The Oakland University’s women’s basketball team (5-5) fell to No. 15/14 Purdue (10-1) 77-46 at the Athletics Center O’rena on Sunday.

Freshman guard Annemarie Hamlet finished with 10 points and five rebounds, getting the start for the first time all season in place of injured freshman forward Olivia Nash. Junior guard Victoria Lipscomb recorded 12 points while grabbing eight rebounds.

“They went on a really intense run against us and we just couldn’t match that intensity level,” Head Coach Beckie Francis said. “Their size ended up really being a difference where they killed us on the boards.”

Both teams matched each other point for point early on, getting the game off to an 8-8 start. After scoring just nine points in the first half in their last game, Oakland needed only five minutes to record 10 points against Purdue.

“We were able to really contain (the rebounds) which enabled us to keep the game really close,” Lipscomb said. “I think we battled and we fought.”

The Boilermakers extended their lead to 19-11 by going on a 9-1 run. A. Hamlet hit two three-pointers within minutes of each other to erase the deficit, bringing Oakland within five points with 6:15 left in the first half.

“I think it’s a good learning experience and it shows us that we can stop runs when other teams make runs on us,” A. Hamlet said.

Purdue started the second half strong, going on a 15-2 run to give them a 47-29 lead.

“I think that their size affected our shot selection and we were hesitant to shoot sometimes,” Francis said. “We were too patient, trying to go inside, and we weren’t really getting anything inside.”

Oakland went on a 7-1 run to cut Purdue’s lead to 18 points. Despite hanging tough, Purdue pulled away and never looked back, winning by 31 points.

“The only difference between the first half and the second half was they came out and made a run and we didn’t respond fast enough,” A. Hamlet said.

Overall, Oakland was out rebounded 35-22. The absence of Nash, Oakland’s top rebounder, was evident.

“I thought we had some shot clock forced shots,” Francis said. “It’s a different dynamic and this is the second game in a row without her and I think it hurts.”

Francis said that they are hoping to get Nash back within two to three weeks.

Oakland will take to the road to play No. 2 Connecticut Dec. 19 at 7 p.m. They return home to the O’rena Dec. 21 against Rochester College at 6:30 p.m.