February 21, 1999
EVANSTON, Ill. (AP) - Ukari Figgs scored 21 points, and No. 2 Purdue used a 10-0 run early in the second half to shake stubborn Northwestern in 71-62 victory Sunday.
The game was tied 37-37 with 16:34 left when Purdue (25-1, 16-0) went on its key run, getting seven points from Stephanie White-McCarty. Her 3-pointer gave the Boilermakers a 47-37 advantage with 13:23 to go. The closest Northwestern (11-15, 5-11) got after thereafter was within five points. Purdue dominated the game offensively by getting 46 points inside the paint, while shooting 58 percent.White-McCarty scored 19 points and Camille Cooper added 16. Northwestern's Leslie Schock had 22 points, and Tami Sears added 16. The game had the look of a runaway after the Boilermakers scored the first 9 points. But Schock rallied the Wildcats by scoring their first 11 points, trimming the lead to 13-11. Purdue led 19-11, but the Wildcats battled back and when Schock, who made all eight of her shots in the first half, hit a three-pointer at 3:32 Northwestern led 28-27. The Boilermakers led at the half, 33-32, shooting 65 percent shooting mark. It was the final regular-season game for coach Don Perrelli, who is retiring after 15 years at Northwestern with a 250-180 record. His overall mark is 425-251.