Women's Hoops Land Kiki Smith: Sports Update

 A double-digit scorer from the SEC will play in Mackey Arena next season, as Purdue women’s basketball head coach Katie Gearlds announced the addition of transfer Kiki Smith from Arkansas.

Averaging 10.2 points per game, Smith was the Razorbacks’ second leading scorer last season, year after being named the 2024 NJCAA DI Women’s Basketball Player of the Year and a First Team All-American.

Smith appeared in 27 games with 22 starts during her lone season in Fayetteville. She averaged 10.2 points per game, while shooting 42.2% from the field. The Topeka, Kan., native finished in double figures in 13 games last season with a trio of 20-point outings.

Smith paced Arkansas from behind the arc with 58 makes at a 40.6% clip, the second most accurate mark in the Southeastern Conference and 28th nationally last year. She was one of 25 players from a major conference to knock down 55 triples and shoot 40% or better from behind the arc.

Smith joined Arkansas after one season at Hutchinson CC, where she was named the 2024 NJCAA DI Women’s Basketball Player of the Year, an All-American and the KJCCC Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year. She guided the Blue Dragons to a 37-0 record and the NJCAA DI National Championship, garnering Tournament MVP honors.

Smith logged 17.6 points per game with a 55.9% shooting clip and 44.4% from distance at Hutchinson. She set school records in single-season scoring (652 points) and 3-pointers (82).

Smith played her prep ball at Topeka High School. She was tabbed 6A All-State all four years with a trio of first team laurels. She averaged better than 20 points per game as a junior and senior.

Baseball’s Ups and Downs Continue

Purdue’s record dropped to 24-16 overall after a 16-10 home loss to Austin Peay on April 22. Logan Sutter blasted two home runs, but is wasn’t enough for Purdue.

In Big Ten action over the holiday weekend, the Boilermakers over scored first for the third day in a row but otherwise flipped the script on Penn State by reeling off eight unanswered runs after facing a five-run deficit, rallying to take the series finale 11-8 Sunday.

The Boilermakers (now 6-12 in Big Ten play) avoided a series sweep, winning the finale of a Big Ten series for the first time this season.

The Nittany Lions (24-14, 12-9 Big Ten) won the first two games of the series by scoring 10 unanswered in both contests. Penn State scored eight unanswered runs Sunday. But relief pitchers Michael Vallone and Avery Cook teamed up for five consecutive zeros to finish the game for the visitors.

Purdue raced out to a fast start with a four-run first inning but Penn State responded with 10 unanswered runs for the second day in a row, defeating the Boilermakers 13-6 Saturday.

Purdue chased the PSU starter in the second inning and pounded out 11 hits on the day, but stranded 13 runners on base – a season-high total in a Big Ten game. The Boilermakers have dropped six straight on the road in conference play since March 9.

The Nittany Lions scored four times in the second and fourth innings while building a 10-4 lead. Their three-run bottom of the eighth also prevented Purdue from bringing the tying run to the plate in the ninth after the visitors loaded the bases.

Sutter hit his 10th home run of the season vs. a pitcher that had surrendered just one long ball on the season, but Penn State responded with 10 unanswered runs while scoring in five consecutive innings to take the series opener with Purdue 10-2 Friday.

The Nittany Lions improved to 9-1 in series openers this season behind staff ace Ryan DeSanto. Sutter connected for his Big Ten-leading 17th double and the two-run homer off DeSanto, who had conceded just nine extra-base hits in 44 1/3 innings entering the night.

The game was tied 2-2 through four innings before Penn State blew it open with consecutive crooked numbers, scoring three in the bottom of the fifth and four more the following frame.

CJ Richmond’s walk-off homer punctuated a three-run ninth inning as Baseball rallied for an 8-6 victory vs. Arizona State in the first-ever Monday game at Alexander Field on April 14.

The Boilermakers scored all eight of their runs over the final five innings while overcoming deficits of 4-0, 5-4 and 6-5. It was Purdue’s first walk-off win since March 16 of last season and the first time the program rallied for a walk-off after trailing entering its final at-bat since May 2023.

Keenan Spence delivered a pair of game-tying hits, an RBI single in the seventh inning that made the score 5-5 and an RBI double in the ninth moments before Richmond’s home run.

Michael Vallone and Austin Klug teamed up for seven innings of one-run relief, but Purdue was unable to overcome an early five-run deficit in a 6-3 loss to Rutgers on Sunday, April 13, that denied the Boilermakers of a three-game series sweep.

While the series win was critical for Purdue as part of its only home weekend of the month, the Boilers also remained winless (0-5) in Big Ten series finales this season.

The Scarlet Knights (17-19, 6-9 Big Ten) staved off a sweep on the road for the second Sunday in a row. They’ll be at home three of the next four weekends, with the only road trip during that stretch being to last-place Ohio State (April 25-27).

Cole Van Assen struck out a career-high seven while becoming the Boilermakers’ first starting pitcher this season to work into the eighth inning, a quality start that propelled Purdue to a series-clinching 10-5 victory vs. Rutgers on Saturday, April 12 at Alexander Field.

The Boilermakers (22-12, 5-9 Big Ten) posted big innings in their first and final at-bats, rallying for a four-run first and five-run eighth while sending 10 men to the plate in both extended frames.

After producing just four base runners (two hits) vs. Van Assen over the first seven innings, the Scarlet Knights (16-19, 5-9 Big Ten) came alive in the top of the eighth and had the tying run in scoring position with one out. As Purdue’s fourth pitcher of the frame, Avery Cook induced a chopper towards the second base bag that Ty Gill turned into an inning-ending 4-3 double play.

At the plate, Gill was 4-for-5 with four RBI, both totals representing career highs. He had a two-run single in both big innings.

Sergio DeCello homered, Brandon Rogers saved a run with another great catch in center field and three pitchers teamed up for a dozen strikeouts as Baseball won a 2-1 nailbiter vs. Rutgers on Friday, April 11 at Alexander Field.

The Boilermakers snapped their eight-game losing streak and improved to 6-1 vs. RU dating back to 2023.

The Scarlet Knights out hit Purdue 10-4 but left 15 runners on base. They were 1-for-12 with runners in scoring position, including 0-for-5 with the bases loaded. The visitors left the bases loaded twice, including the bottom of the ninth, and stranded multiple runners in five different frames.

Avery Cook struck out RU’s 6- and 7-hole hitters with the bases loaded to end the game, punctuating a six-out save.

Softball Bounces Back with Sweep of Illinois

Purdue (25-17, 8-8 Big Ten) defeated Illinois (18-23, 4-11 Big Ten) 7-3 to take game three of the series and the sweep. A sixth inning push, with five runs, brought the Boilers to victory.

Madi Elish started in the circle, and Julia Gossett took over in the sixth inning, earning Purdue the win. Freshman Maura Condon hit two home runs in the game, her second and third of her career.

Purdue (24-17, 7-8 Big Ten) took both games in the doubleheader against Illinois (18-22, 4-10 Big Ten) on Friday, 6-2 in game one and 1-0 in a 12-inning game two.

Julia Gossett led the Boilermakers in game one, pitching eleven strikeouts and going four-for-four at the plate. Purdue registered six runs on seven hits.

Kendall Klochack pitched 7.2 innings in the circle in game two, before Madi Elish took over to finish. Ashlynn Campbell had a career-high eight assists in the field while Khloe Banks’ hit in the twelfth inning walked it off for Purdue.

Purdue (22-17, 5-8 Big Ten) took the win over IU Indy (16-24, 10-8 Horizon League) 3-0 on Tuesday, April 15.

Julia Gossett made headlines in the circle, pitching a career-high 14 strikeouts, tying her for the fifth-highest in na single-game in school history. The Boilermakers were strong offensively, registering seven hits and five walks.

Purdue (21-17, 5-8 Big Ten) earned a quick 8-0 win against Eastern Illinois (19-17, 11-3 OVC) during the midweek match up on Thursday, April 10.

Kendall Klochack had a standout game in the circle, pitching a career-high eight strikeouts. The fourth inning sent twelve batters to the plate and a final run in the fifth frame earned the Boilermakers to the win.

Boilers Can’t Hold 36-Hole Lead; Finish as Runner-Up at Boilermaker Invitational

The men’s golf team couldn’t hold a late lead and finished as the runner-up at the Boilermaker Invitational, which concluded on a windy Easter Sunday at Ackerman-Allen Golf Course.

The Boilermakers shot a 5-over par 289, which helped Marquette overcome a four-shot difference entering today’s final round, after the Golden Eagles fired a 1-under par 283 to defeat the Boilermakers by two shots.

Marquette finished with a 16-under par 836 (278-275-283) to defeat Purdue at 14-under par 838 (281-268-289). Illinois and Michigan State tied for third at 10-under par 842, while Notre Dame and Indiana tied for fifth at 9-under par 843.

The 838 is tied for the 11^th-lowest, 54-hole tournament score in school history.

The Boilermakers were in position for their third win of the spring season with six holes to play, but scuffled down the stretch on holes 14 through 18. Purdue’s four counting scores played the five holes in a combined 8-over par, while Marquette played the stretch in 1-over par.

Nonetheless, Purdue wrapped up the spring with a 48-4-1 head-to-head record with two titles, a runner-up finish and a fourth-place showing entering next weekend’s Big Ten Championships in Baltimore.

Sam Easterbrook led the Boilermakers with a T-5 finish at 5-under par 208 (69-66-73). Easterbrook shared the lead with five holes to play, but suffered a double-bogey on No. 15, which essentially ended his threat to be the medalist.

The finish was his sixth top-10 finish of the season and fourth top-5 finish in 10 events. He’s posted six straight top-17 finishes.

Nels Surtani finished tied for 13^th at 2-under par 211 (68-69-74), and was in position for a top-five finish, before he played his final nine holes in 4-over par. It marked his first top-15 finish of the spring season.

Kentaro Nanayama finished tied for 18^th at 1-under par 212 (71-67-74).

Freshman Supapon Amornchaichan had one of his best days as a Boilermaker, shooting a 3-under par 68 for a 54-hole total of even-par 213 (73-72-68), good for T-23.

Jenson Forrester finished tied for 43^rd at 3-over par 216 (73-66-77).

The Boilermakers will likely head to Baltimore as the fifth seed for the Big Ten Championships behind Illinois, UCLA, Northwestern and Oregon. Action gets underway Friday at the Baltimore Country Club.

Sugiyama Places 12th, Boilers Finish 11th at B1G Championships

Momo Sugiyama carded a final round 73 (+1) Sunday, also finishing 1-over par (72-72-73—217) for the entire Big Ten Championships, to lead Women’s Golf in the conference tournament. The senior tied for 12th on the individual leaderboard, while the Boilermakers (+27) placed 11th as a team.

No. 5 Oregon (-12) captured the conference crown by 14 shots in its first year in the Big Ten, thanks in large part to a final round 276 (-12). No. 24 Michigan State (+2) and Illinois (+6) rounded out the Top 3. Purdue shot 11-over as a team during the final round, as the putters struggled in similar fashion to the first day of play.

Sugiyama earned her 21st Top 20 performance as a Boilermaker, including the sixth of the season. After an opening bogey on Sunday, she made back-to-back birdies to get into red figures and only two shots off the lead. The Australian followed with nine straight pars to remain within striking distance, but a pair of bogeys at the 13th and 18th dropped her just outside the Top 10.

Jasmine Kahler was right behind Sugiyama with a 74 (+2), playing the final 14 holes 1-under par after a tough start. Samantha Brown, Jocelyn Bruch and Lauren Timpf all shot 76 (+4) in the final round. Bruch matched Kahler with a team-high four birdies on the day. The freshmen finished strong as Brown went 1-under through the final six holes, while Timpf parred her last five holes.

Sitting at No. 41 in the national rankings, the Boilermakers plan to see their name called on Wednesday’s NCAA Selection Show (1 p.m. ET on GOLF Channel). NCAA Regional play will take place at six sites (May 5-7): Charlottesville, Virginia – Birdwood Golf Course, Columbus, Ohio – OSU Golf Club (Scarlet Course), Golf Canyon, Arizona – Superstition Mountain Golf and Country Club, Lexington, Kentucky – University Club of Kentucky, Lubbock, Texas – The Rawls Course and Norman, Oklahoma – Jimmie Austin OU Golf Club.

Men’s Tennis Wins Two, Drops Two

In the regular season finale, No. 65 Aleksa Krivokapic notched his second top-11 singles victory of the season, downing No. 11 Aidan Kim in straight sets. Overall, No. 42 Purdue (12-10, 4-9 Big Ten) fell to the Big Ten regular season champions No. 3 Ohio State (24-2, 13-0 Big Ten), 2-4.

The Boilermakers upended the Buckeyes in doubles, taking the point with wins by No. 3 Maj Premzl / Henrik Villanger (W, 6-1) and the No. 2 duo of Nour Fathalla / Daniel Labrador, who clinched it as the final court to finish (W, 7-5).

The No. 51 men’s tennis team notched its second consecutive win with a 4-0 victory at Penn State on Friday afternoon. The Boilermakers improve to 12-9 (4-8 Big Ten) with the win while Penn State falls to 12-14 (0-12 Big Ten).

The shutout marked the fourth of the season for the Boilermakers and the first in Big Ten action since 2022. The win included singles victories by Henrik Villanger (13-5, 5-4 Big Ten), Nour Fathalla (14-3, 7-2 Big Ten) and Juan David Velasquez’s (8-10, 1-8 Big Ten) dual-clinching tiebreak victory.

Additionally, No. 65 Aleksa Krivokapic was locked in a winning battle vs. No. 53 Loren Byers before the match went unfinished. After falling 2-6 in the first set, the junior fought back for a 6-3 victory in the second set and was up in the third, 4-3 before Purdue’s victory was clinched.

The men’s team (11-9, 3-8 Big Ten) closed out their regular season home slate with a 4-2 victory vs. No. 55 Oregon (11-11, 3-7 Big Ten) on Senior Day, April 13. Not only was it the second straight match a Boilermaker took down a ranked singles opponent, but it also marked the third ranked win of the season for Aleksa Krivokapic.

Krivokapic, a 9-6 overall record and 5-3 in the Big Ten with a No. 69 national ranking, downed No. 104 Lenn Luemkemann in a tense 7-5, 7-5 battle. The win marked the third of the season for the junior, all of which have come over the last 30 days.

Meanwhile, coming off the first ranked win of his career on Friday, sophomore Henrik Villanger clinched Purdue’s win with a 7-6 (5), 7-5 result vs. Clement Lemire. Notable performances also include Stefan Simeunovic’s victory over Cooper Errey: 6-2, 7-6 (5). The win marked the seventh this spring, including first in Big Ten play.

The Boilermakers honored their lone senior and two-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree Daniel Labrador before the match, celebrating his commitment to Purdue as a culture-builder, teammate and excellence in the classroom.

Despite a hard-fought battle across every court and the first-ever ranked win by sophomore Henrik Villanger, Purdue (10-9, 2-8 Big Ten) fell to No. 40 Washington (14-6, 6-4 Big Ten), 2-4 on April 11.

Villanger, who played at the No. 2 singles position, improves to 2-0 this season at the spot after a thrilling come-from-behind effort against the No. 120-ranked Dzianis Zharyn: 3-6, 6-4, 6-4. With his second consecutive singles win, Villanger improves to 11-5 record in 2025 (3-4 Big Ten).

Meanwhile, Juan David Velasquez, playing at the No. 1 spot for the fifth time this season, took on the No. 37-ranked Cesar Bouchelaghem, winning the first set in 7-6 (5) tiebreak fashion. The sophomore took the 5-3 lead in the second frame before Bouchelaghem came back to cut off the win in a tiebreaker to push the match to a third set behind a 6-7 (2) effort. Velasquez fell 4-6 in the final set.

Women’s Tennis Falls Short in Three of Four

The women’s tennis squad was shutout 0-4 by No. 42 Illinois on Senior Day. The Boilermakers end the regular season with an 11-9 (5-8 Big Ten) record while Illinois improves to 13-11 (8-5 Big Ten).

Tara Katarina Milic ended the regular season with the 60th doubles victory of her career, placing her at No. 14 all-time in Purdue doubles history. Milic is the sixth Boilermaker this century to reach the 60-win threshold and is joined by teammate Carmen Gallardo Guevara (59 wins) in the top-15.

The Boilermakers fought hard, nearly taking the doubles point as it came down to the final court, which was decided by a 7-5 result.

In singles, Freshman Ece Gencer led the way, winning the first set, 7-5 and was locked in a 4-4 battle before the match went abandoned.

Purdue fell short, 1-4, against the No. 50 Northwestern Wildcats. The Boilermakers took the doubles point, but were unable to withstand the Wildcats surge in singles play.

With the result, Purdue falls to 11-8 (5-7 Big Ten) while Northwestern improves to 12-12 (5-7 Big Ten).

Senior Carmen Gallardo Guevara, who earned her spot in Purdue’s all-time singles wins this season, reached the top-15 in career doubles wins after her win with teammate Ashlie Wilson. The Boilermakers took down the Wildcats 6-4 in their win at the No. 2 spot.

Purdue went on to take the doubles point after coming down to the last court: No. 3 Kathryn Wilson and Ida Clement. The freshman tandem came from behind to win the match, 7-6 behind a decisive tiebreak.

The women’s tennis squad bounced back with a 4-2 victory at Minnesota on Sunday, April 13. With the win, Purdue improves to 11-7 record (5-6 Big Ten) while Minnesota falls to 10-14 (2-9 Big Ten).

Tara Katarina Milic’s victory alongside Fatima Gutierrez in the doubles’ No. 1 spot (W, 7-6), marked her 59th career win, moving the senior to rank 15th in program history. Milic is the first Boilermaker to reach the benchmark since a pair of Boilermakers did so in 2015: Lynda Xepoleas (2012-15, 76 wins) and current assistant coach and Purdue alum Dani Vidal (2012-15, record-holder with 92 wins).

Meanwhile in singles, freshman Kathryn Wilson earned her second consecutive match win with her 7-6, 6-4 win vs. Arina Valitova. With the win, Wilson improved to 6-4 record this spring.

No. 66 women’s tennis dropped a 2-4 decision at No. 25 Wisconsin in weekend road-opener on April 11. With the result, the Boilermakers fall to 10-7 (4-6 Big Ten) while the Badgers improve to 15-3 (8-2 Big Ten).

At the No. 6 spot, freshman Kathryn Wilson picked up her second win of Big Ten play and fifth in 2025 as she downed Kaja Jacobson 6-4, 7-5.

Purdue came out with a strong start, winning the doubles point behind wins at No. 2 position with Carmen Gallardo Guevara and Ashlie Wilson (W, 7-5) and No. 3 spot with Ida Clement and Kathryn Wilson (W, 6-4).

Men’s 4x400m Relays Sets School Record to Close Out Tom Jones Memorial

Outdoor Track & Field men’s 4x400m relay team set a school record in the Boilermakers’ final event to conclude the Tom Jones Memorial.

Men’s Notes
• The 4x400m relay team of Jahn Riley, Cameron Miller, Brett Otterbacher and Antoine Spencer ran 3:03.64 to finish as the third fastest college team at the meet. The time comes in at No. 7 in the NCAA and Spencer led the group with a 44.15 split.
• Otterbacher tied his open 400m personal best in 46.79 and split 46.37 in the 4x400m.
• Zach Mylenek ran a personal best 48.37 in the 400m. His previous best was 48.54.

Women’s Notes
• Blessing Ogundiran finished 16th in the 100m Invite in 11.44 – her fastest wind-legal time. The time propelled her to sixth in school history after she entered the meet ninth.
• The 4x400m relay team of Alyssa Tate, Alexia Smith, Mirai Bernard and Gia Clay rank 3:35.42 to move into the East Region top 20.
• Britannia Johnson took third in the discus throw collegiate (50.88m / 166-11). She has now finished top three in all three of her discus competitions this season.
• Jalen Elrod finished fifth in the 100m hurdles collegiate in 14.07 to mark the fastest wind-legal time of her career.

Next Up
Purdue has its first and only one-day meet of the season in a trip to Illinois Saturday, April 26.