INDIANAPOLIS (AP) Aerial Powers scored 26 points and corralled 12 rebounds to help lead the No. 19 Michigan State women past upset-minded Purdue 65-64 in the Big Ten tournament Friday night.
Branndais Agee scored 13 points and made six steals for the third-seeded Spartans (23-7), and Jasmine Hines added 11 points and eight rebounds.
Michigan State advances to meet No. 2 Ohio State in Saturday's semifinals.
No. 6 seed Purdue (20-11) raced to a 32-25 halftime lead, and had a chance to tie late. April Wilson missed a trey with five seconds left, and Bree Horrocks drove for a layup for the final score.
MSU is the first team to beat Purdue when the Boilermakers led at the half, and also notched its first tourney win over Purdue in five meetings.
Purdue made just three third-quarter field goals as MSU caught up. Led by Powers, the Spartans outscored Purdue 36-22 in the paint.
Bridget Perry led Purdue with 18 points.
