops Washington to 12-4 overall, snapping a two-game winning streak. The Huskies continue their road swing at Indiana on Wednesday. Purdue improves to 10-7 and will travel to face Southern California next Sunday. The combined score of 150 points surpassed the pregame over/under line of 133.5.