2017-2018 B1G Preview: Ohio State, Maryland will duel to the end
![HARTFORD, CT - DECEMBER 19: Ohio State's Guard Kelsey Mitchell (3) drives around UConn Huskies Guard Crystal Dangerfield (5) during the second half a women's NCAA division 1 basketball game between the Ohio State Buckeyes and the UConn Huskies on December 19, 2016, at the XL Center in Hartford, CT. (Photo by David Hahn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) HARTFORD, CT - DECEMBER 19: Ohio State's Guard Kelsey Mitchell (3) drives around UConn Huskies Guard Crystal Dangerfield (5) during the second half a women's NCAA division 1 basketball game between the Ohio State Buckeyes and the UConn Huskies on December 19, 2016, at the XL Center in Hartford, CT. (Photo by David Hahn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/049ed848d8037ee7f08cfdff5c8ad9c20eb897211ecd2d6a9edc972be685cc77.jpg)
Last year’s record: 23-13, 10-6 B1G
Biggest Losses:
Ashley Morissette: 19 PPG, All-Big Ten and Big Ten All Defensive team, Purdue Varsity Walk Award Winner, Boilermakers Coaches Award
Key Non-conference games:
Georgia Tech: 11/30
Ashley Morrisette was the one of the best Big Ten players in the conference last season, including some high-scoring performances like her 31 point outburst against Pittsburgh and at Michigan State. She also finished 16th in program history with 1,416 career points, which the Boilermakers are surely going to miss this upcoming season. Purdue will have to adjust without her starpower on the floor with a young roster, but this will be a chance for senior Andreona Keys to step up as a leader. Four freshmen and six sophomore is a pretty young team, so inconsistency is a likely expectation.