WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (AP) -- Katie Douglas wasn't about to miss Purdue's showdown with Notre Dame (No. 6 ESPN/USA Today, No. 7 AP).

Douglas, who sat out Saturday's game against Indiana State because of a knee injury, scored 21 points and had a career-high eight steals in Purdue's 71-61 victory Wednesday night.

"I felt I could be effective on the court," Douglas said. "The decision was on me. Toward the end of the game I took a couple of fouls and it was getting a little sore."

Camille Cooper added 19 points, and Kelly Komara 16 points for the defending national champion Boilermakers (No. 16 ESPN/USA Today, No. 18 AP). It was their ninth victory over the Irish in 11 games.

Niele Ivey led Notre Dame (4-2) with 17 points, and Ruth Riley added 11, and Ericka Haney had 10.

Purdue (6-1) broke a 48-48 tie with 9:57 left on Michelle Duhart's layup and outscored the Irish 23-13 in the final 10 minutes. Douglas and Cooper each scored seven points in that stretch.

Purdue coach Kristy Curry credited the Boilermakers defense in forcing 24 Notre Dame turnovers.

"Everything happens off your defense," Curry said. "When you guard people, good things happen on the offensive end. One of the reasons we won the game was our defensive intensity."