The Marquette women's basketball team doesn't want the season to end.

The Golden Eagles are the last college hoops team in the state still playing. The Wisconsin and MU men's teams didn't make it out of the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament. The UW-Whitewater women fell in the NCAA Division III title game on Saturday.

So while the Women's National Invitation Tournament isn't the March Madness dream that the Golden Eagles hoped for this season, they're still embracing the chance to play more games with each other.

MU knocked off Purdue, 77-62, on Monday night at the Al McGuire Center to advance to the Sweet 16 of the WNIT.

The Golden Eagles (23-10) will get another home game Thursday against Toledo (28-5).

"Couldn't be more thrilled for our seniors to continue one more day," MU coach Megan Duffy said. "We're kind of going (with) just a day-by-day mentality of trying to get better."

Lauren Van Kleunen played against Purdue like she wasn't ready to take off the MU uniform for good after six years and five seasons, finishing with 27 points, 11 rebounds and six assists.

"She's had such a great mindset after we didn't get into the NCAA Tournament," Duffy said. "Just kind of felt all the feelings with that. But I think immediately switched to 'Let's see if we can win this thing' and 'Let's do it one day at a time and one game at a time.' I think she really just has an appreciation for playing in this building. And playing in front of her fans and playing in front of her family."

Van Kleunen had 15 points in the first quarter.

"This is an opportunity that not a lot of people have," she said. "We're just taking it day by day and trying to value it as much as possible. To have a chance to play on your home floor again in front of Marquette fans, there's nothing like it. We use that to fuel those runs. We use that to get defensive stops and just their energy is huge for us."

It was a special victory for MU graduate transfer Karissa McLaughlin, who played four seasons for the Boilermakers.

"A lot of emotions," McLaughlin said. "I have a lot of respect for my alma mater obviously. It was fun to be out there playing against them. Competitive. But I wouldn't trade it for the world to be here where I am right now."

McLaughlin scored 16 points and Purdue's career three-point leader held her follow-through a little longer than normal after nailing a triple against her old team with 57 seconds remaining.

"We're definitely lucky that we have her and I told her that," Van Kleunen said. "I said we're glad to have you on our side. To be able to have her and play with her every day is fun to do. As we get down the stretch here it's going to be tough."

Van Kleunen then got a little emotional thinking about when the season eventually ends.

"Just playing with her every day and our leadership together has been great to see growth from the entire year," she said.

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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Marquette women's basketball team advances to third round of WNIT