HAMMOND, Ind. - Nationally-ranked Saint Xavier proved to be too much for the Purdue University Calumet women’s basketball team, as the Peregrines dropped their first home contest of the season, 110-64. The Black and Gold fall to 2-4 on the season with three of those defeats coming against teams that are currently receiving votes in their respective national polls.

The two teams traded buckets throughout the opening eight minutes of the half, as neither team led by more than three points. However, after Tierra Turner’s (Merrillville, Ind./Merrillville) bucket gave the Peregrines a 17-16 advantage, Saint Xavier would outscore Purdue Calumet by 20 points over the final ten minutes of the period to grab a 55-36 lead at the break.

The Cougars continued their onslaught in the second half, taking advantage of Purdue Calumet’s cold shooting to outscore the Peregrines 55-28 in the final stanza and cruise to their fifth-straight victory.

Purdue Calumet struggled shooting the ball throughout the game, managing just 29.5 percent shooting from the field and 14.3 percent shooting from beyond the arc. The Peregrines’ 64 points was their lowest scoring output of the season, after coming into today’s contest averaging nearly 80 points per contest.

MeMe Harris (Merrillville, Ind./Merrillville) led the team with 16 points, scoring 15 of those in the opening stanza. Alex Starr (Plymouth, Ind./Plymouth) was the only other Peregrine to reach double-figures, tallying 11 points in the contest. Amanda Gaskin (Pendleton Heights, Ind./Pendleton) came off the bench to pull down a career-high 10 rebounds.

Purdue Calumet will host Indiana South Bend this Tuesday, Nov. 24, in the opening game of a men’s/women’s doubleheader. The women’s game is set to tip-off at 5 p.m. CST, with the men’s contest slated to start at 7 p.m. CST.

MISHAWAKA

The two teams traded buckets over the first five minutes of the game, before the Pilots used 17 boards off the offensive glass to pull away. The Black and Gold were able to keep it close at the half, 40-31, despite shooting just 30.6 percent from the field.

Bethel’s ability to pull down offensive rebounds continued to be the story of the game, as the Pilots were able to open up a 20-point lead in the second half. However, the Peregrines came to life midway through the final stanza with a big run to cut the lead.

Back-to-back treys from Jennifer Britton’s (St. John, Ind./Lake Central) and MeMe Harris’ (Merrillville, Ind./Merrillville) bucket capped off the spurt, as Purdue Calumet climbed within seven, 73-66, with just over five minutes left in the contest.

Bethel pushed the lead back to 15 over the next couple minutes, but Purdue Calumet used trifectas by Nicci Desimone (Elkhart, Ind./Memorial) and Stephaine Beck (Mishawaka, Ind./Mishawaka) to once again draw within nine, 85-76. The Pilots held off another late rally by the Black and Gold to escape with an 11-point victory.

Purdue Calumet knocked down nine shots from beyond the arc in the contest, including three from Beck, who poured in a season-high 19 points. Harris’ raced past the Bethel defense on her way to 16 points and four assists, while Tierra Turner (Merrillville, Ind./Merrillville) recorded her third double-double of the year with 13 points and 12 caroms.

The Peregrines will have a tough challenge this Saturday, November 21, when they host defending NAIA Div. I power St. Xavier at Purdue Calumet’s Fitness and Recreation Center for a 1 p.m. tip-off.

RICHMOND, Ind. –

This is the second-straight week that Bright has earned recognition, after being named to the Jimmy Johns’ All-Classic Team a week ago for his performance at Purdue Calumet’s own Tip-Off Classic.

The Fort Wayne, Ind. native averaged 17 points and 11.5 rebounds in the Peregrines’ two contests on the weekend, including his 28-point, 10-board breakout performance against No. 10 Indiana Southeast. He is averaging a double-double on the season with 16 points and a CCAC-best 10.3 caroms per contest.

The Black and Gold will take a week off, before hosting CCAC Div. I foe Indiana University South Bend on Tuesday, Nov. 24. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. CST.

AMHERST

After a see-saw battle throughout much of the first half, the Black and Gold was finally able to break through with a 10-2 run to close out the opening stanza. Jennifer Britton’s trey with 13 ticks left capped off the run, giving Purdue Calumet a 39-31 advantage at halftime.

The Peregrines held the lead throughout the second half, leading by as many as 11 in the period. However, Notre Dame was able to come back and knot the contest at 74 in the final seconds, as Amanda Brown’s trifecta at the buzzer sent the game into overtime. The Falcons would go on to outscore Purdue Calumet 13-5 in the extra period to claim the victory.

The Peregrines lost the contest at the free throw line, where they managed just 33 percent shooting in the game. Notre Dame won the battle of the boards, claiming a commanding 62-33 rebounding advantage on the afternoon.

MeMe Harris once again led the Peregrines, scoring 13 points to go along with a game-best six assists. Stephaine Beck added 12 points and seven rebounds, while Nicci Desimone and Tierra Turner also reached double-figures with 10 points each.

Purdue Calumet travels to Bethel College this Tuesday, Nov. 17, before returning to the friendly confines of the Fitness and Recreation Center next Saturday, Nov. 21, to face NAIA Div. I power St. Xavier. The Bethel contest is set to tip-off at 6 p.m. CST.

RICHMOND, Ind. – The Purdue University Calumet men’s basketball team’s upset bid fell just short on Saturday afternoon, as the Peregrines fell to nationally-ranked Indiana University Southeast, 106-95. The Black and Gold scored a season-high 50 points in the second half, but that would not be enough as the team fell to 0-4 on the year.

The Peregrines were hurt by their own mistakes, committing a season-high 33 turnovers which the Grenadiers were able to convert into 48 points. Purdue Calumet did have success shooting the ball, knocking down a season-best 44.9 percent of its shots from the field.

Kameron Bright continued on his recent tear, scoring a career-high 28 points while pulling 10 rebounds to record his second double-double of the season. The freshman center is averaging 16 points and just over 10 rebounds per game in his initial campaign with the Peregrines.

Neal Hudson once again had a strong performance from the charity stripe, tallying 17 points on the afternoon. Aaron Evans and Mark Sutter also reached double-figures for Purdue Calumet, finishing the contest with 12 points apiece.

The Peregrines will see action again on Tuesday, Nov. 24, when they host IU South Bend for a 7 p.m. CST tip-off.

AMHERST

The Black and Gold struggled shooting in the first half, knocking down just 11.9 percent of its shot from the field while falling behind early in the contest. The Wildcats would take advantage, grabbing a commanding 57-12 lead at the break.

Despite trailing for the first time this season, the Peregrines kept fighting with an impressive second half. Purdue Calumet shot nearly 60 percent from the field in the half, including 7-of-11 shooting from downtown on its way to 65 points in the final stanza. Unfortunately the damage was already done, as the Peregrines fell to 2-1 on the year.

MeMe Harris (Merrillville, Ind./Merrillville) led Purdue Calumet with 13 points, while Jennifer Britton (St. John, Ind./Lake Central) and Amanda Gaskin (Pendleton, Ind./Pendleton Heights) added 11 points apiece.

The Peregrines racked up 18 assists in the contest, as Nicci Desmione (Elkhart, Ind./Elkhart Memorial) and Krystal Coleman (Schererville, Ind./Lake Central) came off the bench to combine for nine helpers on the night.

The Peregrines will be back in action tomorrow, Nov. 14, when they open up the final day of play at the Lord Amherst Tournament against Notre Dame College of Ohio. Purdue Calumet will look to rebound with a victory over the Falcons, when the teams tip-off at 1 p.m. CST.

RICHMOND, Ind. – Purdue University Calumet men’s basketball team had its first victory of the season ripped from its grasps, as Indiana East closed the game on a 29-12 run to pull out a 101-84 win. The Peregrines’ heart-wrenching loss is their second in as many games, as the team falls to 0-3 on the year.

Neal Hudson had a monster game for the Black and Gold, going 12-for-12 from the charity stripe on his way to a game-high 28 points. Jordan Champion knocked down four of the Peregrines’ eight trifectas on his way to a 12-point effort, while fellow frosh Aaron Evans and Kedric Williams also reached double-figures with 14 and 10 points respectively.

Purdue Calumet will turn right around with a game tomorrow afternoon against nationally-ranked Indiana Southeast. The Peregrines will look to secure their first victory of the season against the No. 10 Grenadiers, when the two teams tip-off at 2 p.m. CST.