After winning the NCAA title last season, the Boilermakers' coach and top two players (Stephanie White-McCarty and Ukari Figgs combined for 48 percent of Purdue's points in 1999) departed for the WNBA. Despite the coaching change -- the Boilers' fourth in five years -- and the fact that just one senior starts this season, Purdue hasn't had any problem maintaining its reputation. Sure, the Boilers lost to Tennessee, Louisiana Tech and Penn State during the regular season, but Purdue also proved it can still come through in the end, upsetting then-No. 5 Penn State for the Big Ten tournament title. Although junior Camille Cooper and sophomore Kelly Komara have been integral, Katie Douglas, who scored 24 points and hit five 3-pointers in the Big Ten final, has been the key. She has scored at least 20 points in 18 of 28 games this season, including four performances of 30 or more points. Any lengthy stay the Boilermakers might make into late March will depend on Douglas, who shoots 44 percent from the field and also averages 21.3 points and an exhausting 37 minutes per game.
Final ESPN/USA Today Top 25 ranking: No. 15. Final The Associated Press poll ranking: No. 13. Final Ratings Percentage Index ranking: No. 14. NO. PLAYER POS HT YR 3 Kelly Komara G 5-7 SO 11 Shinika Parks G 5-8 JR 15 Danielle Bird G 5-7 SR 21 Elisa Inman F 6-2 FR 24 Beth Lapaich F 6-0 SR 25 Mackenzie Curless F 6-1 SR 31 Candi Crawford F 6-1 JR 32 Katie Douglas G-F 6-1 JR 33 Michelle Duhart F 6-0 SR 40 Connie Murdock F 6-2 JR 41 Mo-nique Langston G-F 5-11 JR 42 Camille Cooper C 6-4 JR 55 Mary Jo Noon C 6-5 SO |
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