Preview: Penn State Lady Lions at Purdue Boilermakers

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (Interstat) — Two Big Ten women’s basketball teams seeking to halt slides will meet Wednesday when the Purdue Boilermakers host the Penn State Lady Lions at Mackey Arena.

Penn State (7-15) enters on a nine-game losing streak, most recently an 87-66 home loss to Minnesota on Jan. 28. Purdue (11-11) has dropped three straight, including an 88-55 defeat at Minnesota on Sunday.

The matchup hinges on backcourt production. Penn State’s hopes rest largely with freshman guard Kiyomi McMiller, who has been a bright spot during the skid. She is averaging 18.6 points and 4.7 assists over her last seven games, including a 27-point, 11-rebound, five-assist effort in a narrow loss to Rutgers on Jan. 18. Containing her will be a primary focus for Purdue’s defense.

The Boilermakers counter with sophomore guard Kiki Smith, who is coming off a team-high 16 points in the loss to Minnesota. Her production has fluctuated, but she posted nine points and five assists in a key conference win over Indiana on Jan. 25.

Penn State’s struggles are underscored by defensive woes, allowing an average of 89.1 points during its losing streak. Purdue has faced similar challenges, particularly on the road, but has been more competitive at home, where it is 8-4 this season.

The Lady Lions have not won since Dec. 17, 2025. Their last victory over a Power Five opponent was against Wisconsin on Dec. 10. Purdue, hovering at .500, views this as a crucial opportunity to stabilize its season before a tough upcoming stretch that includes a trip to Indiana.

Historically, Purdue leads the all-time series 52-20 and has won the last four meetings. In their only matchup last season, the Boilermakers won 77-64 in University Park on Jan. 25, 2025.

Wednesday’s game tips off at 7 p.m. EST and will be broadcast on the Big Ten Network.