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GOLDANDBLACK EXPRESS • VOLUME 25, EXPRESS 22 • 15 BY KYLE CHARTERS KCharters@GoldandBlack.com P urdue's losing streak hit eight games last week, after losses at Ohio State and home to Illinois. It's left the Boilermakers in the basement of the Big Ten, tied for last with Penn State. Following are takeaways from the week: S The Boilermakers are struggling to hold leads. Against Illinois, the Boilermakers were up 13 in the first half, and nine in the second, before allowing the Fight - ing Illini to fight back. Illinois led only once, for the final 1:16 after it hit the go-ahead basket. The scenario has been too frequent. Purdue also held dou- ble-digit leads vs. Ohio State and Northwestern, only to lose on its home floor. It was up by seven against Penn State in Mackey Are- na and had lost non-conference home games against Green Bay and Florida State after leading. The Boilermakers have very little confidence in their ability to make a play down the stretch right now, probably because out- side of the overtime Minnesota game — Purdue's last win on Jan. 22 — they've not shown an ability to do so. Perhaps had the Boiler- makers made plays to win at the end of the Green Bay and Florida State overtime losses, then their confidence would have been up for later Big Ten games. Maybe they win a few more, probably not enough to get them in the NCAA Tournament picture, but perhaps closer to .500. S Good to see April Wilson back this season. A second concussion within a season is cause for concern, par- ticularly adding that she's at least one more previously in her career. Purdue could ill afford to lose Wilson, not for the rest of this season and certain- ly as it looks toward next year. The Boilermakers will be young in 2015-16, with four freshmen and five sopho- mores; they'll need their senior captain. S Not often will a team lose to an opponent that misses 20 consecutive field goal attempts, but Purdue found a way Saturday. Illinois was atrocious in the first half, hitting only three of its first 30 shots, including the 20 straight misses, yet came back to win. It's another indication of how much the Boilermakers have struggled so far this season. j W O M E N ' S B A S K E T B A L L G O L D B O X E S L I N K T O G A M E S T O R I E S FLASH FORWARD Opponent: Michigan State Location: Mackey Arena When: 2 p.m. Saturday Notables: Before senior day on Saturday, Purdue traveled to play its last road game at Michigan at 7 p.m. Tuesday. It's the teams' first meeting this season. … Saturday's game vs. MSU with Purdue honoring captains Whitney Bays and Liza Clemons. … The Spar- tans had won two of three games entering their game at Illinois on Wednesday. … Sophomore forward Aerial Powers is averaging 22.2 points and 11.9 rebounds per game, both the second-best marks in the Big Ten this season. Tori Jankoska, a sophomore guard, is averag- ing 17 per game. … This is the teams' first meeting of the season and 67th all-time. Purdue holds a 38-28 advantage, having won three of the last five. A LOOK BACK AT THE LAST WEEK OF BASKETBALL Tom Campbell Liza Clemons was perhaps one of the few bright spots against Illinois, recording her fourth double-double of the season.