WEST LAFAYETTE — Purdue freshman Mary Ashley Stevenson’s face was red and swollen while the top of her nose was covered in a band and a bag of ice lay at her side.
Stevenson took a direct elbow from sophomore forward Cotie McMahon. McMahon spun in the lane and the bony tip of her elbow hit Stevenson flush. Coach Katie Gearlds later confirmed Stevenson had a broken nose.
Sitting inches to Stevenson’s left was fellow classman Rashunda Jones who, a 5-foot-9, got flattened and laid sprawled for nine seconds after a screen from Ohio State sophomore Emma Shumate.
But just like Stevenson, Jones too made the 10-count. Even in another tight 71-68 defeat at the hands of a ranked opponent, Jones and Stevenson displayed resiliency on the court and were candid about their feelings following their fifth consecutive loss.
Stevenson and Jones were solid once again. Jones scored 14 points while Stevenson scored 12 points and logged 17 minutes despite her injury.
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