Boilermakers stop Blue Demons' run

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Katie Gearlds scored 21 points for No. 21 Purdue, which handed 15th-ranked DePaul its first loss of the season, 69-61 on Thursday.

Erin Lawless scored 16 points and Sharika Webb 12 to go with seven assists for the Boilermakers (5-2). Lindsay Wisdom-Hylton added 15 points on 7-for-8 shooting for Purdue.

Khara Smith led the Blue Demons (6-1) with 13 points and 15 rebounds, and Jenna Rubino added 14 points.

It was DePaul's first real test after starting the season beating up on the likes of Illinois-Chicago and Murray State in six consecutive home games. DePaul came in scoring 99.7 points a game with an average margin of victory of nearly 39.

The going was much tougher on the road against Purdue, which has had three games decided by no more than six points.

NO. 7 NOTRE DAME 65, DAYTON 39

In Dayton, Ohio, Charel Allen scored 14 points and Breona Gray and Melissa D'Amico added 12 apiece to lead Notre Dame to a victory over Dayton.

The well-rested Irish outran Dayton and used a pressing defense to overwhelm the Flyers, who had 26 turnovers.

Both teams worked to get the ball inside, but Notre Dame dominated in the paint, outscoring Dayton 44-22.

Notre Dame (8-1) came out strong at the beginning of the second half, scoring six unanswered points to take a 28-14 lead. The Irish then went into a full-court press and began to force turnovers and make breakaway baskets.

Dayton (4-4) shot 29 percent from the field and made only one of 14 3-point attempts. Cara Wright had 19 points for the Flyers.

NO. 12 MICHIGAN STATE 85, EASTERN ILLINOIS 45

In East Lansing, Mich., Rene Haynes had 18 points and eight rebounds in her first start this season to lead Michigan State over Eastern Illinois.

NO. 13 TEXAS TECH 79, ORAL ROBERTS 46

In Lubbock, Texas, Cisti Greenwalt had 18 points, 14 rebounds and blocked seven shots to lead Texas Tech to a victory over Oral Roberts.

WESTERN KENTUCKY 85, NO. 14 VANDERBILT 77

In Bowling Green, Ky., Tiffany Porter-Talbert scored 24 points to lead Western Kentucky to an upset over Vanderbilt.

In Fort Worth, Texas, Sandora Irvin had a career-high 32 points and 18 rebounds to lead Texas Christian to a victory.