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GOLDANDBLACK EXPRESS • VOLUME 25, EXPRESS 14 • 20 BY KYLE CHARTERS KCharters@GoldandBlack.com T he Boilermakers dropped their third straight game, their longest losing streak since 2011-12, at Dayton, where the Flyers were able to get a big lead then hang on for a 63- 61 victory. The game was Purdue's last on the road in the non- conference, with four contests in Mackey Arena before the Boilermakers start their 18-game Big Ten slate. The following are takeaways from last week: S This is obvious, but needs said again: Purdue cannot continue to dig itself big holes and expect to rally late. It's a pattern that's not working. Against Dayton, the Boilermak- ers fell behind 13 points with a little more than three minutes left in the first half. They rallied, having a shot to tie or take the lead four times in the final minute but couldn't get the basket to fall. But it's not the end, it's the start that continues to kill the Boilermakers. S Purdue needs victories. The Boilermakers, at 3-4, almost have to win their final four non-conference games if they want to salvage anything from their early schedule. Although Pur - due's RPI is still a healthy 41, according to RealtimeRPI (due to a schedule strength that is fourth nationally), it's the win to- tal that's hurting. If it wins its next four, Purdue will head to the Big Ten schedule with seven non-conference wins. Ten conference wins would g i v e the Boilermakers 17 before the league tourna- ment, put- ting them on the bubble for the NCAA Tournament. S It was a big question before the season and remains one now: The Boilermakers need to find consistent scor- ing from their 2 guards. In the loss to the Flyers, Ashley Mor- rissette and Hayden Hamby combined for 12 points on only 6-of-15 from the field. The duo isn't shooting particularly well for the sea- son, making only 36 percent from the field, including less than 32 percent (18 of 57) from three-point range. The inconsistency hasn't helped loosen opponents' defenses, which continue to focus their efforts to slowing Purdue's interior. They'll continue to do so until the Boiler- makers show they can hit from the perimeter. S Will Erica Moore and Justine Hall show enough in practice to be- come a part of Purdue's rotation? Neither freshman is playing sig- nificantly now — they've combined to play only 21 minutes total — but if they start to get it, they could help. Moore, a former highly recruited forward, is working her way back into shape after knee injuries and Purdue could use another effective interior presence. And if Hall can shoot, she should play. But, therein lies the question. j W O M E N ' S B A S K E T B A L L G O L D B O X L I N K S T O G A M E S T O R Y Tom Campbell Ashley Morrissette is averaging 10.7 points per game, but is shooting only 34 percent from the field. A LOOK BACK AT THE LAST WEEK OF BASKETBALL FLASH FORWARD Opponent: UC Irvine Location: Mackey Arena When: Noon Dec. 19 Notables: Purdue hosts Kansas Thursday night be- fore taking on UC Irvine in the first game of the three-day World Vision Classic in Mackey Arena. … Irvine is 1-7 on the season, shooting only 33 percent from the floor (18 percent from three-point range) while averaging only 56 points per game. The Anteaters' only win is at Grand Canyon. … This is the programs' first meeting. … Purdue plays Denver, led by Coach Kerry Cremeans, who was a Boilermaker assistant for seven seasons, including the championship in 1999, at 2:30 Saturday, then Wright State at 2:30 Sunday in the final two games of the Classic.